Mari-Ellen

[electricland]

I learned last night that my cousin Mari-Ellen died.


Mari-Ellen with my cousin Jack, last summer

She had been treated for her second bout with breast cancer (she was in her late 30s, I think). I saw her a little over 3 weeks ago at Jen's party, in great spirits and doing well.

She and her husband Andrew (my actual cousin) were visiting South Africa, and apparently she fainted, and got up, and felt tired and thought she'd have a nap, and just... didn't wake up. Apparently her heart gave out.

I don't know what happens now. Poor Andrew is still in South Africa, I suppose, having to cope.

This isn't a very good tribute. I don't know what to say right now, except I truly don't know why this had to happen. There are so few people out there who can light up a room just by walking into it, who can make everyone around her feel like a special, funny, interesting, intelligent person. I liked her enormously and I don't feel like I got to know her well enough.

This just seems profoundly unfair.

Comments

[lawgeekgurl.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin-in-law. Hopefully your cousin will get the support he needs to get through this trying time. I don't know why things like this happen. It's profoundly unfair.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It really is, isn't it?

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

*hug* At the least, she left knowing she was well-loved.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

Could be much worse. (Of course, could also be much better, but ya know.)

{{Hugs}}

[raithen.livejournal.com]

indeed, unfair. But it sounds like she touched a lot of people in her too-short life. Send Andrew and your family my condolences. And at least she died while truly living her life - exploring South Africa, travelling. DOING stuff she enjoyed. That is SOOOO much better than a prolonged, painful illness in a hospital. Small consolation, I am sure, but consolation nonethless.

I am on MSN all day, if you want to chat.

Re: {{Hugs}}

[electricland.livejournal.com]

You're very right, and it is comforting -- if this had to happen, this is the best way it could. I suppose I was just hoping it didn't have to.

[cretkid.livejournal.com]

i'm so sorry... so young, but at least she was with family... it sounds trite in comparison, but these things don't trippingly come off the tongue..

again, very sorry for your loss

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I never know what to say either...

[mindrobber.livejournal.com]

Words just won't do.

Big hug to you. (That wasn't supposed to rhyme).

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[iagofan.livejournal.com]

condolences

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Unfair is right

[fic-slayer.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

It sounds like she was a very special woman who left too soon.

*hugs you*

Re: Unfair is right

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She was indeed special!

*hugs you back*

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry ):

*hugs*

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs*

...

[monkeycommando.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

(((((Robin)))))

Is that how you do that? I've never tried an e-hug before.

Re: ...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Hey, and the parentheses balance -- well done!

Thanks.

[bryghtboy.livejournal.com]

They never really leave. That's all I feel like saying, anything is just words that never really do much.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

True enough.

*hugs*

[scapersuse.livejournal.com]

{{{Robin}}} Your cousin(in-law) sounds like a lovely person. My condolences to you, your family, and in particular, her husband.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

She really was. Thank you.

[mr-weasel.livejournal.com]

Life is profoundly unfair. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss..

Words are completely inadequate.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[mrs-cake.livejournal.com]

It is unfair. I'm so sorry. Many a hug to you.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. Most unfair.

[ex-mthrtong.livejournal.com]

I just caught up on lj, so I actually read your most recent post before this one. You're right, of course, hard to know what to say, especially when there's distance. I'm sorry, love. She looks very happy in that photo--it makes me think she enjoyed the last bit of her life. Although a sudden death can be really hard to accept, I'd say it's a blessing that she didn't go through the long dying that lots of cancer victims end up suffering. Of course, that's easy for me to say. Hugs and thoughts to you.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

It's very true -- if it had to happen at all, which we all wish it didn't, then I suppose this is the best way.

Thank you.

[thebreej.livejournal.com]

It is damn unfair.
My condolences.