Tributes to Kayak; She has lost Her Battle to Cancer [#238]

April 16, 2007 | Jemian

[Jemian]

Kayak has been a long-time freeper, appearing on many threads, but most especially America ~ the Right Way! She is a stanch conservative, a good friend, and most especially a dear sister in Christ. In December 2006, she was diagnosed with lung cancer which was soon found to be metastasized to the brain and throughout her body.

Her daughter, registered as Poppyseed, has been giving us updates when Kayak had to stop posting. This is the update posted most recently.

So much has happened since my last message to you all. My whole family came down this past weekend, and my brother came as well. The difference between Mama the weekend before and then this weekend was like night and day. By this past weekend, she had begun letting go, and was more or less staying in bed, much, much weaker and frailer than the weekend before, when she was weak but present.

I stayed on after the weekend to be with Daddy and help out around the house, and to sit vigil by Mama. She was quiet, but sometimes responsive, and eating. This morning, though, her breathing changed, and she is in a near-comatose state and not really responsive at all. The Hospice nurse who came to see her this afternoon said that she is actively dying, and said that anytime in the next 24 hours, to the next two or three days, we can expect her to let go.

Yesterday, Daddy was hugging her, just loving on her the way he does, and she said, “You just won’t let me go, will you?” And he told her that absolutely he will let her go, and that anytime she’s ready to let go, she should.

I also told her that when she’s ready, she should go. I told her that we will take care of each other, and God will take care of us. “Are you ready to go?” I asked. “Go where?” she said. “Home,” I said. “Yes,” she said.

And after that business was taken care of, she began the process of letting go. She’s ready, and we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.

Please pray for her swift and peaceful passing into the next phase of life, and keep the rest of us in your prayers. We alternate - well, I alternate - between numb and inconsolable. It doesn’t even seem real right now. I’m sure it’ll hit me hard, harder, hardest later on.

She doesn’t seem to recognize us any more, so I won’t be passing on any messages to her. She seems to have heard all she needs to from those of us here in this world. She’s got her feet in two worlds, but she’s mostly elsewhere now.

I’m trying to keep myself busy, so I doubt I’ll be able to return individual responses to anyone anytime soon - apologies for that in advance. Thank you all for your love and your prayers. Take care, and I’ll let you know when she dies.

Love to all of you.

It was felt that y'all could post your tributes and thoughts to her here and perhaps it could be included in her memorial service when the time comes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for you and your family.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for your Mom and you and your family.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

[rhetorica]

Thank you. Your prayers lift us up and we are grateful.

[Billie]

Daisyscarlett and I profiled Kay at The Finest on September 6, 2002 - I haven't read every post on this thread, but it seems fitting to repost it here. She has been one of the nicest and finest people I've 'met' here. May God be with Kay's family, as I know He has been with her through it all.

Kayak ~ One of FR's Finest September 6, 2002

ONE OF FR'S FINEST

"kayak"
Freeper since 2-13-99
Gastonia NC

"kayak doesn't kayak"

kayak's screen name is a play on her real name. When she first joined FR in early 1999 (after lurking for months), she was still skeptical and wanted a very neutral screen name. In her words-"I succeeded beyond my wildest imagination ..... I am often assumed to be male .... and from time to time get FReepmails asking about the sport of kayaking, which I know absolutely nothing about ...... LOL!"

"Getting to know you..."

Kayak is a beautiful Christian woman. She has been married to her "Prince Charming" for nearly 36 years and is the mother of two and the grandmother of two (four year-old boy and three year-old girl). She has lived in NC all her life, except for one brief period when she moved to GA for about seven months. Most of her life she has lived in eastern NC, only moving to the Charlotte area nine years ago.

Kayak visits many threads but her favorite "hang-outs" on FR are the America-The Right Way! thread (where each night she posts a link to the thread from the day before and breakfast for the early birds the next morning), The "Dose", and the Pray for Bush thread, (on which she has participated since it began in September 2000). She also makes it a point to bump the FReepathon threads as much as possible.

"A couple of fun freeps"

During the 2000 campaign, Dick and Lynne Cheney visited Charlotte and kayak was among the crowd that went to the airport to meet them. Their appearance was brief and she didn't get a chance to shake their hands or speak to them but she was thrilled with the opportunity to see them. NB: She is a Cheney Chick (going back to his days as SecDef under GHWB) as well as a Bush Babe.

