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Welcome to Kathy’s Circle       

        

The traditional thing to say would be "Kathy lost her battle with ALS on Thursday", but we all know that is not the way it happened for Kathy.

ALS did not win....Kathy did. For the last two years she has inspired us, prodded us, pushed us, loved us and laughed at us with more energy and determination than ALS could ever take away. And through the challenges she set out for us, we will accomplish even more than we thought we could. So.

Whatever the challenge was that she gave you, get out there and do it...or you answer to her.

Don't send flowers. Pass the Primary Seat Belt bill.

Don't send flowers. Find a cure for ALS.

Don't send flowers. Make this world better for the children of the world.

Don't send flowers. Grow flowers

You know which applies to you....now go get it done.

Thank you so much for the E-mails and cards that have been flooding our mailboxes. As Kathy struggled harder and harder to breathe these last few days, your emails kept her going. Getting caught up in the loving words you sent let her put worries of breathing aside. We took turns sitting by the bed and reading your messages. Tears and laughter flowed freely as we read emails full of love, praise, prayers, and memories both funny and sad. She would often ask "E-mails?," and we would check to see if new ones had arrived. Even Thursday morning, we were reading E-mails. Thank you. Kathy died around noon on Thursday with family surrounding her and the hospice nurse giving her wonderful care all morning.

Thank you to the many many people who helped support Kathy and Earl these last two years. You have been wonderful. You took care of everything they needed. Sometimes even things they didn't know they needed. Kathy has always bragged about her friends and we were able to see just why she bragged. You are wonderful and we are thankful beyond words.

Please join us as we remember Kathy with tears and laugher and food.

Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5:00 - 8:00 at Bradford Funeral Home - 488 Humboldt Ave - St Paul. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10:00 at the Lakewood Cemetery Memorial Chapel 3600 Hennepin Ave with a lunch following.

 

PREVIOUS HOME PAGE INFORMATION:

 

In February of 2006, Kathy Swanson was diagnosed with ALS, an invariably fatal, progressive degenerative disease that weakens a person’s muscles so that they cannot walk, talk, eat, or breathe.  ALS is not contagious, it has no known cause, and, so far, there is no cure.  About half of the people with ALS die within five years of diagnosis.

 

ALS is expensive.  Kathy faces significant costs for medical care, equipment, home health care, and that is just the beginning.  The on-going expenses would deplete most families’ resources. 

 

To help Kathy fight the disease, its spiraling expenses, and her needs for assistance with things like meals and transportation, a group of Kathy’s colleagues, family and friends formed Kathy’s Circle. 

 

Thank you for visiting our website to learn more about how you can help. 

If you have questions, please call Holly Zelinsky @ 651-738-2366

We ask that you make donations through this website, however, if you would like to send Kathy a personal card or good wishes directly, she has asked that you do that either by mail or email.

 

Kathy Swanson

c/o Kathy's Circle

10186 Bald Eagle Trail

Woodbury, MN  55129

or EMAIL KATHY DIRECTLY at:  rookswan@comcast.net

 

Please do not mail donations directly to Kathy. 

 

 

Kathy's Story     How You Can Help     Donate To Kathy Now     Sept. 07 Update

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