PREVIOUSLY POSTED IN MY JOURNAL: [link]
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July 8, 2005 - Erika saw her daughter for the last time.
July 9, 2005 - Erika posted on DA for the last time. [link]
July 11-12, 2005 - Erika's family and friends gathered by her bedside.
July 13, 2005 - 4:10 AM Erika left us. [link]

One Year Later...

It is going to be one bitch of a week. The one year anniversary of her death will be this Thursday. It is amazing how much Erika affected my life in the mere 21 years she was with us and how profound her loss has been to me and our family. As a tribute to her I am giving blood on the 13th at Carter Bloodcare (Texas). I really wish there was some way her parents could get to San Francisco so that they could spread her ashes as she wished. They haven't been able to afford the trip and I don't know when they will be able to. If I could I'd send them but I don't have the $$$ either. I suppose when the time is right God will make it happen. That is all I can hope for.

We've been in touch with Erika's ex-husband and daughter. Relationships are being built and family ties will remain intact for Punkie in the years ahead. I've committed myself to making sure that she will know about the Erika we knew here in DA, the Erika I knew as an infant and child, the young woman she was before meeting Punkie's dad and all the things that only a family history of love can provide. Other than that, I have committed to myself that I will be there for her if she needs me. The fund we had set up for Erika has been transferred to a new account for Punkie. It is very small but at least there is something. All other account numbers Erika had or published have been closed. This is important to note since the account was victimized by fraud and a new account opened prior to Erika's passing. Now that 2nd account has been closed as well.

It amazes me how I have changed since August 2004. Since finding out about the AML and living the nightmare of terminal illness in a family member. There was a time in my life where I believed that grief was a thing someone went through and when it was over you were okay. It isn't over. It isn't OK. It doesn't end. You change. You cope. You learn to adapt to these feelings and gradually you begin to realize that you'd rather live with the pain and the memories than to forget. The tears are bittersweet but each one has a special meaning attached and I treasure them all.

If any of Erika's friends want to join me on the 13th you can give blood, platelets or red blood cells at Carter BloodCare. Please donate the credits you receive for your donation to a patient with Leukemia. They need all the help you can give them!

Her memorial is still online thanks to Kevin. You can find it at DFWPhoto.org [link] Drop by and visit. DFWPhoto.org also hosts her gallery as well at this [link]

In memory of Erika L. Warbington



2/12/84 - 7/13/05

~ Erika's Aunt Reba