Every once in a while, you meet people that you are astounded by. Their amazing strength to carry on, in spite of the incredible amount of crap they are facing, and will face for the rest of their lives. When I first started going to camp, I was introduced to a woman named Maureen (Mo everyone called her) who carried an oxygen tank with her. Everyone described this tiny frail woman like she was one of the “Banger Sisters”. I couldn’t believe that this fragile thing breathing through an oxygen tube had once partied with The Doors. She was also the person who would tell guys at the bar to buy a shot and take it over to “that girl over there, she’s easy…” it being the one who was married. But it was true, I’ve seen the pics and evidence of her previous life. Almost 8 years ago, Mo discovered a lump in her chest. Scared about it, she mentioned it in passing to her best friend. The doctors told her it was not cancerous but began the steps to fight cancer. During the process, She was told that her arteries were hardening, that blood flow was decreasing, her white blood count was abnormally high, and immediately doctors put her on a very serious round of not only chemotherapy and radiation “to be on the safe side”, but blood thinners and several other medications, ands she was hospitalized for months. During that time she never once was anything less than positive, never once without a smile, even through the pain and sickness of the treatment, she braved on. While in the hospital they noticed she was losing lung capacity as well, and began to search in vain for a tumor in her lungs. None was found. Her lungs were hardening in a similar fashion to her blood vessels. Eventually she got sick of the hospital, and after almost 6 months of being there, left AMA. In the intervening time, she and her husband moved back to the area and returned to camp and Mo has lead the charge through the door at many parties, has never once let someone be down about anything, always cheery, and has helped people as much as she could. When she left the hospital the first time, they gave her 6 months to live. It’s been well over ten times that amount and she has lead a wonderful life. Just under a year ago, Mo was told again, after a trip to the ER in the middle of the night, she had about 30% of lung capacity left and that she had about 3 months this time. She has beat the odds every time she came to the table.

Until Friday morning at 2am. Mo’ finally lost her battle with the universe and slipped away to go play with the rest of the angels.

Breathe easy once again, and good-bye Mo, we love you.

Maureen Vetromila August 1, 1951 Spetember 19, 2008