Sunday, February 14, 2010

Saying Goodbye with Grace

This has been a whirlwind of a year so far. I've got lots of things swirling through my head all competing for space, wanting to bust out in words. I've got tons to blog about, but the fingers can't seem to type what my mind feels and wants to say. It feels like my mind is firing thoughts a mile a minute, jumping from one thing to the next. I start to write and overwhelm consumes me. What the heck is wrong???? I've never been like this, never unable to write what I feel.

But I do know this, I owe a blog dedicated to a very special, vibrant, remarkable, loving woman named Eva Markvoort from Vancouver, Canada. I've never met Eva nor directly interacted with her. But in the CF world, you would have to live under a rock to not 'know' Eva. She has made herself a very public face of CF, with her LiveJournal blog and subsequent moving documentary film, showing her struggles with end stage CF and receiving her double lung transplant.

The cameras followed 23 yo Eva as she waited for her new lungs that would save her life. The lungs did come in Oct 07, she had the successful transplant surgery, and regained her glorious, flamboyant love of life.

She spent her new found health and time promoting her documentary, CF Awareness, and organ donation. All the while being surrounded by her unending support circle of family and friends. She became a very public figure in Canada, between her documentary '65_RedRoses' many newspaper and magazine articles, and TV news and talk show interviews. Eva became the face of CF and of organ donation.

Life was good for her again, until 9-09, when chronic rejection set in. Who knows why a body all of a sudden rejects a donated organ after welcoming and celebrating it's arrival 2 years earlier?

All of a sudden, at 25, Eva's gift of life turned against her, gradually losing function. Within months, her lung function plummeted to the 16% range of function, barely enough to sustain life. She was listed for a 2nd lung transplant and put on the waiting list. The waiting has come to an end, and the inevitable, unspoken end is near. Eva knows this, her doctors telling her she has just days left of her life. In typical Eva-fashion, she chose to share her courageous final goodbye's to the very public she drew close to her.

Her bravery and acceptance in the face of death is an inspiration. Her message of love and be loved touches everyone who watches this heartfelt video. Surrounded by her family and speaking from the heart, it is clearly evident that she is loved by so many people. She posted this on her blog Thursday, Feb. 11.




God speed and peace Eva as you travel your final journey. May God wrap you in his open loving arms, take your pain away, and welcome you into heaven. You will be truly missed.

Eva's Live Journal blog


Here is the trailer for her documentary made in Canada. It has not been shown in the US yet.
65_Redroses Trailer