Apr. 23, 2008 - ALESYA'S FIGHT - FINISHED!
~IN LOVING MEMORY~
Alesya
10.23.90 - 4.21.08
THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL
Alexander Pope
Vital spark of heav'nly flame,
Quit, oh, quit, this mortal frame!
- Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
- Oh, the pain, the bliss of dying!
- Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
- And let me languish into life!
- Hark! they whisper; Angels say,
- Sister Spirit, come away.
- What is this absorbs me quite,
- Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
- Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
- Tell me, my Soul! can this be Death?
- The world recedes; it disappears;
- Heav'n opens on my eyes; my ears
- With sounds seraphic ring:
- Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
- O Grave! where is thy Victory?
- O Death! where is thy Sting?
Alesya left her sick body to take on a better one on Monday, April 21st, at 10 PM, at the age of 17. Her immediate family was all there, as well as some aunts and cousins.
Alesya was a straight A senior in high school. The high school she attended was a new one, and she was very excited and proud of the fact that hers would be the first graduating class of the school. Her dreams were to get married and have children, and to either become a pediatrician or a schoolteacher - something with helping children, I think. She was on television playing the violin when she was in fourth grade because of her exceptional grade level.
Alesya was one of the most amazing and beautiful - genuinely beautiful - people I have ever met. We met when we were both 12, and instantly were the best of friends:-) We seldom saw each other, but we wrote letters back and fourth and visited from time to time until she was diagnosed with cancer, when we would go over each week to be with her. She was also one of the sweetest people you could ever meet - one of those angel type, the type that seem too good to live on earth, that they belong somewhere else....which she did:-) She was always thinking of others, always concerned about them, always having a cheerful disposition. She was not a big talker, but I think everyone that met her fell in love with her right away. I was one of the victims, and have been very priviledged:-)
Alesya was born in Samara, Russia on October 23rd, 1990. Her family came to the states when she was about 7. Her mom can tell the BEST stories:-) Alesya began to grow weak and have a noticable limp at the end of 2006. Her mom finally decided to take her to the doctor in January of 2007, where tests and scans showed that a tumor in her brain was the cause of her weakness. She was rushed to emergency surgery where they removed the tumor and took it in for testing to see if it was cancerous. Alesya's mom told the story of a baby in the same ward as Alesya. The baby had been in the hospital almost since it was born and I believe it had undergone several surgeries and wasn't doing very well. Alesya was lying in her hospital bed after waking from surgery, barely able to speak and move her head, when she noticed a tiny baby lying in a bed near her. "Mom!" she mumbled. "The poor baby....."
After her surgery, my family went to pay her a visit in her home. She was as cheerful and happy as ever, although she seemed very tired and her speech was somewhat slurred. "This will be some story to tell my kids!" she laughed. Later she told Oksana to help her get up from the couch. "See," she said to me. "I want you to know I can still walk!"
In the beginning of February, the tumor tests came back positive - Alesya had brain cancer. She began chemotherapy and also, it seems, began to weaken from that point on. After chemotherapy ended in March, Make-A-Wish Foundation paid for a trip to Hawaii for the whole family. MRI scan results came back clear - cancer was gone. Alesya went home to recover.
But she never did. When she continued to rapidly fail, she was taken for another MRI scan. The results were quite different - the cancer had completely enveloped Alesya's brain. There was nothing the doctors could do at such an advanced stage. They told the family she could die any day.
Through her following 6 months of life that I spent alot of time with her, she showed more patience and strength than I really knew anyone could have. To the very last, she was always cheerful. She smiled almost constantly it seemed, until she was too weak. Even when she lost her ability to speak, she would always give us a thumbs-up to show us she was feeling good. We always would pray before we left, and whenever asked what prayer requests she had, it was always, "That I would get well!" How she managed to exist and lay in her bed for 6 months and slowly fade I don't know I think I woudl have died from plain frustration. But she was the type, even though she was young, that YOU were the one who got encouraged when you went to visit.
It is so very hard to believe she is gone now. That we'll never visit her again, that we'll never again see her face light up when we'd sing the song she always asked for - "I'll Never Miss Heaven for the World." It's hard to imagine sometimes, how God's way can always be best in circumstances like this. I guess that's where the trust kicks in. But it is a great comfort to know that she is no longer suffering, that she no longer cries because she can't move or communicate, that she can walk and be normal again, even though it's at the expense of our grief. But she will be greatly missed.
And Alesya, if you are reading this from heaven, understand that I love you and miss you so much. Thank you for all the help and encouragement you gave to me through your sickness. You taught me that nomatter what anyone goes through, it's no excuse to have a bad attitude and give up. That you can always keep a sweet, godly spirit nomatter what you go through. That patience IS a real virtue - and that it is possible to place your life in God's hands and let Him do what He pleases. I was greatly blessed to know you and be a part of your amazing life - so blessed to have had you as a friend. Alesya, you were one of the most beautiful and amazing people I will ever meet - and heaven must surely be rejoicing now that you are in it! Wait for me, and I will see you someday!
I would ask that perhaps all you that blog out there that read this could possibly show your support by saving this memorial picture of Alesya and posting it on your blog, or even putting it in the side column of your blog or if you want, you could use it as your profile photo for a little while. It's just one little way of showing support for the family. If you would like to do this it would be wonderful. If any are interested in emailing or sending a card to the family, let me know.
Comments
Apr. 23, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by kerianna
that is one of the sweetest things ever. i'm sure she is rejoicing in heaven with her beautiful new body!!!
Yes, I know she is, but I sure miss her:-(
Edited by nastyaandreyovna on Apr. 23, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Apr. 23, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by Trisha
What a blessing she was, even to those that did not see her! God definently had his way and she is no longer suffering. Beautiful tribute to her, Chels. Praying for her family and you during this hard time.
Thanks so much!
Edited by nastyaandreyovna on Apr. 23, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Apr. 23, 2008 - awww....
Posted by Felecia
Poor Chels! And in my mind, I keep saying, poor Alesya! :) But she is not poor - she is rich! She sure was a blessing and did have such a sweet spirit and good attitude!
I know! She certainly is much happier now than she was when she was down here. But a big gap sure remains where she used to be. I couldn't wish her back, though, and God surely knows best.
Edited by nastyaandreyovna on Apr. 23, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Apr. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ThePuritan
I am so incredibly sorry about the passing of your friend. She sounds like a truely remarkable person. Please let me know if theres anything I can do to help out. You can send my the email address if you want to and I can write her family if you think that'd help.
I dont know what an Antropologist does exactly. But.. It either involves bugs or bones. lol And I'm not really amish. My parents are just so strict that my friends say that. (you can read my 1st entry and it'll explain it) Thanks for visiting my blog. :)
Apr. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by littlebrowngirl
I'm sorry for the passing of your friend.
And yes seat belts are important.
-Hannah
