Stupid Cancer

I lost a dear friend to cancer in early July.  Gina Corona and I worked together on the Cadbury Team at CROSSMARK.  She was from New Orleans and had the biggest personality.  She made me laugh all the time.  We grew close while we were working together and then grew even closer after.  We always found time for dinner or visiting when she would come to town for work.  Peter and I tried Wingstop thanks to Gina. 

She was so generous when Max was born and went in on a group present plus gave us a baby bathtub too.  THEN, after Max was born she brought over dinner while I was on maternity leave.  She was always so thoughtful and kind. 

One year on the Cadbury team, we had drawn names for Christmas.  She had mine and gave me the best present ever (I'll try to remember to take a picture and upload later)...  I have this joke about when I'm grumpy that I need to "put on my happy pants".  And I said it enough that it because a joke for the team.  So, for Christmas, I'm opening my present....and she had made me a pair of Happy Pants!  She had taken a pair of baby doll pants and put encouraging stickers on them like "good job"  "way to go", etc and then framed them.  Above the pants it says "Kallie's Happy Pants".  I love them!!!  They make me laugh every time I look at them.  And they are a perfect reminder of my Gina.  I used to hand them off to people at the office when they were having a bad day so they became traveling pants.  However, when she passed, I retook ownership so I can have them in my office and remember Gina.

She was inspirational in her fight against the cancer.  She had an amazing positive attitude, fought until the end.  She never talked bad about others and rarely had a down moment.  Her accent cracked me up.  We would tease her about the way she'd say "sad-day" for "Saturday" and "boofay" for "buffet".  She loved her Saints and the city of New Orleans.  I regret that Peter and I didn't get a chance to take a trip down there and let her show us around.  It's hard because you always think there will be a tomorrow and eventually, there isn't.

I went to New Orleans, along with a good number of co-workers, to her funeral in New Orleans.  We flew there in the morning and flew home in the afternoon.  I am so glad that I was able to go but it was painful at the same time.

I was still nursing Max, so I brought my pump so that I could pump (I struggle enough to get the milk Max needs without missing a pump session).  So anyway, after we landed we went straight to the funeral home.  I asked if they had a private room I could use to pump.  They put me here...

It made me laugh.  I know Gina would have cracked up at the thought of my pumping next to the caskets.  :)

The services were perfect.  One of her friends read a letter than Gina had written before she passed to be read at her funeral.  It was perfectly Gina - funny and humble, gracious and silly.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the cemetery.  It was beautiful.  It wasn't one of those cemeteries in New Orleans where everyone is buried underground.  It was beautiful.

Gina during one a work trip to California

All the girls during a work trip to Vegas (Gina LOOOOOOOOVED Vegas and gambling).

Me and Gina in June 2011

Gina meeting Max for the first time when I stopped by the office (Sept 2011).  I wish this picture wasn't blurry.  She didn't want to hold him because she was worried that one of her cancer treatments could make it unsafe for him to be too close to her.

I miss you my dear friend - thank you for being in my life and inspiring me to be a better person.