Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Loss is Becoming a Familiar Sensation

Last night I learned that my dear childhood friend, Kambria Wesch Doherty, lost her two and a half-year battle with Neuroendcorine Carcinoma - an extremely rare and aggressive cancer that moved quickly throughout her body and brain. Upon her initial diagnosis, Kambria was given three months to live. She beat those odds considerably and held out for 2 plus years.

I grew up in a small California town. The friends I met in kindergarten were the friends I graduated high school with. Kambria and I spent our childhoods together. We had sleep overs. Her dad coached the first basketball team we ever played on. We went to junior high dances together. We took college entrance exams together. And off and on, we met for coffee in later years to discuss college and marriage and then had our babies at the same time. As Shakespeare says, Kambria is the "calendar of my nativity". We've walked this life together.

She has many friends like me. Kambria gave herself whole-heartedly to all. She was a beacon of light and positivity, not just in her childhood, but as a mother, a wife, a teacher and throughout her battle with cancer. But today, we're grieving. We are gutted. We are torn apart. Tomorrow will be better, but today, we're silent.


"Losing love is like a window in your heart.
Everybody sees you're blown apart.
Everybody sees the wind blow."
-Paul Simon





And here we are together as kids:





Kambria leaves behind three young children and a devoted husband. Please consider donating to her fund. Cancer is not cheap. Death is not cheap. Let's give this gorgeous family some breathing room to grieve. Please visit her donation site HERE

13 comments:

Meagan said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. That's awful.

Rachel Anderson said...

Tears for you today...
love
R

Unknown said...

Well said Sarah. My deepest sympathies to Kami and her family.

Unknown said...

Well said Sarah. My deepest sympathies to Kami, her family, and everyone grieving the loss of this amazing woman.

MFAMB said...

just donated. i am so sorry. great dedication sarah. beautiful.

Wendy said...

I donated. It's hard for me to imagine this beautiful young family going through this ordeal. Thanks for telling their story and letting me play a teeny tiny part in helping them.

Notes From ABroad said...

I am so sorry. She was beautiful. My heart goes out to her family, her children .. her friends.

Anonymous said...

Sarah, thank you for inspiring others to visit her contribution page, and for a beautiful tribute to Kami. Love and prayers to them. She, like you, was a very special light. Kim

Anonymous said...

Sarah - My heart goes out to you and to everyone who loves Kambria. I am so sorry that you have suffered so many losses. I wish you comfort.

Anonymous said...

Life is not fair.

Emily said...

I'm so very sorry to read this. Love and peace be with you, and with Kambria's beautiful family.

Unknown said...

Oh sweetie Im so so sorry for your loss. I very recently lost my cousin and it is gut wrenching. My heart goes out to you all in this difficult time.

Unknown said...

Rip Kambria.