Visitation: Saturday, October 14th, 3:00-7:00--Lincoln High School (Lake City)

Memorial Service: Sunday, October 15th, 3:00 (visitation one hour before)--First Lutheran Church (Lake City)

On September 19th I wrote about an unexpected hospital stay with forthcoming information once Carey was home and we knew more about treatment. That is exactly what we thought we would do--update everyone then.  In those days in the hospital Carey was being treated for potential pneumonia (she had "new" extreme shortness of breath), was resting from a painful compression fracture in her back (likely due to cancerous lesions in her vertebrae that we had just then found about), blood clots in both of her legs, and getting her breathing under control when she was on pain medications;  when relaxed she wasn't exhaling enough cO2 and this sent her to the ICU for some time on a BiPAP machine.  All seemingly "temporary" as her teams worked towards getting her well enough to go home for continued healing before she started treatment.  On Friday September 22nd she and Dad had practiced getting up and around and she was dressed and ready to be discharged.  She was hesitantly but excitedly going home.  One final lab came back...her platelets were dangerously low.

Doctors decided they wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy.  By this time on Friday it was too late to get a team together to do this procedure, so it was determined it would be done first thing Monday morning.  At this time we knew things were becoming increasingly more and more serious, but we prayed for a miracle and still had hope. 

Not unlike any other days she had be in the hospital in the past week, Saturday she had many different teams of doctors and specialists coming in.  Throughout all of this she was tired, but unless she had recently been given a strong medicine, she was with it and knew exactly what was going on.  Pains throughout her body were increasing, and she complained more and more about her abdomen.  By Saturday evening they had ordered another full CT, the most recent one done not even 4 weeks prior.  

Sunday morning oncology came to discuss the CT scan from the night before, and gave us the news we feared was coming.  Cancer was growing at an alarming rate (so much change from the scan a few weeks prior)--now in her kidneys, stomach, more in her liver, spine, etc....and treatment was off the table.  On Sunday, September 24th, we were told she likely had maybe short months or long weeks to live.  Her and I sat with this information while we watched the beautiful benefit in her honor….absolutely beautiful. She enjoyed every musical number, watching intently and wanting me to hold the laptop closer so she could see faces.  Many have inquired if she saw it...she absolutely did.  She saw every second of it, and even asked for the live stream to be turned back on so she could see people mingling around after it was over.  A dear friend of our parents suggested the beauty in her actually getting to watch her own memorial.  This brings me comfort and honor that I shared this moment with her as we looked in on all of those that love her so much. 

That night we shared the news with Emma and Owen (after Emma was able to show Carey her dress for being nominated to the homecoming court and there was a fun conversation about the slit in Emma's dress!).  We shared  with family and close friends, and there were conversations about the upcoming weeks and getting Carey home where she would be more comfortable.  We all thought we had a little time. 

Carey wanted me to stay the night Sunday night (other nights she had sent us to go home when visiting hours were through).  I hardly remember the next 36 hours as they were a whirlwind of doctors and check ins and meetings and so many emotions.  Months very quickly went to weeks to days….to hours.  Her body's ability to function declined at a rapid rate and her kids, our family, and her best friends were saying goodbye far sooner than we ever imagined.   

She left us peacefully, but incredibly too soon.   To say we are still in shock is an understatement. 

We are in awe of the stories we hear of Carey's widespread impact.  Thank you!

https://www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com/obituary/carey-kopp