My college (and those weird post-college years) girlfriend died this morning, finally succumbing to breast cancer after a very long fight. I just found out about this (in our strange new world) via facebook. This won't be a very politically driven diary but I just wanted to vent and share my memories of Kath here with the dkos community.
Kath and I weren't really a good match in many ways. I partied too much, played/watched too many sports and generally got through college on my Irish charm, guile and inherent intellect. She was a very conscientious student, volunteered for many causes...basically your model student.
Oh yeah, Kath was a Reagan Republican. No one's perfect but she came close. She wasn't a rabid Republican though...it was the 80's, most of her family was GOP etc. We never had a real heated political argument (i.e. were one or the other went too far) but it always kept things interesting. Kath was more of a fiscal conservative/yuppie in the making.
Anyway, I digress...Kath graduated a year ahead of me (my partying finally catching up to me) and went off into the "real world." We remained a couple through my last year and for a couple years after my graduation. But after many stops and starts, I went into education/coaching and she ultimately moved to another city for her career.
We remained friends over the years. With the advent of the intertubes we were able to stay in touch, share pics of our families etc. We'd see each other at football games, reunions etc. and life was essentially good. Tragically Kath was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. After initially "beating it" through brutal treatments, the insidious disease came back and spread to a degree were it was untreatable.
Kath died this morning. I can't believe I just wrote (through tears falling on my keyboard)that sentence. It's almost inconcievable...there have been very,very,very few people who I've met with more zest for life. I suppose the "purpose" of this diary (beside venting, trying to process) is for people to get a personal take on the awful disease that is breast cancer and to energize everyone even moreso to continue working for better ways to treat and/or find a cure for breast and other cancers.
Kath may have died this morning but she will forever remain in my heart. Please try and do all you can (volunteer,spread the word etc.)about breast cancer so that in 10,20,30 etc. years someone else won't have to read a similar diary here.
Sorry to bum everyone out ...thanks for letting me vent here.