Mar 27, 2016 at 08:25 pm

Good Byes are never easy...

Update posted by Tara Curry


On September 30, 1976 the world was blessed with the birth of our baby sister, Shana Rene'. She spent her life helping people through her nursing. In 2014 she found herself on the other side of the bed in the hospital she worked for, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. After every round of chemo she would end up in the hospital with fever and infection spending a week or 2 in the ICU. She recovered and was able to return to work in the early part of 2015. In the middle of 2015 she was diagnosed with RA as a result of the chemo that nearly killed her. She kept working 12 hour shifts and plugging away like she always did. She was having so much pain she kept going back to the doctors and finally said, I guess I will just have to deal with the pain. In October 2015 she was feeling ill and didn't have the energy for much after a couple of days in bed she went to the ER. There they discovered a very large mass in her right lung and several nodules in the lower right lung. It was confirmed the breast cancer was back, same type as the year before. This knocked the wind out of her sails. In just 4 short months this monster riddled her body at every turn. All the while she remained determined she would win the battle. The past 2 years were horrible for her as she battled for her life with faith so strong we often sat in awe wondering how she could be such a warrior...at every corner there was more bad news, the cancer was spreading every where imaginable. On March 18th at around 9 pm. Mom called and our lives changed forever as she was being put on life support as she struggled to breath she agreed to be put on a ventilator. My sister Tara & I asked ourselves, how can that be? ...Just yesterday with nothing but perseverance, she spoke the words "I am NOT giving up, I am going to beat this", just hours before Tara talked to her on the phone... Family from Missouri packed up and rushed to her bed side at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. On March 20, 2016, with all those who were dear to her by her side she was taken off of life support, this is a day we will never forget. She left our world after battling a disease too aggressive to fight. We are grateful beyond words for God blessed our family by allowing us to spend those final hours with her. She has been in our thoughts constantly since. Not every one is allowed to say good bye as a loved one takes God's hand, humbling to say the least. There was a beauty about that moment as she took her final breaths knowing she was going to heaven to be with our Father. Shana is now off to do bigger & better things, soaring with an Elite Squad of Angels in heaven in a new body and with no more worries of life or suffering. As we reflect over losing her and what it means for all of us who are left behind we realize there are things we would do differently, IF we had it to do over again we would call her every day and do everything in our power to spend every moment we could with her even though she lived 1,000 miles away. Going forward we will not take time for granted, our loved ones deserve to know how we adore them, we will treasure those close to us more than we ever did before. We are grateful God didn't answer our prayers and give us one more day with her. At last she is free of all the pain & suffering this awful disease bombarded her with, but we wish we could see her smile, hear her voice, tell her "I love you" or make her laugh one more time.

I (Dana) would giggle and tell her "mission accomplished" every time I got a text message from her saying "You're so funny" after my silly attempts to make her smile and forget about the pain even if only for a moment. Tara and I wish we could see her to tell her what an amazing woman she was and how we admired her unwavering faith in God, her strength amazed us all the way to the end of her journey here on earth. We are honored to call her our sister.

She left many behind but there are 3 things that mattered to her more than anything, Ambrea, Zayla & Nyana. Rest easy Lil Sis in knowing all who love you will make sure your trio will have all they need, we got this, it's OK...spread your wings and watch from above but know your are and forever will be missed.

Love Always, Dana and Tara

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