I am so sorry to hear this sad news, I hope she didn't suffer too much.  My
sympaties to all her family and friends.  Love Janet

Opening my email this morning, my eyes filled with tears. People DID know
Grace. Thank you Beverley, Eleanor, and Janet for your responses. It feels
like a honour (albeit a heartbreaking one) to connect with all of you and do
this small thing in love for my sister.

Instead of responding individually, I thought I'd make another post.

Grace spent her last summer in Morrisburg, Ontario with our mother and her 5
year old son, Adam. Her husband Doug was tying things up in Alberta, and
making preparations to move the family back to Ontario. In September, she
moved into her new family home with Doug and Adam and spent one night there
before being hospitalized... and she was never home again.

Her battle was a long one, which I know many of you encouraged her through.
She was diagnosed with Lupus more than 5 years ago. The medications she was
given at that time resulted in brain cancer, and after a bone marrow
transplant a few years ago, she developed serious problems with her lungs. In
the end, she decided not to go back on life support for the third time... and
her family lovingly supported her in this decision.

On November 5th, our family was called to the hospital. My other sister Ruth
and I live in Kitchener, Ontario which is 6 hours from the Ottawa hospital
she was in. (My mother only lived about an hour away.) We hoped on a plane
and were all together by her bedside by early afternoon. Her husband and son
were also there. (As well as brother-in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins and
friends.) Grace was awake enough to see us all, and smile, and say a few
words. She wasn't in any pain. My mom and other sister and I camped out in
her bedroom... and she passed away peacefully just before dawn on November
6th, 2006.

I know many of you in this group have read Grace's book entitled "Knocked Off
My Knees: Coping When Chronic Illness Hits Hard". Near the end of it, she
wrote this passage, which I quoted when delivering her eulogy.

"I hold my son's hand as he stomps on the snow. He is thrilled to be outside.

Every little dance and shriek proclaims his joy - at being alive, at the
wonder of the world around him.

I don't jump and squeal; i just smile at Adam and walk beside him. And yet, I
too am joyful and thankful to be able to move about, to be able to experience
special time with friends and family, and to enjoy the wonder of God's
creation.

As I write this, I realize all too clearly that I can't foretell the future.

I am doing quite well now. I feel quite physically stong. My flexibility is
fairly good, and I only rarely feel fevered or sick.

But looking ahead, I don't know what sort of health situation I might
encounter.

Will it always be a matter of fighting one problem after another? Will I
essentially be able to live a relatively normal life? Will I return to a
wheelchair and a physcially helpless state?

The fact is, I don't know.

I can only put my trust in God for my future, and make the most of the
strength, health and opportunities that are given to me each day."

Grace had just turned 37 shortly before she died. I'm her baby sister, still
a few months shy of 30. Her death was tragic, and she was much too young and
I do feel robbed of my sister. However, she accomplished more than many do a
long lifetime. I hope those of you who have read (or will read) her book are
touched and inspired by her life, just as I was.

Thank you for letting me share. Good luck to all of you on your journeys.

Oh My gosh... I am floored here.. I used to chat with her a couple of years
ago.. such a wonderful person...She will be missed..
RhondaM

Grace will be missed....we loved her a lot
My sympathy to your family and hope everyone is healing.
Love,
Mary R