My friend and fellow carcinoid patient, Lynn Guidici,
died last Friday. She was 59. I met Lynn in 2012 through the ACOR message
board. We both lived in the New York area and had seen some of the same
doctors. Lynn was the first carcinoid
patient that I met in person. She was
diagnosed in 2006 and I was a relative “newbie” in 2012. Nonetheless, we were in similar situations in
thinking about debulking surgery, what our next step should be and if we really
trusted our doctors. We met over coffee
and hit it off immediately, talking and laughing about life, cancer, doctors
and poop. We talked and met up regularly
to catch up on things. She had a
debulking surgery in early 2013 and I went next in September. She never fully recovered from the surgery
and continued to struggle with eating and weight loss issues. She went on to have a liver embolization and remained
in declining health. I continued to see
her, going to Westchester where she lived so she would not have to travel into
the city. I last saw her a few weeks ago at her home and knew that this would
be my last visit.
Lynn
was a warm and caring person who was so proud of her daughter Anabel, who just
graduated from high school and will be attending college in the fall. Perhaps
going away to college will help her deal with the death of her mother. Lynn's husband Bill survives her as well.
I
feel quite upset, even though it was clear that Lynn was doing poorly. Knowing someone who has the same disease is
an amazing experience because they have the same hopes, fears and symptoms,
making them closer to you than most other people. Seeing Lynn die brings my own mortality up front
and personal which is very scary as well.
Rest
in peace Lynn, you were a great friend and confidante.
