Krista

Krista and Jacob

Okay, I'm just going to be honest. I have had time to blog the past week and a half. I just haven't wanted to because of this particular post that I really needed to write, but haven't really known how to say it. It's odd because it's easy for me to talk about, and I really don't mind talking about it. But putting it all on the computer just seems so hard for me. So, here I go.

Many of you know that Mike's sister, Krista, suffered from brain cancer. Stage 4 Gioblastoma Multiforme to be exact. She was diagnosed with it 5 years ago in December. 5 years ago, the doctors gave her months to live. People just don't survive this type of brain cancer. Well, Krista was having none of that. She had too much to do like spend more time with Jared, teach her kids many, many things, write a book (Fertile in Our Faith), write another book (Jake the Puppy and Emma the Cat (will be published soon)), continue with her 2ofusfornow website that she and Jared created, etc. She beat the odds BIG TIME.

She had been in remission for years. In September 2010, however, she discovered that the cancer had spread to her spine. So, let the treatments begin again. She handled the treatments well. She had just finished her last treatment and was looking forward to getting good test results the week of December 12th. But she didn't make it that far.

Very early in the morning (middle of the night) on December 10th, Krista was having trouble breathing and was rushed to the hospital. It was determined that she had blood clots in both of her lungs. Despite the doctor's best efforts, she didn't make it. It was her time to go. I have no doubt that she was welcomed with open arms by Christ and all of the family members that preceded her. I also have no doubt that she is happy, safe, healthy, and pain free.

For the past 5 years, since Krista's diagnosis, we all have been mentally preparing ourselves for the time when Krista would get so sick from the cancer that she would need a lot of help, possibly be bed ridden, etc. We were NOT prepared for her to die suddenly during the night, and not even from the cancer. This was a huge shock to us. However, as hard as it was, this was a blessing to Krista, Jared, Jacob and Emma. Krista never had to suffer in those ways that I just mentioned. And Jared and the kids never had to see their wife/mom suffering in those ways either. The kids don't have memories of their mom sick in bed at home or in a hospital. Instead, she passed quietly in the hospital with Jared at her side holding her hand, the kids at home asleep. Jacob and Emma's last memory of her is reading scriptures, saying family prayer, and kissing their mom and dad goodnight. This is all a tender mercy from the Lord.

This has been a difficult time for us. One of the things that Krista worked really hard on over the past years was getting all of her family around her. It worked. All of her immediate family lives in Texas and most of us live within 30 minutes of her. This has been a great blessing as we have all been able to surround Jared and the kids with love, help, understanding, and fun things to help them get through this time.

How are Jared and the kids doing? Well, they're doing okay. They each have strong testimonies that everything happens for a reason and there is a plan for all of us. This is a trial they must endure on Earth and will be blessed for it. And they will see Krista again. So will I. So will Mike. So will her other brothers and her parents.

So as the tears are flow again as I write this, I realize that the pain will be temporary. Though I can only imagine what it is like for Jared and the kids as they make their way through each day. And for Mike who quietly misses his only sister. And for Lynn and Phil who miss their only daughter. And for Jim and Blake who also miss their only sister. Anyways, you get the point. She is missed by many. She touched many lives.

Krista was strong and faithful no matter what happened, or might happen. She was a strength to everyone around her. She was happy and didn’t complain about any of the trials she was going through or about how sick she might have felt from the chemo and radiation treatments. To me that is one of the greatest things about her. She was just 100% willing to do whatever the Lord asked.

Krista kept a blog as a type of journal that she started back when she was first diagnosed: www.onkristasmind.blogspot.com. Jared took over the blog for her and now we can read about his strength and faith and how he’s willing to do whatever the Lord asks.

Krista, God be with you 'till we meet again. I can't wait for our next Sunday dinner together.