I dashed off to Victoria BC on Monday, August 31, 2015, Elise would be leaving us and I had to say goodbye in person. Since November, 2009, she her brother Jamie, parents Peter and Laurie have had a special place in my heart, as that is when Elise was told she had neuroblastoma cancer. NOT FAIR, but as Laurie told me who said life was going to be fair. I visited and tried to help the family many times while Elise was being treated at Children's Hospital here in Vancouver. That included getting KFC as a after chemo treat! Taking everyone to Metrotown Mall at Christmas time, something that I would not normally do unless with an armed guard! Build a Bear, Starbucks, hugs laughter, and so many memories.
My mum say's I am the "auntie that comes a running" when asked.
Below is the green lizard earrings that Elise made for me to match Lizard (Walt Dee and Eddrick's Formula V racecar).
Breakfast at Oakridge Centre, oh that smile!
Roses provided by a dear friend Steve Thornton to complete Elise's picture.
Friday, September 4, 2015, I left for Portland International Raceway at 3:30AM, in our family while someone is driving, flying, etc. we don't contact them until they are on the ground with any bad news.
No one wants me on the I5 driving in rush hour crying my eyes out! I let the family know I'd arrived at 10:30AM, safe and sound, fine to contact me with any news, and they kept me updated throughout the day about Elise.
Elise's trick for me!
In the afternoon, the Mad Mollusk Racing Team decided we should check into the hotel, drop off luggage, and go for dinner to Elmer's.
When I reached the hotel about 10 minutes later, I got into the elevator, it stopped, fell, then jumped, then my heart thought maybe it will fall. Finally find the phone in the elevator, call for help, they say they will call the police (what is the police going to do, shoot me out!). So I called Dee at the track she is extremely level headed and would know what to do, she called the fire department.
Here I am in a sealed stuck elevator no internet nothing, and after a minute my iPhone goes nuts with texts, and ringing. The news I have been dreading from Canada, Elise has passed, why aren't you answering our texts etc. I become a blubbering idiot alone in the dark elevator, having to also go to the bathroom. The fireman arrive, I am not exactly coherent, wrong floor, the fireman who arrive think I am totally nuts, I show them my cell phone, and what has happened since I was stuck in the elevator, they are about to lose it too. Out of the elevator we are on the wrong floor, so the fireman carry my luggage, and the other one helps me on the stairs which are I need help on, at least I had my cane. Arrive at my room, the fireman put my luggage in, make sure I am breathing normal, and leave. Bathroom 1st then the family. A knock at the door, the hotel manager has walked up 3 flights of stairs to talk with me. Still crying, I explain to her I could have cared less about being stuck in an elevator (been there done that with my Mum). It's the news about Elise. She turns white as a sheet. She walks me down 3 flights of stairs, explains my hotel will be free for the weekend, and she walks me to Elmer's where the team is arriving to get me, she goes to Elmer's and says anything for our table will be paid for by the hotel.
At dinner, which I don't really remember we talked about Elise, and the trick she played on me to find out about her passing in a dark, stuck elevator in another country, not waiting 10 minutes for me to be sitting down in my hotel room.
My race family took care of me all weekend, letting me vent, cry, laugh, I knew I would have another special angel watching over me.
When I talked with Elise on the 31st, I said I'd be going to Portland to say goodbye to two dear friends who are fighting cancer. I was able to tell both of them how special they were to me in my life.
hugs always
karen and charlie
