Dear friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Heather has lost her battle with this dreaded disease. She passed away early this afternoon. Although she hadn't been able to move her arms or hands for more than a week, she was able, at the very end, to squeeze my hand in a final goodbye. For those of you who haven't followed her story closely, the tumor in her spine had partially paralyzed her arms for much of the last 6 months. About 2 weeks ago, it must have started growing again because the rest of her body was gradually immobilized. For the last week, all she could move was her head.

Anyway, the hospice nurse was speaking to her, telling her it was okay for her to go if she was ready, when Heather started wrinkling her nose. When we noticed that, the nurse told her to squeeze our hands if she heard and understood. She had been asleep for most of the past week and her eyes were shut at the time we were talking to her so we weren't sure how aware she was, but I guess she was very aware because she squeezed my hand 3 times and kept wrinkling her nose. I think that was her way to let me know she was okay with going. I don't know where she got the strength to move her muscles like that, but she always was very strong willed. I guess it held her in good stead until the very end.

In lieu of flowers, I am asking that people make a donation to OCF and if any of you would like to honor her memory, I think that would be an especially appropriate way to do so. I will probably take a leave of absence from the forum for awhile, but I will be back sometime. All of you take care and keep fighting.

Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie