Our Dear Friend Kate Got Her Wings

[Kavy]

Sisters and Brothers,

It is with a broken heart and great sadness that I bring the dreaded news that our dear Kate, Kathleen McCarthy, went home to be with the Lord today, at 3:30 pm, sorrounded by her loved ones.
Our friend is now at peace. She is no longer in pain, no longer sick, no more suffering. She is strong and health again surrounded by beautiful angels, and by her family who went before her, specially her beloved son.
Kate courageously fought her battle until the very end. She faced this horrible disease with dignity and incredible strengh and positivity. She was an amazing person who touched me and so many others with her kindness and her support, and her posts were an inspiration for all of us.
Kate was a wonderful friend who I feel honored to have met her here on this site, and who always had encouraging and positive words when I needed most. I feel so blessed that I had the chance to get to know her better and to see what an amazing person she was. I also feel blessed that I was able to be "by her side" (phone calls) until almost the very end giving her the support that she gave to so many of us throughout these years.
I would like to thank each and every one of you on behalf of Kate's family and on my behalf for your prayers, support and kind words to our friend. Know that Kate treasured all of you and this site, and that she felt honored to be part of this family and to know that all of you were praying for her.
My heart is crying for my dear friend. I will never forget her. I know I will miss her a lot, I already am, but it comforts me to know that she is loved by all of us and that she will live forever in the heart of her family and each one of us.
God bless you all.
KarlaV.

[Unregistered]

Oh karla this is so sad, I know Kate was battling for her life but still got such a shock on seeing your post just now. I'm so sorry to hear this, you also have been such a wonderful friend to Kate and a great support during her recent fight. Kate and I had been exchanging pm's up to recently on where she stayed in her time in Ireland and how much she enjoyed it.
She was a true lady and we'll all miss her so here. As I leave to attend Carols funeral I take comfort only in knowing they are both out of pain and at peace from this disease at last.
God bless them both and help their family and friends through this sadness in accepting their loss.
Thank you Karla, bringing this awful news to us especially this week was not an enviable task.

((((hugs))))

[tricia keegan]

Sorry forgot to log in, that message above was me Tricia Keegan..

[hermiracles]

Feel so sad. Love you Kate.
Hermiracles.

[michka]

I am crying. It is so unfair. Why take away from us the nicest and most courageous person? Thank you Karla for finding all the right words about Kate. I will never forget her.
Michka

[Mary Jo]

Thank you Karla for sending us this message about our Kate. Yes, she was a beautiful person and I feel blessed in having gotten to know her.

My sincere condolences to you and her family. Although we know her suffering has ended and she now has health and peace in Heaven, our hearts are heavy with saddness in knowing we will not "see" her here again.

God Bless you dear Karla and may you all be held close by God and given His comfort and peace.

Love,

Mary Jo

[belle]

I found her very special, too. She will be missed very much here...

[dhealey]

I am overwelmed by sadness over Kate's passing. She was such an inspiration to me. Another angel looking down on us. Kavy my you find comfort in that she is now cancer free. May you find comfort and peace in the following days as you greive the loss of your dear friend. She will be greatly missed hear on the board.

[kcherub]

No.....

Peaceful, but sad.

[kareneg]

This is so heart breaking. I pray for Kate and her family that they are finally at peace. My deepest sympothy goes out to her family and everyone here we have suffered a great loss. All my love dear Kate all my love.

[Sheila]

This is not the news I wanted to read this morning. We are blessed in ever having known Kate....she was truly a very special person, always putting herself last. My deepest sympathy to her family. Our dear Kate is an angel now...I will miss you Kate, my friend.
In sadness

[DonnaD]

My heart is breaking. Kate fought like a warrior until the very end. She is to be remember for her courage. It has been an honor to know Kate from this site. Thank you Christine and Joe for bringing us into this family where we can meet sisters like Kate. I am at a loss for words.

Her family, Kavy and all her friends will be in my prayers. Let us continue to pray for a cure for this unfair disease.
Donna

[Joe]

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kate and send our most sincerest condolences to her family.

