Lightwarrior

[mishb]

It is with much saddness that I came across this post on facebook today from Lightwarrior's (Christi Britto) daughter



This is Valerie, Christi's daughter... As many of you may already know, on Friday 2/8/13, the most amazing, beautiful woman we call Mom ended her journey with us here on earth to begin another journey in spirit with the Lord. Her services will be held at Immaculate Conception this Thursday 2/14/13 from 3-5pm. We will begin at 3pm with a playlist of her favorite songs, do her Rosary at 3:30pm, then the mass at 4pm. Any and all friends are welcome to come. We love and will miss her more than any words could ever express.....



We will miss your words of wisdom and your sense of fun and laughter.

May you continue to shine your Light on us.

Rest in a pain free sleep Christi

[jola57]

I just read same post. Rest in peace Christi and may the light shine for you allways lightwarrior

[Dirty Don]

Rest in peace Light...you will be sorely missed...your spoons are complete now...

[crackers]

R.I.P Christi.do sad.
john.

[carriej22]

I am so upset to hear about this ; RIP Christi.

You truly spread light wherever you went. Thank you for all the help, advice and encouragement you have given me.

[DEE]

RIP Lightwarrior,A most generous and giving lady,thank you for all the wisdom and guidance you gave to us all.
Thinking of you and your family DEE x x

[Psyborg]

I trust she is at peace now. This is very sad news, she was always so supportive to everyone. I'll say a prayer for her family.

[drz]

Sad news and condolences to the family. We will all miss her and kind helpful attitude. Another sad loss for our forum members.

[alive and kicking]

I am so very sorry to read this, very sad news. She will be missed xx

[LisaMarie]

I am at a loss...Light Warrior will be truly missed...I have had problems logging on so I have missed alot. Christi was am amazing support person for all of us. Rest in peace and dance with the angels my friend

[pberggren1]

So many tears for such a beautiful person.

[chrisTIn@]

Very sad to hear that Lightwarrior is no longer with us...
Sincere condolences to her family.

[ArlaMo]

Very sad - my prayers and condolences for her friends and family.

[vdub]

About this time last year, we were in Yuma and had set up a lunch date with Christi. We were waiting for her when she called and had to cancel because of a flare. I will always regret not meeting her in person. RIP Christi.... Yet another candle on the weg map -- we are getting too many.

[pberggren1]

I'm sorry you did not get to meet her vdub. I would regret not meeting her also. Did you try to convince her to meet you? Like go to her house or the hospital or where ever she was?

[Jaha]

I'm trying to find the words to express the deep sadness, that I know we all share about her passing. I went back to read her first post and intro to the forum and read all the caring replies to her. Then I read all her caring replies to other members of our group. What a true light she was to some of us new members. She will be sadly missed,Prayers to her family and loved ones.

Jana

[vdub]

She was having a flare, so it wouldn't have been a good time. Too bad.

[pberggren1]

I understand.

[rif]

My deepest sympathies and prayers go to all her family and friends. Yet another sad reminder of how fragile life can be.

Rif

[Hammy8241]

Farwell Christi,

It has been a honour and privilidge to have you sharing what little strengh you had with us. My thoughts are with Valerie and Christi's friends and family. RIP.

'Another one bites the dust'

[annekat]

Oh, I was so afraid of this, not hearing from her all this time. I didn't know Lightwarrior as long as some of you, but my tears are flowing freely. May her spirit soar into the brightest and purest of lights. My deepest condolences to Christi's family and friends. Another reminder to all of us to be vigilant about caring for ourselves and each other, as we don't know what is around the corner.

[Fran]

What sad news! Sincere condolences to Lightwarrior's family and friends - she will be missed here !
Con mucho respeto

Fran

[janNaz]

It truly saddens me to hear this..you will be missed Lightwarrior. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

[julia]

Sorry to read about lightwarrior. She will be missed.

[Sangye]

Just found out-- thank you so much for PMing me Anne. I'm sobbing. Christi and I were good friends. I knew her from her first day on here. I hadn't heard from her in a couple weeks and was doing many prayers for her, hoping she'd make it through what sounded like a pile of complications in addition to severely active Wegs.

Christi was brave and wise and compassionate. She must have been an incredible nurse because she was always in Comforting Mode in our group. She loved her family deeply. I don't know how they will be okay as they were financially dependent on her. May they find a way and have all their needs met with abundance.

