We have lost a dear friend.
A fighter.
A crusher.
A wonderful person.
She didn’t lose, though. She won. She is THE definition of a winner.
Lindsey Goldhagen, you have pushed the ball forward on closing up cancer’s shop once and for all. Today, Team Blame Cancer picks that ball up and will carry it into the endzone for a big old touchdown.
The Blame-A-Thon is not in your memory, it is because of you. And it is dedicated to you.
————
In Lindsey’s words, a post from last December:
I turned Down Treatment and Im Scared
So its been awhile since I posted but heres my deal. I had another rejection episode last week. Its when the body attacks the organ thats well not exactly mine. I freaked out but did the treatment. A week of steroids high does steroids and it was hell. I itched so much I thought I would tear my skin off, I was moody irritated, strectched starving you;’ve all benn on them you know the drill. I did it because I didn’t want to die. But I just got the results of my blood test back and Im having another rejection episode. They want me to come back to the hospital and do chemo to kill my immune system. I said no. I wont do it again. I REFUSE TO SPEND MY THIRD DECEMBER IN A ROW ON CHEMO. Its not like it sounds but you know that. Its not like get chemo get better. Its not sacrifice for a year and then your fine. No its have the 3 months from hell and then get sick again four months later to do it again. And Im done. So I might die. I cant say Im okay with that because well I’m not but I can say I will take that over this constant hospital stay. Am I the only one who thought that when they got cancer it would be a year of hell and then they would be done. But no…my health has actually gotten worse not better. And I’m done with the constant hospitalizations done with putting my life on hold because you know what…if I keep waiting to be better to start living Im never gonna start. So I’m saying no to chemo no to treatment and maybe yes to dying. Im not okay with this and I could use your prayers and your support
————
Are you going to stand by and let others be ravaged by such a horrible disease?
I’m not.
GOLDHAGEN, LINDSEY FAYE 22 – of Linwood, at peace on August 30, 2009. Lindsey was Mainland Regional High School valedictorian, University of Pennsylvania nursing student extraordinaire, Democrat political organizer, Gift of Life champion, National nursing research award winner, Independence Blue Cross Nursing intern, Phi Sigma Sigma super sister, Planet Cancer district representative, Chicken Soup for the Soul the Cancer Book author, dog lover, lover of life and soul survivor. Lindsey is survived by her parents, Ina and Jerry Goldhagen; sister, Samantha Goldhagen; and so many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, especially Grandmother figures Aunt Sally Collen and Marylin Schultz. Granddaughter of the late Rabbi Seymour and Cleo Rosen of Margate and Samuel and Rosalie Goldhagen of New York. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services Wednesday, September 2nd, 11:00am, at Congregation Beth Israel, 2501 Shore Road, Northfield, NJ 08225. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gift of Life Donor Program. 401 N. 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19123. www.donors1.org Arr. ROTH-GOLDSTEINS’ MEMORIAL CHAPEL, Atlantic City www.rothgoldsteins.com