<p>Brave family. Sunriseeast gave us the gift of sharing her experiences. A gift to all of us, strangers. She educated us and inspired us. And connected us. What a feat. My profound gratitude. A zillion thanks to her and to the spirit that allowed this. We will not forget.</p>
<p>I hope that if or when I am facing something like this, that I’ll have even a fraction of the grace that Sunriseeast has shown. </p>
<p>She did so much for her family and had such a full life. It seems so unfair that her life is being cut short. She will be missed, but she is leaving quite the legacy for all of us.</p>
<p>I have so much gratitude to sunriseeast for sharing her life with us. I must say, so many times I and others come to College Confidential obsessing about all sorts of things: a bad grade, a bad room mate or even bad hair. While these things are real, and do matter, reading sunrise’s musings always helped me put things in context.</p>
<p>I am a better person and a better mom because of sunriseeast. </p>
<p>Thanks for having the courage, sailingwest, to reach out to us and tell us how she’s doing. You’re all in our thoughts.</p>
<p>Dear Sailingwest-- I add my thanks to you for sharing your mom with us these past two years, and for taking the time to let us know how things have fared for her and your family. I wish much peace and grace for you all–your mother has always shown us what it means to be good and brave and loving. You are all in my thoughts.</p>
<p>My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Your mother has always been so eloquent when sharing with us what she and her family have been experiencing during this time. Big hugs to all of you.</p>
<p>It is with tears in my eyes that I read these last posts. Even via the internet your Mom’s story touched so many lives. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time.</p>
<p>Dear Sailingwest, </p>
<p>Even though I’ve never posted on this thread, I followed it for quite sometime now. I wanted to tell you that I am sorry about your mom and I hope you find some comfort in the fact that your mom is loved and admired not only by her family and friends, but also by this large CC community.</p>
<p>sailingwest,</p>
<p>My thoughts and prayers are with you, your brother and your dad during this difficult time. I know how proud your mom is of you and her entire family and how blessed she has felt to see you grow into the fine young man you are. I know that she will be with you always.</p>
<p>Little did we know when we opened the thread what a gft we would receive. We were blessed to be the recipients of such eloquent writing and insight. We held our collective breaths with every test and every treatment hoping it would be the one to keep this beautiful soul with us. She fought as hard as anyone can, the physical is fragile but the spirit is not,she will always be with you, her bond is so strong . She has left such a legacy in her family. Praying for a peaceful transition of her soul. and praying for her boys and husband who has his own long journey ahead as well</p>
<p>Adding my hope that sunrise and family find comfort and peace and my thanks for your Mom’s eloquent display of humanity. It will not be forgotten.</p>
<p>Sailingwest, I hope that when you are ready, you and your dear brother will read this thread from beginning to end. She has left you an enormous legacy of love. Your mom and I shared a common battle, but she has done it with far more grace and spirit than I could ever muster. </p>
<p>Please feel free to come here for support – we have your family’s back.</p>
<p>Our hearts are with you, Sailingwest. We will never forget your mother’s strength and compassion. Her love for you, your brother, and your father was clear in every post. Thank you for sharing.</p>
<p>Sailingwest, twice today I have arrived here to tell you what a brave and wonderful mother you have and how appreciative I have been to have shared this blog with everyone. Twice my eyes have filled with tears and I feel a great loss. Having been there with my mother, it is an honor to share life with them, but an even greater honor to spend the last days and minutes with that person. You are a wonderful family and I wish you only the best during these difficult moments.</p>
<p>Sailingwest,
Your amazing mom found peace after fighting a hard battle, and I hope your family finds peace too. Your mom was an inspiration to so many, especially us cancer 'survivors". In time, I hope you read this thread, and know just how loved you and your family were.</p>
<p>Sailingwest - whenever I see a beautiful sunrise, I think of your mom. Her light is shining through you, your brother, your father and all of us who are here. We will be better people because your mom shared her journey.</p>
<p>Sailingwest and family, I was so sorry to read your post this morning. I’d like for you to know that your mother used to also post on another thread when your younger brother was in the throes of his college search. We, the parents of the college class of 2015, would also like to offer our sympathy and ((hugs)). We all really hoped that she would pull through. What a remarkable woman.</p>
<p>sailingwest,
Thank you for posting. Your mother’s story–and her courage and honesty in the way she told it–touched many people here, as you can see. She’s an extraordinary woman, and we are all lucky she shared herself with us.</p>
<p>I hope our appreciation was of some comfort to her, but as she told us many times, her true strength came from the love your family shared. And because of that love, despite all she endured, she always said she felt fortunate. That is but one of many lessons I learned from her.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you, your brother, and your dad–and to sunrise.</p>
<p>eloquent display of humanity love that</p>
<p>SailingWest, </p>
<p>I am sorry to hear this news. Your mother’s courage and grace were inspirational. Her love for your family was so obvious from her opening post on this thread. She was an honest and eloquent writer, and I always admired her attitude as she fought a tough battle.</p>
<p>SiliconValleyMom</p>
<p>I too followed this thread from the beginning. During much of that time I was assisting my own IRL friend through her third bout of advanced stage cancer. Adding my thoughts to all of the above…what a profound legacy and lesson for all of us…
Ebeeeee</p>