From the start, Christi never had proper Wegs care. Her docs weren't Wegs specialists and were in over their heads long before she had complications and the drugs weren't working. Any of you who are in a similar position-- who are limping along with inadequate care due to the docs being far away-- please, please, please do whatever it takes to get to a proper doctor. Sell your stuff, move, whatever. None of it matters. Wegs doesn't give second chances. I've seen this too many times.

Holding Christi, her family, loved ones and all of you in my prayers. I apologize for the rambling. I can't stop crying.

[Sangye]

I just went to Christi's profile page here on the forum. Her daughter posted a message on there on Jan 30. None of us would have seen it unless we had gone to her page.

Hello, my name is Valerie Brito. I am Christi' s daughter. I am posting on here to let her friends know that she has been on hospice for the past week and a half or so and within the last few days her health has deteriorated very quickly. She is sleeping most of the days and wakes up very briefly to see us gathered around her and to tell us hi and she loves us. Our Lightwarrior needs our light, love, and prayers sent her way, please. I know my mom has cherished her friendships with each and every one of you and I thank you for being a place for her to get support. Please send her some spiritual love for I believe she will feel it with her on her journey. In the words of my most beautiful mother, Namaste.

[annekat]

Oh, Sangye, thanks for finding that and sharing it. I wish we had all seen it earlier. We can continue to send our light, love, and prayers to Valerie and their extended family, and I trust that Lightwarrior will be feeling our love on her journey. It would be nice to know if there is a way to get in touch with the family by mail so we could send condolence cards and maybe make contributions to help them get through this time. I hope Valerie will read these posts and feel free to join in on our discussions and sharing of feelings.

[mishb]

Below is a message Valerie made on my facebook post


Yes, it was our Lightwarrior, my mother. I know she cherished her friendship with each and every one of you on the Wegs page... In fact, before she got really sick she told me that should she pass, for me to get on her page and make sure you all knew because she knew you would worry if she wasn't posting. I did write a msg on her page, but I couldn't figure out how to post where everyone would see. She was a beautiful person inside and out and her Light will live on inside of me forever. Thank you all for being a support for her while fighting a battle I know u all share. Please stay strong and know that I will do my best to carry on her beautiful bright Light....namaste


I'm sure Valerie will drop by here and have a look at everyone's replies, when she is feeling able.

[Sangye]

Thank you for posting that, Michelle.

[annekat]

Michelle, maybe you could explain to Valerie that she could log in to the forum in Lightwarrior's place, from Lightwarrior's computer, and make comments, if she chooses to do so.... I think that would work; in my case, I'm always logged in and don't have to enter a password but am not sure everyone is set up that way. Anyway, we would love to hear from her, but it is understandable that she may not be up to it for awhile.

[annekat]

Valerie, if you read this, please know that we can feel your mother's light shining through you. She was our sister, as we had this thing in common that we live with on a daily basis. This is truly an exceptional forum, and Lightwarrior was one of the people who made it so.

Namaste

[mishb]

Michelle, maybe you could explain to Valerie that she could log in to the forum in Lightwarrior's place, from Lightwarrior's computer, and make comments, if she chooses to do so.... I think that would work; in my case, I'm always logged in and don't have to enter a password but am not sure everyone is set up that way. Anyway, we would love to hear from her, but it is understandable that she may not be up to it for awhile.

Anne, I will let Valerie know.
I was going to mention it last night but thought she might be a bit consumed for the funeral arrangements, so have decided to wait a bit.

[annekat]

Anne, I will let Valerie know.
I was going to mention it last night but thought she might be a bit consumed for the funeral arrangements, so have decided to wait a bit. There is plenty of time for things to settle and for her to become aware that she can be a part of this forum if she chooses. You are right to wait until the time feels right to mention it.

[JeanMarie]

My prayers are with her family. It's such a terrible loss

[HopeinTN]

Oh no. I just saw this. What a loss to so many people and family. Light will be missed and I hope she is resting in peace.

[Debbie C]

I haven't been on here for awhile and just read all this. I am so sad, trying to hold back the tears. What a shock this is. I knew she had been sick with all the rtx infusions and in and out of the hosp. I just can't believe she didn't get better. My prayers are with the family and know she and Al are having some deep decussions now.

