Caroline L. Brown (Rachel Michaels' mom)
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Forum Name: TNBC Tributes
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URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=10457
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Topic: Caroline L. Brown (Rachel Michaels' mom)
Posted By: dmwolf
Subject: Caroline L. Brown (Rachel Michaels' mom)
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 3:11pm
------------- DX 2/08@43 stg II IDC; gr2,0 nodes. Neoadj chemo, first ACx2 (fail) then CarboTaxotereX6(better). Lump, Rads done 11/08; Clodronate. False alarm queen: PetCT lung & TM marker. NED. PBM w/recon 9/10. |
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Topic: My Mother has passed -
Posted: Today at 1:38pm
Replies:
Posted By: SagePatientAdvocates
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 5:02pm
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Dear Rachel, I hope to meet you some day and give you a condolence hug, in person. As I have told you many times you have handled this journey with a loving grace. Thank you for sharing, so openly, Mom's journey especially the hospice component. My heart is with you and your family. with my love, Steve ------------- I am a BRCA1+ grandson, son and father of women affected by breast/oc-my daughter inherited mutation from me, and at 36, was dx 2004 TNBC I am a volunteer patient advocate with SAGE Patient Advocates |
Posted By: overwhelmed
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 7:51pm
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Dear Rachel, I am sorry to hear about your mom. I don't know what to say except that it saddens me to see so many fight this disease only to have it take their lives. You are a wonderful daughter who gave her mother such comfort as she fought this. God Bless you, Lori ------------- DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2- |
Posted By: CindyKS
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 8:00pm
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I am very sorry to hear about your loss. Thinking and praying for you and your family. Cindy ------------- Age 42; Dx 4/10; IDC; 2.1cm; lumpectomy; ACx4-taxolx4 every 2 wks; Radx37, BRCA 1/2 neg |
Posted By: TriplePositiveGirl
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 9:17pm
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Rachel, I am sorry to learn of your Mom's passing. She was so fortunate to have your love and support during this past year fighting the good fight as you say. My sincerest condolences to you and may your Mom rest in eternal peace. Lisa
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Posted By: Grateful for today
Date Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 11:32pm
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Rachel,
May your Mom rest in peace. Certainly such a wonderful woman and Mom.......to have such a loving and caring daughter as you. You mentioned in one your posts......the book "Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying" [Paperback] By: Maggie Callanan. When I read your note telling us of your Mom's passing, the thought came to mind............maybe your Mom's "Final Gift" to you (and your family) was to pass peacefully surrounded by her family at home.........so you would have a another memory of love shared. With very caring and supportive thoughts to you and your family, Grateful for today...........Judy |
Posted By: turtle
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 12:34pm
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Rachel, I join everyone in our community in sending you my condolences. I also appreciate the support you have shown the rest of us in this group as you advocated for your mom during her treatments. As always, we hold you in our hearts, Cyberhugs ------------- DX IDC TNBC 1/15/12 @ 46; MRI 2.4cm gr3 BRCA2+ 6174delT; LMX 1/31/12 2.5cm, pT2pNO(i)pMX, lymphovascular invasion present; 2/20/12 TAC X 6; 7/2/12 Rad X 25; 9/27/2012 2nd mastectomy & BSO surgery |
Posted By: Lee21
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 1:46pm
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Dear Rachel
I am so sorry to hear of your mom's passing. You have been by her side all this time being her advocate. I also greatly appreciated your sharing her journey with all of us here. Lee ------------- 12/9/11 @59,IDC,grade3, TNBC,3cm(MRI),SLNB0,stage IIA, BRCA1 variant 1/30/12 DD AC-T, 6/7/12 Lumpectomy, ypT1b(0.8 cm), 7/9/12 Rads x 30 11/9/12, clinical trial cisplatin/rucaparib, cisplatin-only arm |
Posted By: Lillie
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 2:35pm
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Dear Rachel,
What Beautiful people we meet on this site as we travel this journey with cancer. You have been such an example of courage and love, as you shared this difficult time with us. I am so sorry your mom was not able to survive the disease, but may she Rest in God's Peace. Please know that you and all your mom's loved ones are in my prayers.
God Bless,
Lillie ------------- Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA- 6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+ 6/06 Axl. 9 nodes- 8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4 No Rads. No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED |
Posted By: dldlogan
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 7:45pm
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Rachel,
I am sorry to hear of your mom's passing. All my heart felt condolences to you and your family.
I certainly hope we will continue to hear from you here on the website. You helped me, and I know you have helped others here, so please stay in touch.