In April of 2001, when the media were really down on President Bush and he didn't enjoy the popularity across the nation that he now does, he visited NC and was scheduled to appear at a school in a small town north of Charlotte. Kayak and FReeper Carolinamom decided to go, knowing that they wouldn't get a chance to see anything but a glimpse of the Presidential motorcade on the way to the school. But they felt it was important to let him know that he had their support. So they made some posters and waited at an intersection out in the boondocks. When the motorcade came by and turned right in front of them, the President not only waved as he went by but then turned around and waved out the back window, giving them the three-fingered W sign! They waited for over an hour for the return trip and were rewarded with another glimpse and another wave!

It happened to be the day that the President was able to announce that the crew of the reconnaisance plane held captive in China was to be released and he was able to talk personally to the parents of one of the crewmen who was from Charlotte.

"In her own words..."

"I'm just a dedicated FReeper who is extremely patriotic and a cheerleader for all the talented and dedicated people here. While many threaten to leave the forum, I insist that they will have to drag me away screaming while trying to get the white coat on me ....... LOL!"

"I think this thread is a grand idea, especially in view of all the negativism on FR lately. It helps us to realize just how many good people are here and how much they are accomplishing."

"You're special"

Kayak brings sunshine with her to every thread she visits. She is, indeed, a cheerleader and her positive attitude is something to be emulated. Her posts are well thought out, she "keeps up" with the events and times and is articulate, wry and well respected.

She has been extremely helpful to this thread, A Few of FR's Finest, from its inception-sending us notes of encouragement as well as making some very useful suggestions on FReepers to be acknowledged on this thread.

Kayak, we think you are GRAND!!!

CONGRATULATIONS
YOU ARE ONE OF FR'S FINEST

[lepton]

“So does this mean that I’m not going to learn what a split-infinitive is?” —lepton

Poppyseed, that may seem an utterly bizzare thing to post, but well, I can assure you that it in fact is. Kayak would understand though... ...that and spinning posts.

[Jemian]

Billie, I think that is one of the best tributes. Thank you for posting that. That is a great picture of Kay. Her beauty is shining.

I pinged the ATRW list. Please see the above post.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Billie...thank you from the bottom of my heart.

God bless this beautiful lady. She is indeed, a testament of what a Christian lady should be like.

[DarthVader]

Heavenly Father we ask that you comfort Kayak and make her way easy, in Jesus name.

[SoldierDad]

Thanks for the Ping, Jemian. Prayers up for Kayak and her family.

[Txsleuth]

Thank you very much, Billie...for posting that wonderful tribute to kayak.

For those of us that haven’t been here as long as she has..it is wonderful to read about her..and her start on FR.

Dear kayak...what a beautiful woman you are. You have the outer beauty to go with your inner beauty.

love

sleuth

[onyx]

Thank you Billie and thank you for the ping, Jemian.

It’s the perfect post.

[reagan_fanatic]

Yesterday, Daddy was hugging her, just loving on her the way he does, and she said, “You just won’t let me go, will you?” And he told her that absolutely he will let her go, and that anytime she’s ready to let go, she should.

This just breaks my heart. My Wife is going through a similar thing right now, as her Father is terminally ill with cancer and doesn't have long to live.

My prayers go out to the family - this is such a gut-wrenching thing to go through, even for the very strong.

May the peace and comfort of a loving God descend upon Kayak, and help guide her home to her reward.

-RF

[lepton]

Heavenly Father we ask that you comfort Kayak and make her way easy, in Jesus name. -- DarthVader

Not to take anything away from what you've said there... I think she'd find it amusing if she were able to read that along with your screen-name. :)

[Miss Marple]

Through the ups and downs of my family's fortunes, you have always been there with words of encouragement, comfort, and faith.

I know that Jesus will welcome you with open arms.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant. I will always remember you and will see you again one day.

[Blogger]

ping

[TASMANIANRED]

Prayers lifted for your family.

One day every tear will be wiped away.

[Neets]

You have been in my thoughts all day.

[ContraryMary]

My sympathies and prayers.

[ohioWfan]

That is an absolutely stunningly beautiful tribute to a stunningly beautiful freeper and friend!

Thank you so much for reposting that, Billie!

I miss my 'cheerleader' so badly!

[mware]

Kayak and I signed on to FR in the same week.

Poppyseed, know that you and your family are in my prayers.

I lost my mom three years ago and your comments brought back all the memories that flooded my brain during those 3 months of her illness.

All we prayed for was her to be able to come home. God answered our prayers but took her to her final home.