The end of the adventure: Update from Steph, March 16th, 2013

Dear family and friends,

My mom died yesterday.  I am in a state of relief and diorientation, my whole life having been fixated for the past 8 months on helping her, searching constantly and sometimes frantically for a way to save her, and now suddenly she is not here to help.  And I am so very very relieved that she was finally able to transcend her poor, beautiful, broken body--and I miss her so much already.  It is a confusing turbulence of emotion.

We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support that we felt from so many.  My mom's spirit is  with us, will be here always.

with love,
Stephanie

In Memoriam:  Gabriele Lusser Rico, July 11th, 1937-March 15th, 2013

Update from Richard, March 13th, 2013

Dear friends and family,

Gabriele is slowly slipping away.  She is fairly lucid in the mornings, pretty confused and often unable to finish a sentence in the afternoons.  She doesn't leave our bedroom and has someone by her side at all times.  No one knows how long she will continue to fight...days?  Weeks?  We take one day at a time, treasuring the moments.

Love, Richard

Our bedroom in upper right; Gabriele has a view of the valley