Joe

[Gerri]

God Bless you Kate and make you whole again. You will be missed.

Much love,

[kcherub]

All day yesterday, I would have moments of being inbetween laundry, cleaning, etc. and would think, "I am thinking of/hoping for/praying for Kate." It was simple, but it kept her on my mind all day. I kept checking the board, and was panicked when it was down--I needed to hear how Kate was.

When I first came here, she was one of the first people to write to me. I will never forget her mile-wide grin and ever-optimistic spirit. I will never forget that new photo of her (sans hair), but still with that grin.

With a heavy heart,

[Hopeful]

My heart is very heavy from this sad news. My condolences to Kate's family and friends. They are in my thoughts.

Hopeful

[lilyecuadorian]

this is so broken heart news , I felt so impotence about this ..hopeless ..my prayers go with Kate who is in Heaven ...reading our post under God name and with angels on another vibration another level ...wachting her family and her friends like our group ...Please Dear Kate the Great help us wherever you are in heaven give us a hand on this ...you know how is ...knowing your genorosity I know that you will !!!!and I always remember you ......peace for your family ...and my condolence with the love one's family and friends ..

[mts]

The loss of Kate feels very personal to me... I hope she knew how much she was loved !

Maria

[basset girl]

I am so sad to hear of Kate's passing. She was such a strength and inspiration to all of us. I know now she is at peace in heaven. I hate this disease so much!! May God give Kate's family peace and comfort during this time.

[mimiflower07]

she is now free...free to continue to support and love us from above. May her family find comfort as they find their way.
suzanne

[nitewind]

This is so heartbreaking. I really hesitated about checking the board this morning but found myself unable to look. Our dear sweet Kate, I will miss her so much.
I was sitting outside yesterday in our back woods, we had a small fire going and I was lost in thought. I prayed , over and over, that God would give us a miracle. I sat for a few hours and then asked God that if He decided there was to be no miracle that he would take her quickly and not let her suffer. Words can't express how I feel. I pray to God that when it's my time, He will let Kate greet me with a smile and a big hug.
Signing off for now
hugs

[caya]

So sad and totally unfair - Kate was a true warrior and inspiration to all of us on this board. Always upbeat and willing to help anyone who asked. I will miss her tremenduously.

with a breaking heart,
all the best
caya

[Faith in Him]

I will always remember Kate's beautiful smiling face. May we all find comfort that she is now no longer in any pain or suffering and is with her beloved son. But still, my heart breaks for her family and for us, who loved her.

[WomanofSteel]

I am so sorry to hear Kate has lost her battle. It brought tears to my eyes this morning when I read your post. My deepest sympathies to Kate's family and friends. She was truly an inspiration to many, many people and a fighter till the very end. May she have peace at last and watch over all of us.

[Mary Anne in TX]

It's like being robbed of precious jewelry. That head strong, so kind, living that Kate showed us over and over was a wonder to behold. I always saw Kate as the captain of a ship, standing against the wind in a storm. What an example, what a gift she has been to us. Sending you love in heaven, mighty warrior. May your family and friends continue to be blessed by having known you and learned from you. ma

[goops]

I am so sorry to hear this, my prayers are with her family and friends.

[Julie2]

I am so sad from the news. I was hoping and praying that she would be alright after coming back from hospital. This is not the news I wanted to hear. My hearfelt condolences to Kate's family.

Julie

[StephN]

My heart hurts.


I have been thinking all winter and spring that Kate's doctor may have been remiss in not giving her a pneumonia vaccine. With the increase of this illness, they have been giving it here for a few years now. I had mine and so does anyone else at risk that agrees to take it. Just wish this complication to her treatment could have been prevented.

Kate, hover over us and show the researchers the way to a cure.

[anne2]

So sad. I met Kate two years ago and we spent almost a whole day talking. She was so wonderful and always so brave. I will remember this about her. She talked about her 2 daughters and I will remember how devoted she was. She fought till the end. I hope she did not suffer.
Anne

[Barbara H.]

