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

UPDATE 7/20/05

If you would like to leave a comment or message for Erika's Tribute, her family, and her daughter please click here. The link will take you to her tribute page at dfwphoto.com.

The page was created by Kevin Gibbs. Kevin asked that I submit it here. Kevin will be eventually print out all entries so that they can be saved for Ariana. I am hoping that some of these will be read aloud or shared at the Tribute on Saturday, July 23rd.


Click here to submit a message for Erika's Tribute, her family, and her daughter.

Love to all!


"There is one less light in the world but one more star in the sky."

ERIKA'S UPDATES
Update 6-8th? - [link]
Update July 4th - [link]
Update July 9th - [link]
We will never forget... - [link]

Please Read Other Journal Entries Leading Up to This One. Thank you.


Erika's family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during this difficult time. Your outpouring of empathy and encouragement is absolutely astounding. Your words, along with Erika's photography and journals, will live on as a legacy to her family, her supporters, and her child, in the years to come. May all that come across her DFWPhoto.com and DeviantArt.com pages find the beauty and joy in her life that we did...

Tribute to Erika Warbington will be held at:

Texas Land and Cattle Restaurant
Legends Room
3945 Central Expressway
Plano, Texas 75023
972-578-8707

Date: Saturday July 23, 2005
10 am - 12 noon
Casual attire

If you have something to contribute at the Tribute please e-mail me or call me directly.

txsappho@gmail.com
817-538-2384

Remember: This is to remember Erika, not to mourn her. Bring your memories, your love and your laughter.

If you need directions to the Tribute please use a mapping service or call the restaurant.

If you have questions please contact me


"There is one less light in the world but one more star in the sky."

ERIKA'S UPDATES
Update 6-8th? - [link]
Update July 4th - [link]
Update July 9th - [link]
Please Read Other Journal Entries Leading Up to This One. Thank you.


UPDATE: 7/13/05

At 4:10 AM this morning, after 11 months of battle, Erika has passed away. Troy was by her side.

She was with family, loved ones, and friends. Due to her wishes, there will not be a funeral. Instead a memorial service will be held in approximately a week. The information will be posted here and her page when those details are available.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Erika L. Warbington Fund.

Bank of America
0047 8638 7690

This fund has been used thus far to pay medical expenses and related needs. The remainder of the fund will be held in trust for her daughter.

Thank you everyone for your comments, your love, your understanding. I only wish she could have seen this. Thank you Angelo...

With much love and tears,
Reba

"There is one less light in the world but one more star in the sky."

Update 6-8th? - [link]
Update July 4th -[link]
Please Read Other Journal Entries Leading Up to This One. Thank you.


where is my Troy Williams at? I need you here dude. I'm dying sooner than planned, so you better gitcher britches back over here. I want you here , i need you here.
p.s. thanx for the ramdom ppl's postcards, they've been exciting.



GOOD NEWS! --->

I saw my beautiful 4yr old daughter yesterday, will try to post some photos when I can get around to it, involves searching boxes for my card reader or cord...etc... But anyway, I saw my baby girl! If not today, ..I hope. I love her so much! She'll be by Sunday as well I presume.


Still good note.... Our family has been really pulling together tightly. I see a my dream of a beautiful relationship between my father and I blossoming into something I could have only dreamt of... some kids don't know how great they have it, and my father and I have never really had the chance to really know eacother in ways we always wanted to. My Goal...I want..i want to be able to leave this earth knowing that my Father is one of my best friends I've ever had. We need to work on that bond, but it coming and thati am started to get delirious... i need to sleep some more and be sentimental again later....

Ok, Sorry, back to the bad news

So as it is, I am beginning a slow decline, slowly deteriorating with every hour, nap, night of rest....I awake to semi dry blood filled pockets of blisters on my tongue for the most part, that I immediating have to rinse and sloff of, etc I'd go more into it but I'm sure I went far enough already especially from the other day with the image links to Thrush on them.. warn the weak stomached here but here's some images I found useful to explain at least the appearance of what Thrush/Candidiasis just is..
- [link]
- [link]
- [link]
- [link]
- [link]
Sorry to disturb you yet again with such images, but now you know what Thrush/Candidiasis looks like on the human mouth/tongue.. ) But yeah, awakening to pain....kinds of pain I can't describe. We just keep upping the dosage on my pain management pump, about evert couple days when they stop by. I have multiple (one of which almost severely) bad bruises brought on by slightly nudges into things like furniture and such, I feel as thought I have brittle 'muscle' disease er somethin...heh..Right now my upper right top of my thigh is going through some major healing needs due to a misplaced needle for my PCA pump....but it was fine that day, til the next 2 as it is now hard and heavy and very tender to the touch.

On a lighter note, no fevers again so far.. My Hospice Nurses are all great and very understanding, Kirsten's words about when you pass and how your body slowly builds up to it, what to expect..etc.. really helped calm my nerves just a bit. I'd say a lot, but my nerves are pretty uneven
over here...heh..


Hey, I just throught myself how many of your are praying and sending your good thanx to the Lord, etc.. I've been blessed to wake up every day and look out my window, not having a clue how big this thing is in a large aspect ll;;\my typing findgers have gone keput...ttyml...

I do appreciate the text messages guys, thx, sorry if I don't reply often, i am often lazying or resting and don't want to function.
here it is: 817 . 793 . 0079

If you're a close friend of family or of me personally, and you are looking for how to mail my something by snail mail...... then either contact me personally, if possible, or contact [link]