Remembering Chrisy

[Bunty]

Denise, thank you so much for that beautiful tribute to Chrisy. I think we all needed it, and I couldn't think of a better person than you to deliver it to us all.

We are all so lucky to have had Chrisy touch our lives, and seeing the photos here makes me feel happy and sad at the same time.

Love Marie x

[Mandamoo]

You have all said it so eloquently. I will miss Chrisy's wit, humour and fantastic knowledge. "Crap on a Crapstick!" is now a favourite saying of mine.
It is very real to see her smiling face - may she be smiling down on us all.

[Faith in Him]

It is heartbreaking to read about Chrisy. I truly believe she is with our other angels laughing and talking, never giving cancer another thought.

[Kim in CA]

Denise, that was lovely. You've got a way with words for sure, and conveyed beautifully what so many of us feel.

Chrisy was a special lady indeed.

[Debbie L.]

I only had the privilege to meet Chris in person once, at SABCS 2011, so the photos from that time that you've posted, Steph, are special for me. I look at them with sadness, but cannot help but smile to remember how I enjoyed those few minutes of face-to-face connection with Chris.

I love all the tributes being posted, both from those who knew her well, and those who knew her "only" online (but still well). I can't add to the eloquence of those tributes so will just say "ditto", to every word. And thank you, Denise, for starting this easy-to-find thread of tribute.

But in one other area not yet mentioned, I will mention that I think Chris made a huge difference to the researchers and the providers -- allowing them to see the intelligence and spirit that patients bring to the arena of advanced breast cancer treatment. She wonderfully and honestly represented the experience of living with advanced breast cancer, particularly HER2+ breast cancer. I am sure that MANY of those providers and researchers will carry Chris -- her spirit, her energy, her very person -- with them as inspiration and motivation, as they work to stop breast cancer deaths.

My condolences to all. To our list, but especially to Chris's family and her husband, for whom she expressed such love and concern about how they would carry on, when she was gone. I wish them patience, and gentleness with themselves, as they begin the work of grieving. It's hard work, but also good work, and with the support of someone like Chris, from wherever she now abides -- it's bound to be amazing work.

Love,
Debbie Laxague

[cheery]

Thanks for the tribute, Denise.

Chrisy has touched many hearts here, mine for sure, and it's a big sad loss to all of us here. I've had the privilege of PM-ing her and learnt a lot from many of her helpful posts.

[KsGal]

Steph..thank you for sharing the pictures. Made me smile from ear to ear.

[Bill]

I was lucky enough to meet Chris about 5 years ago when she passed through Richmond. I'll tell that story soon. I wish her family well. She will be missed.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Wow that Chrisy was such an exceptional woman! We all know it. I never actually met her but we've been e-ing for over 5 yrs, in addition to posting. I have loved her all the while, and will throughout eternity. I loved her quick wit way of seeing things and then expressing them. Was it she who suggested putting Cheez Whiz into someone's feeding tube, cause she knew she loved that treat from previous posts? She had that way about her that made you feel loved and cared for, uplifted, nurtured -- and informed! She got to know her enemy well, which is how a good Warrior works. Participating in your own wellness was her plan and she managed to eke out a batch of years past her prognosis. Her intelligence and her radiant energy could be felt by every one of us, through this board, within her clever words. Ever positive, she could find a pony in a pile of s**t... )

As she says in her words below -- she felt very blessed. And still greedy (her words) -- I'd say she was hungry --for Life! And she loved loving Life despite all the crap she had to go through, and her list was wayyyy too long. She deserved better. But she will never be forgotten, not by me, not by most of us!!

My thoughts are with her husband John and her sister Steph whose loss is deeply grievous. May they and her whole family find a way to focus on how blessed they were to have this remarkable, fun and funny, smart and sassy lady like no other in their lives. It is always too soon. But I know Chrisy would ask them to reach out and live Life with all their hearts
-- for her, by proxy so to speak...

She and I often talked about her special place -- Yosemite. It is an awesome space that touches your very Soul. I know she is at peace now. No more struggle. No more pain. Only the serenity and beauty that we on earth can see and touch occasionally when we hike through Yosemite or go to our special own place...

From CHRISY last September (9/12)



"Stage IV canserversary - 8 years

Just realized, this isn't the first time our labor day weekend plans have been disrupted!

In 2004, our plans to spend Labor day weekend doing...nothing were blown up by the words "you have masses in your liver, and it is cancer". We ran away to the Eastern Sierra.

How ironic.

That weekend we hoped and prayed I would exceed the "average" of 18 months (that was before I realized the Herceptin effect and how "off" those stats were.)

We never dreamt that 8 years later, our plans to escape to the Eastern Sierra would be derailed by...anything

Hmmmm. Feeling very blessed. And still greedy for life.
__________________
And on 4 / 19 / 13 , Chrisy wrote:
I LOVE you all and am sending you this cyber hug

I can feel it. Still...