Kate has been in my thoughts for the past few months. I was also given the pneumonia vaccine this year for the first time. I was later glad that I had it because a few teachers in my school ended up with pneumonia. Nevertheless, we can't really know for sure why Kate lost her battle. I feel so sad for her and for her family. Please accept my sympathy.
Barbara H.

[chrisy]

None of us will ever forget Kate, I am glad she is at peace. She is so very special, and will always be with us in our hearts.

[Becca]

Sad news about Kate, but glad she is now at peace and no long suffering.

[duga35]

This is so sad. Kate was one of the first people to say a kind word to me when I first arrived here and was scared to death.

This just isn't fair.......*tears*

[lisajones4]

I am sorry to hear about Kate. She always took the time to respond with kind words. My heart goes out to her family.

Lisa

[Joy]

For being such a dear friend and our link to Kate. I can't say much more than what has been said by so many beautiful people here. Please share with her family that I am one more person who loves Kate and will miss her deeply. My prayers and the warmth from my heart left by her are to be given to her family.

With tears,
Joy

[hutchibk]

No no no. My heart is shattered. I can barely type this through the tears. I will miss my sweet friend and beautiful Georgia belle. I can't imagine our site without her. But I know she is keeping God in stitches with a plethora of Irish jokes... I love you sweet Kate, you are and will always be one of my true inspirations.

[Colleens_Husband]

Dear Friends:

I am so sorry to hear about Kate. She was one of the first people to answer my first post here. She was so alive and willing to help that i was shocked to hear that she passed away. She was so full of energy and her heart was big enough to allow room for perfect strangers and to help them.

I am sad to see her go, but she had a life well lived. I can only hope to be as brave and giving as she was. She will be an inspiration to me.

Lee

[Becky]

What very sad news. I feel that Kate really didn't even get her chance to fight. She always had to stop chemo for one reason or another - low counts, pneumonia, then the clot in her leg. She could never stay on something long enough for it to even fail her.

Through it all she stayed Kate. Still giving support to others and not wanting to take support from us. She is with our angels and her son, playing cards and singing Danny Boy. I will miss her.

[Bill]

Such heart-breaking news. Karla, thanks so much for keeping us posted. I'm praying for you and your family, and for Kate and her family at this dreaful time. Kate was one of the first to reach out to me, also, when I first joined the site. I loved her cute smile and fierce determination. I used to like to tease her about the "rodent-like" thing on her shoulder, before I knew the story of Tiptoe, and I think she kinda liked being teased about it. She really was a special woman. I could go on and on about her, like you all could. She will be missed. I'm glad she is no longer suffering.

[PinkGirl]

Without wanting to or trying to, Kate stood out in our group. She gained our attention because of her compassionate, friendly
and sincere ways. I am honoured to have known her.

Peace and comfort to Kate's family and friends.

[Yorkiegirl]

I have been so sad with a heavy heart since I read this morning about Kate, that I couldn't even post.

Kate's family will be in prayers during this most difficult time. I know God will wrap his arms around them and give them comfort.

Thank you Karla for keeping us posted. My prayers to you as well.

[Paty]

Terribly sad by the news. Never leave us alone Kate, help us all through this struggle. My condolences go to Kate's family.

[LAURIE]

My heart is aching. I am really going to miss her. Kate and I talked a lot about our similar diagnosis. She really gave me great advice on my lymphedema. We also talked about how she lives so close to my brother. I am going to see if my brother can go to calling hours for me. I remember crying when she posted that she was now stage 4. I cried then I am now too. I was glad when she changed her picture. The first one had a glow (bright light) behind it, and now I know it was an angel testing her wings. Kate is now my angel. WOW this really hurts. Thank you Kate and her family. Thank you LORD for bringing such an angel in our lives.

[Cannon]

This is the good and the bad of being part of this community - we are blessed to meet all these incredible people, and we lose some of them all too often. Kate's love and spirit will be with us all. My most sincere condolences to her family and friends.

Rebecca

[Sherryg683]

I am just so sorry and heartbroken. There are too many warriers that have passed away recently. Things are quiet for awhile and then this...my prayers are with her family and friends..sherryg683

[Joan M]

Karla,

Please give my sincere condolences to Kate's family.

