Sad news

I have some sad news to report today......

Tanner's surgeons wife passed away today.
I'm sure many of you have heard me talk about my friend Laurie Pask.
I meet Laurie the first time Tanner had surgery. I will NEVER forget it.
She came out to the main lobby at Strong where I was sitting (around 10pm) and told me about Tanner's disease. She was Dr. Hengerer's RN at the time. I had NO idea it was his wife.
I was soooooooooooo angry at her. I thought 'listen lady - you can just go away. My son is having some quick surgery and then we are out of here'. She knew better and she was trying sooooooooo hard to make me understand that this was a life long disease and that we would be seeing ALOT of each other. I obviously just didn't want to hear it and was in total denial.

Well..... we did start to see ALOT of each other and she had a very special soft spot for Tanner in her heart. I think it was his beautiful blue eyes that won her over. :-)
It was a few years in when I realized that she and Art (Dr. Hengerer) were married. Too funny!

Over time we developed a friendship. We talked on the phone and after she was diagnosed, for the 3rd time with Breast Cancer ( and had stopped working) she would come to my office and take me out for lunch. She had a positive attitude and alway had a smile. Her first question was always "how is your family doing?" We shared alot with each other for many years.

She didn't have any children herself but she treated Tanner and Makayla with so much love. She bought them Christmas presents and on her trip to Africa, she bought them goodies home as well. They were both so happy to get a gift from Africa. I think they enjoyed seeing her pictures the most!

On this past Friday, before Tanner's surgery, Tanner made Laurie a loaf of banana bread. He also made her a card. The card and bread were for both Laurie and Art but - he made them with Laurie in mind. He gave them to Dr. Hengerer and said - "please give Laurie a hug for me". I knew then that Laurie didn't have much time left. Art was having a hard time talking to me about it and expressed that this was the most difficult thing he had ever witnessed - watching a loved one suffer.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. She will be truly missed by anyone and everyone who knew and loved her.