Hi! This is Galit & Lucia. We met just over a year ago in Vancouver while I (Galit) was visiting Sam for the last time. Lucia has been one of Sammy’s Loving Angels and very close friend. In January we reconnected in Nosara, Costa Rica along with Jesse on one of Sammy’s final stops.
The past year has been a big one for good-byes and letting go. We have celebrated Sam far and wide, strengthening our connectionswith each other, which is a gift that Sammy left with us. She knew how to introduce her friends to one another, creating special bonds, and it would seem that her matchmaking skills are still impeccable!
We like to think of 2013 as the year of Sammy’s World Tour. Per her instructions, her ashes were brought to all the places that she loved and which represented special times, people, memories… and life. From Vancouver to Wales to Nosara and Burning Man, Sammy traveled the globe one last time. We feel that she intended this tour more for us, than for herself… another gift that she left us with. We were able to remember and grieve our Sam while being present and feeling the moment, together.
Here is a picture of the place in Wales, where some of Sam’s ashes have been scattered by her loving mom, Jen, who takes some comfort in knowing that her own ashes will be spread there too when the time comes.
In Nosara we planned “One more sunset with Sammy”. It was a memorial and celebration of her sparkly spirit in a place and with the people who meant so much to her. We shared personal stories and memories in a sacred circle, released her ashes into the Pacific as the sun set and sent our messages of love into the sky… the wish lanterns floated away in ever-changing constellations.
The circle where we shared our memories and stories
Silently sharing one more sunset with Sam
Sending love-filled messages
Sammy lived her life by example… following her heart, finding her joy and being completely present. We are reminded of this message every day: Feel this moment.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Saturday’s memorial gathering for Samantha.
It was a beautiful evening to bring together Sam’s family, friends, and colleagues.
To continue Sam’s memory and legacy there will be an online sale of her photographic work that was displayed at Saturday’s event. Proceeds from the sale will go to The Canadian Cancer Agencies Camp Goodtimes in support of children and families living with cancer.
Please follow the link below to make a purchase. The sale opens today (Sunday September 15th) and will close on Sunday September 29th. Limited quantities are available.
It has been a beautiful summer in Vancouver and as we have now reached September, Samantha’s Expression of Life is quickly approaching. As a reminder to all this event will be held at 7:00 pm on Saturday September 14th at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology. The speaking portion of the evening will begin at 7:45 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Light refreshments will be served at the entrance area of the museum. Complimentary valet parking will be available.
Following the event, a limited quantity of Samantha’s photographic work will be on sale through an online store. The sale will last two weeks beginning the morning of Sunday September 15th until September 29th. Links to the store will be posted on this blog, please check back following the event if you are interested in making a purchase. Proceeds from the sale will go to The Canadian Cancer Agencies Camp Goodtimes in support of children and families living with cancer.
After discovering that many dear friends and family that were very close to Sam are unable to attend the July 6 event to celebrate her life, we have decided to postpone the event to late 2013 or spring 2014. We will continue to plan this event to ensure it’s memorable for everyone. We hope that the revised date will allow many more people to attend. Thank you to those of you who have already responded. Once the alternate date is confirmed, we post on this site and have an email sent out to advise.
Notice of Postponement Samantha Memorial July 6, 2013
Dear All,
After discovering that many dear friends and family that were very close to Sam are unable to attend the July 6 event to celebrate her life, we have decided to postpone the event to late 2013 or spring 2014. We will continue to plan this event to ensure it’s memorable for everyone. We hope that the revised date will allow many more people to attend. Thank you to those of you who have already responded. Once the alternate date is confirmed, we post on this site and have an email sent out to advise.
Samantha June Walker February 12th, 1970 – April 25th, 2013
Over the years, months and days that had been held in the presence of cancer, Samantha never stopped believing in the endless possibilities for her life and her health. Since her diagnosis in October 2001, she was committed to being fully present in her life. She practiced yoga and traveled the world connecting with others through her camera lens. Sam endured numerous surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. She was always radiant and courageous, vulnerable and exposed, and brave but reflective. Sam was also feisty and stubborn which allowed the energy of her inner warrior to continue the fight. She suggested that her resilience came from her circle of family and friends and the belief that it just wasn’t her time but we know that incredible power came from within herself. The love she had for each of us has contributed to our lives in immeasurable ways. Sam was never happier than when she was generously sharing her talents with friends and family. Her aesthetic eye, attention to detail and her tenacity to create the perfect work seemed effortless. Sam’s gift as a photographer allowed us to see the world differently however her presence was the most sacred gift of all as it allowed us to see ourselves differently. With Jesse and Alison holding her hands and surrounded by love, near and far, Samantha June Walker left this world April 25th, 2013 at 7:05PM to explore the heavens and truly become one with the divine. She is now off on the trip she never planned on taking so soon, but on a journey for which she had been preparing for a lifetime. We will welcome her love and presence in our lives everyday, always and forever, and we will remember her courage, grace and love until we see her again. In honour of Sam’s life, we will host a gathering in Vancouver in early July 2013. More information will be posted shortly. Donations can be made in memory of Samantha June Walker in support of ‘Camp Goodtimes’: a camp for children with cancer organised through the Canadian Cancer Society.