Chrisy's Sister in Spirit,
Andi

Thank you Denise for starting this so eloquently. Thank you StephN for the pics and words. I wasn't in San Antonio but now I feel even closer because pictures say so much to our Souls.

[StephN]

Here is a link to Chrisy's obit, with a special link embedded to a Breast Cancer Memorial site.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/san...88#fbLoggedOut

I love the photo that was chosen to accompany the text about her life - wind lashing her face and she pays no attention.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

The obit speaks of Chrisy as being a choreographer of Human Energy. She could often be seen dancing on the beach or in her living room. She danced with Life, no matter what.
On line I found a set of choreographed dances examining energy. Asked how the choreographer approached the topic in his work that pushed boundaries? Chrisy pushed boundaries all the time. She was a participatant in the research of a breakthrough medicine that gives new hope to breast cancer patients. She was a giving Spirit in the truest sense of the word. She gave of herself in myriad ways, on a regular basis. She was exceptional in so many ways, always teaching us there are no limits to finding ways to offer your time and, your love. Human potential is limitless.
In the choreographed dance series, they looked at potential energy, electrical energy and emotional energy. (If one has ever been depressed -- and who hasn't? -- you know that emotion requires energy. For me there is always a wind-up when someone asks, "How are you doing?" I have to muster enough energy to say "great," and sound like I mean it. And in time, I come to believe it. I own it. I create it. I believe that's what our Christy did.

At the same time, she managed to never whine, or live defeated. She reported the facts and put the most positive spin on it, boosting each of us, as she did herself. That's a art. An act of grand grace and artistry.

Chrisy was a shining example of human potential despite great adversity. I seek to be like her in that regard. With the most delightful injection of humor that helped put others in a happy mood. I KNOW what you give is returned to you. So all the goodness she offered ended up involving a boomerang effect that served to lighten her burden as she comforted ours.

Thank you again, Steph for sharing this with us. That smile of hers still lights up my world!

She fought with hope till the very end. That's incredibly admirable in my book. She was a trooper, and an angel on her, showing the way. And she will contiue to do that for all of us. She went out in style, with love, just as she lived her life.

[Catherine]

This is too sad. My prayers for her husband and family. Chrisy was a star. May she be an even bigger star in Heaven. May she be loved as much in Heaven as she was here on Earth.

[tricia keegan]

I too have been off the board a few days and was so sad to read this although agree its a wonderful tribute Denise. I also have special memories of Chrisy who looked out for everyone before herself it seems. I remember receiving a pm from her saying she knew I lived in Ireland and someone had posted that wanted to move here if Herceptin was available as she couldn't get it in Scotland where she lived, Chrisy asked if I could help. I of course was happy too and arranged a hospital etc for this lady in need (Carol) and visited her in hospital and we went on to become friends until she passed two years later, her husband asked that we attend her funeral service. I know Carol was so grateful to Chrisy for putting us in touch as she had two extra years she wouldn't have had and passed at peace knowing her two young children were being cared for by their Father and his(Irish) family who lived close by. I'm sure Chrisy and Carol are together now along with so many other angels gone too soon from this board but I have no doubt Chrisy was the nearest thing on earth to an Angel that Carol and I ever found. RIP Chrisy...xx

[Jean]

I have been away for a few days - knowing Chrisy was not doing well and have dreaded coming on and reading this news.
It is difficult to accept. Chrisy was a strong lady on so many levels. Never one to complain always a positive strength and her humor was off the charts.

She will be dearly missed - yet another dear one we have lost.

[Pray]

I have been off the board for some time now. My heart sank to find chrisy has passed. I'm sure she is with Sheila and all our sisters who have passed and are now basking in perpetual light. Thank you, all of you for your stories, rememberences, heart felt joy of knowing her and the obvious sadness of missing them.

[phil]

I came back from vacation, and saw the heading on this post, it wasn't a surprise, but still a punch in the gut. What a Fighter, and such an Inspirer ! We never met , but I felt a kindred spirit in the fight for Stage IV Rights. What a Strong, Encouraging Spirit ! Chrisy, you are Greatly Missed here !

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

She passed with fireworks. As she lived. A beautiful sparkle of Light, a joyous Soul. Chrisy can't begin to imagine what you're up to now. But I miss you. See you... in time...

Think of you so very often! Always have. Always will...

Love,
ANDI

[suzan w]

Another dear friend snatched too soon by this #!@& disease...Chrisy was one of the first to respond to my desperate questions in 2005. Through the years we connected often on this site. We shared a common birthday, 7/11, and got great pleasure out of this every year. I will miss you, dear Birthday Twin. I will eat chocolate for both of us this year.

[mamacze]

Denise - you are Chrisy's soul sister - your sense of kind hearted humor rises to the top. Thank you for such a beautiful and joy filled tribute...just the way Chrisy would like it. Chrisy's joie de vivre is a thumb print on my soul now - what a wonderful gift she shared before she moved on. God Speed to such a beautiful person, inside and out.
Love Kim (from CT)