Lots of Love and Prayers,
Diana ------------- Diagnosis 6/25/12 Biopsy 7/20/12 Mastectomy 8/15/12 IDC 1.9 cm TN Gr 3 Stage I Chemo Start 9/27/12 ACT Done 3/7/13 BRCA Neg Reoccurence-Lung 12/3/13-Biopsy 12/16/13 Brain MRI 2/20/14 Stage IV |
Posted By: rmichaels
Date Posted: Nov 09 2012 at 2:35am
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Thanks so much for this tribute page. It really means a lot to our family. Mom fought this battle with such grace she never complained even when she felt bad. Her "triple positive attitude" helped so many people during her chemo sessions and she lit up the room during her appointments. I will stay in touch for sure and would love to help with anything the foundation needs especially here in Seattle! ------------- Mom dia 8/11 with IIb - IV by 11/11 with mets on liver. 17 rounds Taxol/Carbo then Taxotere, Cisplatin + Vinorelbine, 2 tx of Doxil, Xeloda all unsucessful. 10/12/12 Hospice @ home. Passed 11/7/12. |
Posted By: Stephlipp
Date Posted: Nov 09 2012 at 5:47pm
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Rachel, I am so sorry for you loss. It seems your mom and my mother-in-law where at similar places with their journey. My mother-in-law passed this morning only a few days after your mom. I was following your mom's story for a while. My deepest sympathies. May both our families have strength. God Bless, Stephanie
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Posted By: TriplePositiveGirl
Date Posted: Nov 09 2012 at 6:02pm
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Stephanie - I so sorry about your loss! I remember you posting about your mother in law. My condolences to your family. May she rest in peace. Lisa
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Posted By: debB
Date Posted: Nov 10 2012 at 9:28pm
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Dear Rachel,
My deepest condolences for you and your family. You said your mom fought the good fight but you were right in there slugging away with her. Your devotion to finding the answers for her was most admirable. As I said before, she must have been an amazing woman to have raised a daughter like you. I am sure she will be so deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Deb ------------- Dx 4/29/11, 46 yrs old, 3.9 cm tumor, Stg 2 Grade 3 chemo 4 rounds DD AC, 12 weekly taxol, finish. Lumpectomy, 2mm residual tumor. 37 rounds rads completed. Cisplatin/PARP trial |
Posted By: rmichaels
Date Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 4:41am
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Mom's friends have been donating money to this foundation (in lieu of flowers) and I couldn't be more thrilled. It's been 3 weeks now since she has passed and we are doing OK...but I miss her every minute of the day. My husband and I have pretty much moved in with my Dad (which is a sitcom waiting to happen) and we are slowing getting back to "normal" or what ever the new normal is. Thanksgiving was rough...and I don't expect Christmas to be any easier but we are trying our best. Before my Mom started to decline in health I wish we would have talked more about death. You see Mom didn't think she was going to die, she never accepted it...she though she would bouce back after the liver pain and swelling. She went off Chemo the first week of Oct and was gone a month later. Hospice only visited 3 times. I wish she would of wrote me letters or notes and left them around the house for me to find...maybe made a video on her cell phone or laptop. We are all going to pass away sometime but I now know that if I ever get sick I want to make the final transition "easy" on my family. No part of this is easy but hindsight is really 20/20. xo rach ------------- Mom dia 8/11 with IIb - IV by 11/11 with mets on liver. 17 rounds Taxol/Carbo then Taxotere, Cisplatin + Vinorelbine, 2 tx of Doxil, Xeloda all unsucessful. 10/12/12 Hospice @ home. Passed 11/7/12. |
Posted By: rmichaels
Date Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 4:48am
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Here is my Mom's Obit - she was an angel! Caroline L. Brown Born October 5, 1952 in Seattle, WA to parents Dr. John and Florence Leakey and older sister Karen Caroline married her high school sweetheart Geoffrey Brown on June 19, 1971 in Seattle. Graduated from Shoreline High School in 1971 and attended the University of Washington as a dance major. She also attended Cornish College of the Arts and was very active in the Seattle dance community. After starting her family Caroline went back to school and received her Associates Degree in Physical Fitness Education from Everett Community College. In 1977 Geoff and Caroline moved up to Lake Shoecraft to raise children Rachel born in 1977 and Cameron in 1980. Caroline cherished the Lake house as the land had been in the family since the 1960’s. Caroline’s love for helping people became her life’s work. With her back ground in dance and fitness she taught Health and Physical Education to students at Lakewood, Everett Community College and Holy Cross High School. Caroline started working at the Marysville YMCA in 1998 and quickly became a leader in the organization. As the Health and Well Being Director for Snohomish County Caroline’s YMCA program’s included Live Strong, Get Moving, Healthy Kids Day, Get Real: Family Wellness, Actively Changing Together (ACT!) and Activate America. Caroline was a director of many boards and chaired several Non-profits and such as The Ovarian and Breast Cancer Alliance of WA, Soroptimist International, The Providence General Foundation, Providence Everett Health Care Clinic, Relay for Life Snohomish County, Caroline received several awards for her dedication to the health of the community such as: Rotary International Foundation Paul Harris Fellow Award Everett Clinic Foundation – 2007 William J. MacDonald Leadership Personal Development Fund Award 2004 Galileo Award YMCA of Marysville It’s impossible to know how many people Caroline has positively effected over the years but it is many. She has singled handily changed the landscape of the community with all of her programs and fund raising. Caroline is survived by her Husband of 41 years Geoffrey Brown, daughter Rachel and Son in law Brian Michaels, Son Cameron and daughter in law Katie Brown and two grand children Cambrielle (4) and Kylee (2). Big Sister Karen E. Phillips, and Mother-in-law Mary Brown. Caroline’s three nieces and nephews Nadia, Adnan and Ramsey. Caroline was a “Mom to Many” and was close with so people that she worked with and created strong bonds mentoring other people to reach their goals. In lieu of flowers please make a tribute donation in Caroline’s name to The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation http://www.TNCBfoundation.org - www.TNCBfoundation.org ------------- Mom dia 8/11 with IIb - IV by 11/11 with mets on liver. 17 rounds Taxol/Carbo then Taxotere, Cisplatin + Vinorelbine, 2 tx of Doxil, Xeloda all unsucessful. 10/12/12 Hospice @ home. Passed 11/7/12. |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Dec 01 2012 at 2:27pm
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Rachel what a beautiful and heartbreaking post about your mom. Your thoughts give us insight into things we may not have considered before, thank you so very much for sharing with us while you are going thru such a difficult time. My hugs to you.. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |