My Friend Karen Olga George
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008A letter to friends about Karen.
Some of you in this email didn’t know Karen personally but you sent your wishes and prayers and asked to be kept posted. Those that do know Karen personally and are interested in arrangements that info will be coming; Michael is waiting for family to arrive and he is a bit overwhelmed right now as can be expected. The world has lost one of the bravest and strongest persons I have ever met in my life. Karen died this morning at home with her husband Michael at her side. I was just with Karen last night and she knew I was there and would try to raise her hand to let me know she knew that I was there. She truly fought until the end. Karen was 33 years old born on 3/13/75. Karen will truly be missed by all those she touched and from what I’ve been learning lately she touched people from coast to coast. Not many of us in this world will get to meet a woman (person) like Karen and I considered it an honor and privilege to call her friend.
Thank you all for your kind words that you have asked me to share with Karen and Michael during this ordeal and I know Karen would have written each of you a personal note thanking you if she had been able to write. That is just the kind of woman she was. I hope I apply the lessons that Karen taught me about life and I don’t let her down.
I’ll try to keep you all posted via email but I’m going to be spending time over at Karen and Michaels house next couple of days so I won’t have regular access to my email so call if you need to reach me quickly.
Thank you all again for your kind words.
One thing to take away from this is that if a doc says to you or your loved one that it’s only a cyst and not to worry about it; go to the Mayo (or the next best hospital) and get checked out thoroughly make them be 100% sure the growth is not cancerous. When you catch it early enough it is almost 100% curable. SOMAD (Karen’s charity) will continue to exist; our goal is that no one will ever have to see a loved one go through what Karen went through ever again. I don’t think we will be able to get an event scheduled for this October (breast cancer awareness month) with all that has been going on with Karen’s battle but I promise SOMAD will in the news for an event next October at the latest and we will keep Karen’s wish alive… That no woman in today’s day in age should die from Breast Cancer. And the scary thing is that over 44,000 women die each year that is the size of a small city and it must be stopped.
Okay folks I’ll keep you updated as I get info but again just call me if you would like.Peace to all, Colin