My sister, Charlotte Elizabeth, 1955 - 2006

[birdgirl73]

Many of you whoâ??re familiar with me know that my familyâ??s been in the long, painful process of losing my older sister to ovarian cancer in recent months. Bess died very early this morning, surrounded by our family. She fought a courageous battle against her cancer for nearly five years, and her terminal condition only became clear within the last four months or so as the disease spread to her brain.

Itâ??s very hard for me to write about the type of person she was right now. But if youâ??ve ever known someone who was an ideal combination of spirit, beauty, and intelligence, that was Bess. She taught me as much or more about how to value life, respect others, and love from the bottom of my heart than any other person on this earth. She wasnâ??t just my older sister but also my oldest and best friend, my favorite role model, and my first â??teacher.â?� My parents say she was so delighted to find herself with a baby sister when she was 6 that she played school with me from the time my infant carrier could be propped upright. She was determined to knock some sense into my head, and she grew up to be a career teacher. Iâ??ve clearly grown up to be a perpetual student. Still a troublesome one, too.

Thanks and much love to the many of you whoâ??ve conveyed well wishes, prayers, and good thoughts over these last months as Iâ??ve been facing this. I apologize to others of you for whom this news comes as a surprise or who don't know me. It was often awkward at best to directly mention the fact that she was dying, and it was frequently a much-needed emotional break for me to simply come to the boards and play, discussing other subjects. It was Bessâ?? last rounds of chemo this past summer that led me to this site, looking for information regarding medical mj. Cannabis gave her some of the most pleasant, chemo-symptom-free time she had early last summer, and Iâ??ll never regret helping make that possible. The only thing I regretâ??and this makes me mad as heck when I think about itâ??is that we had to break the law to do so. That, to me, is the real crimeâ??that in our state and still far too many other states and countries, people who need medical cannabis are denied safe, legal access to it.

If youâ??re so inclined, hereâ??s a way you can honor my sister. Please tell your family or friends that you love them tonight. Then tell them again tomorrow. Then keep telling them that for the rest of your days. Practice random acts of kindness whenever you can. And work hard at being nice to other people. Some make this a very challenging thing to do, I know. But when you think about it, theyâ??re nearly always the ones who need our kindness far more than the ones who make it easy. These were lessons I learned from my sister Bess.

I may not be online very frequently during the next three days, but Iâ??ll check in when I can. Just as an FYI for the detectives among you, weâ??re not running any notices in the online Dallas-area news sites anytime soon, if ever. Weâ??ve been in touch personally with everyone who needs to know the details of her services, and this decision not only helps protect our privacy but also helps prevent us from being generously over-loved by my husbandâ??s very dear current and former patients, many of whom are senior citizens with limited means.

Take care, everyone. Much love and light to each of you and yours tonight.

birdgirl73 Reviewed by birdgirl73 on 11-03-2006. My sister, Charlotte Elizabeth, 1955 - 2006 Many of you whoâ??re familiar with me know that my familyâ??s been in the long, painful process of losing my older sister to ovarian cancer in recent months. Bess died very early this morning, surrounded by our family. She fought a courageous battle against her cancer for nearly five years, and her terminal condition only became clear within the last four months or so as the disease spread to her brain. Itâ??s very hard for me to write about the type of person she was right now. But if Rating: 5

[couch-potato]

I can only imagine what you're going through. Time to smoke a bowl for good ol' Charlotte.

My hat's off to ye.

[Capt. Zigzag]

Just lost my sister. She was all that to me as well.

Be a comfort to your family.

-

[Kryzco]

I'm sorry for your loss

but she is in a better place now

I send my condolences to you and your family

[Dro_Princess]

So sorry to hear this. Ill keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[tootsie roll]

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Your post was so beautiful birdgirl and an honor to Bess. So very moving.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

God Bless You Bess, may you sing with the angels.

[zephyrinne]

I'm sorry to hear that.. my thoughts go out to you and your family.

My step-dad is battling terminal esophagial/lung cancer, and about 4 weeks ago the docs gave him 3 months to live. I've been driving 3 hours home every weekend to see him and spend time with him. I know the sadness and pain you're going through.. but you just have to remember the good times you had with her.

[Breukelen advocaat]

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. That was a beautiful memorial, and my condolences and thoughts are with you during this very painful time.

[mamma puffpuff420]

im so sorry 4 ur lose
and if she was even half as sweet and kind as u birdgirl
she was 1 heck of a great woman
please rest peacefully 2 nite
knowing ur sis is with God now
teaching the little angels
she's not completly gone
u carry her in ur heart

[Reefer Rogue]

I will certainly tell my family I love them. Birdgirl, I'm so sorry for your loss, having never personally experianced a death to a close friend or family member. R.I.P