By now many of you have heard that Samantha’s cancer was not completely removed by the surgeries done in Boston last summer. The trials of chemotherapy that she underwent earlier this year were also unsuccessful. We are left with no curative treatments are now focusing on keeping Sam’s mind and body comfortable. She has weakened significantly since any of you saw her last. Eating and drinking are extremely limited as is her mobility. It has been a difficult battle to say the least. I will tell you Sam has been as strong and brave as anyone I have ever seen go through this kind of fight, and I have had the misfortune of witnessing many of these fights before.
We are at home where Sam wants to be. Either Alison or I are here with her always. With added support from a team of doctors and nurses we are simply helping Sam to be as comfortable as possible. Pain and anti-nausea medications are given around the clock and we hope this keeps her in a peaceful state.
Many of you obviously care deeply for her and have asked to see her. She cares for you too! Sam truly appreciates your friendships and thoughts. However at this particular time she is not seeing any visitors. These are her wishes. It’s part of a plan that she made a few weeks ago and Alison and I are going to make sure things happen as she wants them. Seeing loved ones can generate a plethora of emotions which can place a huge mental stress on her. Please know she is only trying to protect herself and you from those stresses when she says she doesn’t want to see you. Even in her weakened state she still worries about how all of you are doing. Incredible.
I am siting in bed beside her and I can tell you she is resting peacefully right now. She would want you to take solace in that.
We are coming up to a year since we first found out Sam’s tumour markers were up. It has been a tough year of ups and downs as you can imagine.
Since finding out that there was residual tumour tissue from the big surgery in Boston we have been working on a theory suggested by the people who organized the tumour profiling. We were given a list of chemotherapy possibles. Some of them were similar to the drugs Sam took way back in February when she did her first bit of chemo. Others were known to be very harsh on the body with heavy side effects. One drug had a relatively mild side effect profile and was actually not on the official list. It’s called Velcade. It had potential based on a theory out of San Diego. It has never been used officially for solid tumours but it has a long history of use for non-solid tumours. That refers to tumours based in blood or bone marrow, widespread in the system and not a ball of tissue like say a brain tumour or a kidney tumour. Sam’s type of cancer is classified as solid but it has some characteristics that are not like other solid tumours. It’s mucinous and for reasons scientifically over my head may have some response to this type of Chemotherapy.
For the last three weeks Sam has had weekly injections of Velcade under the skin. It’s just a little shot given at the hospital and only requires her to be in the clinic for an hour or so. We will continue with this for the next coupe of months and redo a CT scan in January.
Pain and nausea are the other issues we have to deal with. Sam has been on multiple types of opiate based pain killers all of which seem pretty good at managing her pain. The problem has bee the nausea that comes along with many of the drugs. Some days she can do as much as get out of the house for a few hours to visit her horse and do a few errands (those are good days) while others are limited to the couch with next to no food or fluid intake because of intractable nausea and vomiting. Not fun. We’ve tried lots of different anti-nausea drugs. Today we are picking up some heavy duty anti-nauseants are hope they will help. It’s a vicious circle of nausea limiting food and fluids, causing weakness and lightheadedness, leading to worse nausea.
I am heading to Mexico tomorrow to re-charge the batteries. Sam is not well enough to come as we had originally planned. I have somewhat reluctantly agreed to go for a shorter period of time only because many of her amazing friends have organized a full scale “take care of Sam” schedule the entire week I am away. Her mom will also be helping out a great deal. Many thanks to all of you.
Sam actually has been wanting to update the blog herself but is on energy-use rationing imposed by yours truly. She agreed that I do this update on her behalf. She is sitting beside me and would like to say, “Thank you so much for your support. All the visits, food drops, calls, emails, and phone messages have been amazing. Keeping me in your hearts, your love, thoughts and prayers are tremendously appreciated.”
Sam’s network of love and light is a circle of support designed by friends and family to help provide Sam with the energy she needs to focus on her health and healing.
