Very sad day

[Hank70SS]

Many of you have read my previous posts regarding our friend Veronica and her 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. Last night she lost that battle.

She was in severe pain and went into the hospital late Monday night. They placed her on a ventilator Tuesday. Our son went to the hospital on his way home from work yesterday. We planned on visiting her today. He called us to say they had pulled the ventilator and it wouldn't be long. We jumped in the car and raced in to Livonia. She slipped away a few hours later, 9:47 pm.

I'll try to copy in an email he sent to the people in his region. It details the struggles she went through. I'm not copying his email for donations, just to let you know what she went through. I haven't kept you updated on the details so here it is.

Dear MID,

I don’t often mix my personal life and my work life. Nor am I one to ask for help very often but on this sad day I am doing both. On May 8th, 2013 my dear friend Veronica Beauvais passed away. I’m asking you to please read the following and do what your heart tells you to.

Veronica was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer in October of 2010. This was her second battle with cancer. She had already beaten ovarian cancer about 5 years prior. After many months of chemo, a 14 hour long double mastectomy surgery and radiation treatment she was cancer free by June of 2011. Unfortunately Veronica’s battle wasn’t over yet. In September of 2011 the Drs. found cancer in her neck. At this point many of us would have given up, but not Veronica. She was bound and determined not to let cancer beat her. She endured more chemo and radiation and was once again cancer free in February of 2012. Veronica’s family and the many friends whose lives she had touched were relieved.

Again her struggles were not over. In June of 2012 we received the news that Veronica had incurable bone cancer, a death sentence. All the doctors could do was try to slow the growth of the cancer. Veronica’s response was simple, “There are people that have lived with cancer in their bones for 20 years, and that’s going to be me!” She never faltered, never faded, never backed down and she never gave up. She was a fighter. Through all of this she was always there to tell me that things were going to be alright. I should have been telling her that, but she always beat me to the punch. The cancer began to spread into her brain and her spine by December of 2012. In February of 2013 the doctors told her and her family that there was nothing else they could do for her except to keep her comfortable. Even then, Veronica didn’t give up. She gave them the middle finger and sought help from a different hospital but her health continued to deteriorate over the last few months.

I was informed in the afternoon on May 8th that Veronica had flat lined in the morning and after 5 minutes the doctors were able to bring her back. She was a fighter! I was able to make it to the hospital around 7 pm that evening. They had removed the ventilator and were waiting for her to go and be with her father and grandmother. She was surrounded by people that loved her, her family, my family and her close friends. We watched the monitors and saw her fight each time her family or friends would begin to cry. We realized that she wasn’t going to give up until we stopped asking her to stay here for us. At 9:47pm on Wednesday May 8th Veronica lost her battle.

Unfortunately after years of battling cancer, Veronica and her family don’t have anything left emotionally, mentally or financially. While standing at the foot of her daughter’s bed shortly after she had just passed away, Veronica’s mother said she didn’t know what to do. Financially devastated after years of mounting medical bills how could she provide her daughter with a proper service and memorial. She said she would have her cremated and would take her cremains home because she couldn’t afford to bury Veronicas ashes with her father.

Veronica will be laid to rest in the way she deserves, if I have to pay for it, she will be laid to rest in the way she deserves.. If you can help with any donation possible, even just a dollar to help lay my friend to rest the way she deserves, I and her family would be grateful..

I wish each and every one of you could have met her. I know I am a better and stronger person because of knowing her and I know each of you would be as well.

Thank you for your time MID.

Best Wishes~

[shadowgray396]

Our prayers will be with the family and friends.

[flash]

Hank ,Im so sorry for your loss ,she was sure a fighter .

[FlintTony]

We send our condolenses Hank, Lynda, and Henry. This is a tough one.

[Hank70SS]

Thanks.

It was hard being at the hospital when she passed but at least we had a chance to thank her for being a part of our lives. The hospital staff was very nice allowing all of us to be with her. There were at least 10 family members and friends with Veronica when she passed.

It might seem strange that we were so attached to this young lady, our son's friend, but you never met her. I went to use the other computer this morning and Lynda had Veronica's Facebook page up, I'm not on Facebook. Anyway I started reading and scrolling and reading and scrolling, etc. Amazing how many friends she had and how many lives she touched.

Gone way too soon but struggling no more, thanks again.

Hope next month is a little better, first mom, then Veronica, I can't take much more of this.

[Ms Grumpy]

Hank, after reading this my eyes are filled with tears. I never knew this young lady but from your posts about her she sounds like she was an inspiration to others.

Even with her own battles she wanted to make life easier for others. ("We watched the monitors and saw her fight each time her family or friends would begin to cry. We realized that she wasn’t going to give up until we stopped asking her to stay here for us.")

Veronica touched many lives, even those who didn't know her. Do you have an address to post, where donations can be sent ? If you do, would you post it here for us to share.

[Hank70SS]

Thanks Nancy. I know where Veronica's mother lives but don't have an address handy. I think she'll be okay, our son received a little over $1000 in donations at work yesterday. We'll add to that as will he and hopefully some of her other friends will as well.

Veronica will be laid out on Monday, just the one day, then she will be cremated. We'll make sure Sue, her mother, has the funeral expenses covered. Thanks for the kind offer.