Message to all of Lauren's Followers

This is Lauren's mom, Annette.  I wanted to let you all know that after 8 years, Lauren lost her battle with cancer on December 14, 2011. 

Since her last post, she actually got to go on her honeymoon.  Dan and she did an Alaskan cruise and had a wonderful time.  She saw the running of the salmon and watched bear fishing the salmon.  She saw a pod of whales fishing and eating (very rarely seen).  She took a ride on a train that rode on the side of a cliff for 4 hours.  She watched large chunks of ice fall off glaciers. 

Lauren fought with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery since April of this year.  She was a strong, loving, caring, compasionate, giving woman. She donated her cell line to NIH to be studied forever in the hopes that she would help find a cure for Ewings Sarcoma.

Prior to her leaving us, we spoke about establishing a foundation, in her name, that would help families of children with cancer be together during treatment at the NIH.  She was very fortunate to have her family and friends around all the time, because we are local to NIH.  She believed that having that support was an integral part of her treatment.  NIH is only able to pay for the sick child and one family member to come for treatment.  Her foundation will make it possible for both parents and siblings to join the child during treatment.  We have named the foundation L-Dub's Love. (L-Dub was her knick name in High School and College). 

Thank you all for following my daughters blog.  It was cathartic for her.