Today is a tough day for everyone in my inner circle of close friends. In August of this past year, we lost a very special person to all of us, Kym Meyers. Today is her birthday!
Kym was only 19 years old when she passed away with a very serious illness that came on rather quickly. She was heading home from college, when something didn't look right with her. Something about her coloring was off. She was immediately taken to the Emergency Room.
From there, a weeklong hospital stay resulted with Kym being diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is usually a disease that affects people much later in life. It is when the liver is slowly deteriorating. What happens, is, scar tissue starts replacing healthy liver tissue and this blocks the flow of blood to the liver. The scarring also affects the liver's natural ability to fight off infections and diseases.
Kym was also diagnosed with Celiac disease at the same time. Celiac disease is an inherited disease where the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats.
Kym was released and put on a gluten-free diet. A short time later, her health started to get worse and she spent many nights back in the hospital. It came down to the point where she needed both a liver, and a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, there are so many people in need of a transplant, that she was not able to get one.
She lost her battle on a late August day last year.
In my opinion, her passing has done two things. One, it has absolutely devastated a very tight knit family and two, it has inspired an entire community to reach out and do everything they can to help with this awful disease.
Kym's Kause, a charity program was started in Kym's memory. The point was to raise awareness for Organ donorship, and Celiac disease. Never in my life, have I experienced people coming together to plan an event like this one. Some serious effort and ideas went into making this a very successful venture.
A motorcycle ride was held last October. Over 100 people rode in the event. A very serious amount of money was raised and donated to the cause. A pasta supper was then held and the results were just as spectacular. Both are planned for this year as well.
Kym is missed every single day. Her mother, Joann, is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She has been dealt several tragedies in her life, yet she always makes sure everyone else around her is alright, putting others ahead of herself. This is a very special quality in a person and I am very thankful that I am a part of her life.
We miss you Kym!
Love,
Chris
For more information or to make a donation, please visit the following links:
Kym' Kause
Donate Life - Organ Donorship
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