Thank you for keeping us updated about Kate. You're a wonderful friend to her!

I will miss Kate very much.

Joan

[Lori R]

Where to begin? How do I thank Kate who offered words of encouragement during my darkest moment? Kate, who provided advice and endless support for all of us making our way through this journey.

Kate, be our guide. I know we can count on you.

I wish your family peace and I serenity here on this earth. Love, Lori

[Chelee]

I saw this post earlier and just could not reply at the time through the tears. We have had too much bad news lately and this is just another heart breaker. Kate was such a kind & compassionate person that tried to be there for everyone. If there was anyway she thought she could help someone she did without a second thought. She gave so much of herself here.

Not a day would go by that I would come to this board & see that Kate was always the first person to reply to every new post. She made sure the newcomers felt welcome the minute they posted if she could. She was almost always the 1st one to reply to each & every post. I feel like she was the her2's boards professional greeter. This is such a sad lost and her presents will certainly be missed. I feel so blessed to of known her but her absents is painful. With my deepest sympathy to her family & friends.

Chelee

[SoCalGal]

I just don't know what I can possibly say yet I am compelled to write. My deepest condolences to Kate's family and friends on this very sad news. Flori

[AbbyDawg]

We will never forget you, Kate ....

Well done, good and faithful servant ....

God bless us ... every one.

[Leslie's sister]

It is hard for me to respond here. I know that this can be a part of this awful disease but honestly I cling so much to the positives..... the miracle drug Herceptin, the health and life that is projected here...... and when a beloved sister becomes an angel, well, it is so hard. The reality of what this cancer might still do is overwhelming. I will miss Kate as I miss so many other beautiful sisters. Thank you so much Karla for keeping us posted. Please give her family my condolences and tell them how blessed we have been to have known her.

[schoolteacher]

I could not post yesterday because I was so sad about Kate. The night before my surgery she called me to offer words of encouragement. The morning of my surgery she called me at 5:17 a.m. to make sure I was not coming to the hospital by myself. The afternoon after I got out of surgery she walked to my room to make sure I was doing o.k. I will miss her.

Amelia

[lexigirl]

Please accept my sympathies for the loss of our dear Kate. I don't have any words right now. Kate will always be close by. I am grateful that she is at peace.

Love,
Lexi

[ElaineM]

Hi,
I am very sorry to hear about Kate. She will be missed at our "her2 club." Sympathy to her family.

[Ruth]

I just mailed dear Kate a note last Saturday and was so frightened that she wouldn't be able to read it....this is just heartbreaking. I don't know what to say. She didn't seem to have a chance on trying new treatments with all of the complications.
I know she is an angel watching us and cheering us on. She was such a sweetie and will be missed greatly. Life is hard to understand at times like this.

[Patb]

So sad, so sad, just away a few days and much bad
news. God bless Kates family.
patb

[Kavy]

I talked with Kate's daughter, and she said her Memorial Service will be tomorrow, Thursday, May 8th, at 10:00 AM ET, at Saint Joseph Church, Murrieta, Georgia.

Take care, and God bless you all.
KarlaV.

[hutchibk]

Do you know where we can send cards or donations in her name (of course to Her2support.org, but does the family have other charities also?)

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Karla.

I will wear my green tennis shoes in honor of Kate tomorrow... (a tradition that started with the heart wrenching loss of our dear Sandy...)

[Mary Jo]

Thank you Karla....I will be with them all in prayer and spirit tomorrow.

God's comfort I pray for you sweet Karla,

Mary Jo

[Catherine]

My condolences to Kate's dear family. I have been out of town, and just signed on to learn about Kate. There are so many beautiful posts for our dear Kate. I hope she hears them. We all loved her and we will all miss her.

With tears, Catherine

[fauxgypsy]

I haven't been posting much but I have been lurking when I can. I am so saddened to hear of the loss of Kate, Michelle H and Carol. I always looked forward to their posts. It is a sad time.