It always happens to the good ones...
I have some sad news, indeed. I found out Saturday actually.
Nicole (hypatia360), also known as Ishara, was my very first actual belly dance teacher. She embraced all us Champaign "rowdy girls" with such love and enthusiasm. She is a devoted teacher, student, mother and wife, and is just an amazing woman all around.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple years ago. 2006's Bellies for Life was particularly special for us, as we'd just recieved the news that her cancer was in remission. But this year took a turn for the worst. Her 1 year check-up was good, but she kept getting these aches and pains. Finally going to the ER, they discovered that her breast cancer was not only back, but back with a vengence. It spread to her bones and liver, and the prognosis was poor. She started a new LJ, hygieia180, to chronicle her journey and keep friends and family updated. Here's the beginning post there.
Still, she kept on with life, trying to stay in grad school around her family, her belly girls, and the rigors of chemo. I was SO glad to see her at this year's Bellies for Life, though it was a bit sadder. But she performed with her daughters and was as always amazing to watch. It was so good to see Nicole again. She said she wanted to see me and my girls perform next year.
So, her husband updated her LJ. She's doing MUCH worse. Her liver is failing. If they can get her liver working again, she has months left. If not... well, there's too much to know for sure now. Megan called me yesterday. She was with Nicole at the hospital for 5 hours yesterday. She only came to twice, and she wasn't very coherent due to the morphine and her liver. She's worried, as are we all.
The only "good" thing is that she won't feel anything if she does slip away, so at least she's not anguishing in pain.
I had a dream in her honor Sunday day. It was a belly dance dream. She was not in it, but it was like we were carrying on in her memory. The weird part was that most the belly dancers were vet techs, but that's cause work was on my mind too. Either way, it felt very much like a "in memory of", which made me very sad when I woke up. She means so much to me.
But, for now, she's still with us. We'll know soon if it's her time or if she gets a few more months with us. Either way I do hope she is at peace. I know things have been bad/stressful all over, but if you can spare her and her family a few good, happy thoughts and positive energy, I'm sure she and hers would appreciate it very much. Thanks guys.
Edit: You can light a candle in her honor - the group name is ISHAR.
Nicole (hypatia360), also known as Ishara, was my very first actual belly dance teacher. She embraced all us Champaign "rowdy girls" with such love and enthusiasm. She is a devoted teacher, student, mother and wife, and is just an amazing woman all around.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple years ago. 2006's Bellies for Life was particularly special for us, as we'd just recieved the news that her cancer was in remission. But this year took a turn for the worst. Her 1 year check-up was good, but she kept getting these aches and pains. Finally going to the ER, they discovered that her breast cancer was not only back, but back with a vengence. It spread to her bones and liver, and the prognosis was poor. She started a new LJ, hygieia180, to chronicle her journey and keep friends and family updated. Here's the beginning post there.
Still, she kept on with life, trying to stay in grad school around her family, her belly girls, and the rigors of chemo. I was SO glad to see her at this year's Bellies for Life, though it was a bit sadder. But she performed with her daughters and was as always amazing to watch. It was so good to see Nicole again. She said she wanted to see me and my girls perform next year.
So, her husband updated her LJ. She's doing MUCH worse. Her liver is failing. If they can get her liver working again, she has months left. If not... well, there's too much to know for sure now. Megan called me yesterday. She was with Nicole at the hospital for 5 hours yesterday. She only came to twice, and she wasn't very coherent due to the morphine and her liver. She's worried, as are we all.
The only "good" thing is that she won't feel anything if she does slip away, so at least she's not anguishing in pain.
I had a dream in her honor Sunday day. It was a belly dance dream. She was not in it, but it was like we were carrying on in her memory. The weird part was that most the belly dancers were vet techs, but that's cause work was on my mind too. Either way, it felt very much like a "in memory of", which made me very sad when I woke up. She means so much to me.
But, for now, she's still with us. We'll know soon if it's her time or if she gets a few more months with us. Either way I do hope she is at peace. I know things have been bad/stressful all over, but if you can spare her and her family a few good, happy thoughts and positive energy, I'm sure she and hers would appreciate it very much. Thanks guys.
Edit: You can light a candle in her honor - the group name is ISHAR.