My beloved baby sister Valerie, passed away last July. (8.18.61 - 7.14.22). My valentine. She was a wonderful sister, who touched the lives of many aroud her. It was traumatic how she passed... and She took a part of my heart with her. She leaves behind myself, and two other siblings. She is predeceased by our mom, dad, & eldest sister. Of my sisters, Valerie was the one I was closest to, interacting with her, our whole life, but especially in our adult years. She called herself my baby sister, even though she was only 2 years younger than me. So cute. Unfortunately May 2024, she found out she had lung cancer. Then in June, from a bone marrow biopsy, we found out, she had the cancer metastasized in her bones & blood... It is very hard still, after almost 1 year she gone, for me to write about this... because in June 2024, she received a 4 week prognosis of how much longer she had left! The bone marrow cancer, was too advanced & aggressive... What do you do when someone tells you, you have 4 weeks left to live!? I spent every day with her. It wasn't easy, but she stayed strong as she could, hardly complained, didn't talk about herself, & actually made me feel better. She didn't want me to feel bad... A couple of family members went visit, which brightened up her days. But it was in & out of hospitals. Very taxing on her. Blood platelet transfusions, helped to recharge her batteries, a couple of times, but quickly that didn't help. We had some great times, prior to her cancer. Take her on little trips, visit family, dine out, eat ice cream, go shopping, see her on birthdays & holidays. Of course, with her illness, that came to a pretty abrupt halt! We had even gone through COVID, and she was valiant, even with living in a nursing home at that time, for a previous illness. I would go visit her and see her through a window! We always exchanged smiles and send kisses through the window! Luckily the staff, would take packages I would bring her. We were very close. We went through all of that with Covid, and everything else, until the traumatic end. I don't like writing the word cancer even. Hard for everyone, including lot of family & friends... It just was So traumatic, to hear my sister Valerie was given just 4 weeks to live. Hsrd for me, but i couldn't fathom how she felt. You don't know an exact date, so we lived each day, making the best of it. She really was a trooper! She'd make some jokes about some of the worst things going on, or she'd sing little songs & make me laugh. When she had to lie in bed, we entertained other nursing home residents in her room, with snacks & Sprite, lol. She'd push herself, to stay up in her wheelchair, to go to the activity room with me, or watch a movie in her room. It was not easy, but SHE made it a little easier, with dignity and grace. The nursing home went above and beyond for her also, which helped the both of us. It was devastating to lose my sister Valerie. Our brother, after she passed, offered to pay for cremation, only thing we could do last July, as we weren't prepared for her sudden death. And that is how far he was willing to go. I took on the rest, after i received her ashes. Trying to make a plan... I have her ashes, but I am going to give Valerie the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory, bless her soul, and give her a fitting final resting place. I am currently asking for donations to help cover the cost of funeral, with a mass and burial. I am in process of acquiring a plot for her, which last year, was just a wish, that someday I could do for her. That someday is here. I am stronger about doing this now, but it is still a trauma for me losing her. Feels like it all happened yesterday sometimes. Thank God for a girlfriend, who has guided me in the right direction, with advice about the church for the mass, (I went back to church & best thing I've done lately!), and the priest, cemetery etc... I have Mr Machnowski & his funeral home... I need to raise funds, in order to be able to afford the funeral service. Please consider donating, as any amount will truly help during this difficult time. Thank you so much for reading my story of my beloved sister. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day. Christine Champagne-Caldas
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