As profiled on CNN, for nearly four years (well, since 2006), 25-year-old Eva Markvoort of New Westminster, Canada, narrated a Blog about her battle with cystic fibrosis…an incurable disease that caused mucus to accumulate in her lungs.
Even as her health declined when it appeared unlikely that she would receive a second double lung transplant, she continued to chronicle life on her Blog—the constant theme was love.
In a video entry she talked about her impending death, saying, “I think I’m very lucky, because I’ve loved more than you could possibly think, could possibly imagine. So I’m celebrating that: celebrating my life.”
She championed cystic fibrosis awareness and organ donations.
When Markvoort was too frail, she dictated Blog posts to her friends and family.
“She had already processed the concept of dying,” says her mother. “And for her, she came to terms with it quite quickly. For her it was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I don’t know how much time I have. I have things to say.’ There was a sense of urgency on her part.”
Sometimes, her posts had only pictures of her and her loved ones, with their eyes crossed, tongues sticking out and comical gestures.
“This is the end of my life, but it’s not the end of my love,” Markvoort said in a video entry.
She died the morning of March 27.
Do you have a Blog?
Have you heard of CaringBridge? It’s a place where you can create a website so you can stay connected to your family and friends when you (or a loved one) are battling a serious health issue. You can share thoughts, wishes and prayers throughout the illness, the treatments and the recovery period, and receive support when you need it the most.
Or read some of the CaringBridge stories here.
Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
Read an excerpt now
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