In Memory of Carolyn

Carolyn and her son Andrew at 2009 staff Christmas party

There are some people you meet in this world who are truly special.  They have a certain something about them that draws you to them.  Carolyn was such a person.  Carolyn worked here at Langsford Center for almost five years.  For a good portion of that time, she was battling cancer, although most people outside of our staff did not know it.  On Monday, April 26, 2010, we lost Carolyn.  She was only 51. 

Even though those closest to Carolyn knew she was getting progressively discouraging reports  and was beginning to run out of treatment options, her courage never faltered.  Carolyn faced her illness bravely, with grace and dignity.  She preferred not to talk about it, as she refused to let her illness define her.  She wanted her life to go on as normal as possible.  To that end she continued to come to work every day, amazingly with a smile on her face.  

She did not complain or look for sympathy.  In fact, she often offered support to others around her.  It was hard to believe that she had such a serious illness when she looked so well and was laughing and cutting up.  I believe that Carolyn did not want to leave this world, to leave her husband and son alone, and she kept her illness in check through sheer mental self-discipline.

We ask ourselves.....why did she have to leave this life so young?

I am reminded of a quote by Albert Einstein.  He once said:

Our death is not our end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation.  For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life....

Carolyn leaves behind a loving husband and son, and many friends who will deeply miss her. However, she lives on in her son, and in all the children she worked with while she was here at Langsford Center.  Carolyn helped to give many children the gift of reading and altered many a child's life by doing so.  While her time on this earth was brief, her spirit lives on in the lives she touched.

Goodbye, Carolyn.  We all love you and miss you.