Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 July 2008 09:32:16
What to say? Yesterday I went down to University College Hospital to pay what I pretty much knew would be my last visit to Esther, whom I have known since she was four, and who had multiple malignant tumours due to neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition she was born with. She was unconscious, with rattling breathing, and no longer in control of her bladder. All I could do was stroke her hand and pray for her. Last night we went to Genius Brat's school production of Bugsy Malone, and during the finale I just burst out crying. Big bands, and watching kids perform, have this effect on me even at the best of times. And this is not the best of times.
We came home to find answerphone messages from two elders of the church, asking us to ring back. Couldn't get hold of either of them, but then I went to my email and found a notification of a Facebook message from Canada, responding to the fact that Esther had 'passed away'. So we knew, and today her mother had already put a notification on the Caring Bridge site that Esther had died around three o'clock. The whole church is in shock. Esther was just 20. She was an inspirational young woman in her will to fight her illness, and her desire to serve God. She was the whole church's daughter. We will miss her so much.