Namaste

[annekat]

Losing Lightwarrior like this was makes me a little wary about ever taking RTX, if it shuts down the immune system that well. I don't need RTX right now, so will reserve final judgement of any risks until such time as I do. I know that Al's passing was under similar circumstances, and happened a lot faster, but he was not on RTX, I'm pretty sure he was on Imuran. That is another one I haven't been on. Well, it comes down to there is no predicting or guessing how any of us will react to treatment or to exposure to nasty infections that we probably wouldn't have gotten if our immune systems had been normal and not suppressed.

I continue to think of Christi and her precious family, and I hope they have lots of support from friends and relatives to help them through this devastating time in their lives.


I haven't been on here for awhile and just read all this. I am so sad, trying to hold back the tears. What a shock this is. I knew she had been sick with all the rtx infusions and in and out of the hosp. I just can't believe she didn't get better. My prayers are with the family and know she and Al are having some deep decussions now.

Namaste

[pberggren1]

Christi is a warrior for sure. A Wegs Warrior.

Anne, is it an infection after receiving rtx that Christi died from?

[annekat]

Christi is a warrior for sure. A Wegs Warrior.

Anne, is it an infection after receiving rtx that Christi died from? Phil, my impression was that she contracted sepsis (septic shock, blood infection?) and lingered for quite awhile, in and out of the hospital. And that she had recently had her first RTX infusions. But I DON'T know the entire sequence of events or if there is any direct connection between her getting RTX and being susceptible to the blood infection. I'm only assuming that we get these hard-to-fight infections more easily than other people because we are immunosuppressed by our meds. But that could apply to people on CTX or MTX, too. Really, I don't know a lot, and was only speculating and sharing a gut feeling, which is probably irrational, about being wary of RTX unless I absolutely need it in the future. I'm sure someone else knows more about what Christi actually went through and specifically what she died of. So I apologize for throwing things out there when my actual knowledge of the situation is quite limited.

[pberggren1]

I think you are probably right Anne. No need to apologize. Not irrational at all.

[Sangye]

No need to apologize Anne.

Dr Seo once told me that Weggies are more likely to die from infection than from Wegs itself. (That's once they're dx'ed of course) Anyone on any of the immunosuppressants is susceptible, but of course those on ctx or rtx are more so. Christi had so many things going on-- uncontrolled Wegs affecting her lungs (her Wegs never was controlled), blood clots in the lungs, and then infection. It would be incredibly hard to fight an infection under those conditions even if she weren't on rtx.

[Natalie]

Oh No , saddened By this news she was a great Support on here and I bet she was a wonderful lady in the flesh , thoughts and condolences to her Family and Friends xx

[drz]

Did anyone meet her in person? I think vdub almost did but I might be mistaken about that.

[chrisTIn@]

Did anyone meet her in person? I think vdub almost did but I might be mistaken about that.

You can read vdub's comment on this at page 2 of this thread, drz.
I don't know if anybody else from this forum met her...

[annekat]

No need to apologize Anne.

Dr Seo once told me that Weggies are more likely to die from infection than from Wegs itself. (That's once they're dx'ed of course) Anyone on any of the immunosuppressants is susceptible, but of course those on ctx or rtx are more so. Christi had so many things going on-- uncontrolled Wegs affecting her lungs (her Wegs never was controlled), blood clots in the lungs, and then infection. It would be incredibly hard to fight an infection under those conditions even if she weren't on rtx. I'm curious, are people with other AI diseases, such as lupus, MS, the ones everyone has heard of, as susceptible as Weggies to catching these awful infections and possibly dying? I'm assuming they also take immunosuppressants and must be careful in crowds, etc. Do Weggies take stronger ones, higher doses, or for longer periods of time? Just curious, if anyone knows...

[Dirty Don]

I worked with a woman who, for years, had Lupus while she worked. She also had to take time off numerous times for colds, flu, severe lethargy, minor infections, etc. Don't know the drugs she was/is on, but she was very wary of those in the department who were sick at times...darn kids! LOL!

[renidrag]

I can't believe I have missed this thread til now. Again in tears at the computer. My thoughts and prayers to the family.
Dale

[Debbie C]

The lady I go to that teaches yoga has lupus and she refuses to go to a doctor.She wants to do it all holisticly by cleansing and eating certain foods. She is on no meds and never has blood work. She is sick alot of the time and doesn't look healthy at all but thats the way she wants to do things.

[annekat]

The lady I go to that teaches yoga has lupus and she refuses to go to a doctor.She wants to do it all holisticly by cleansing and eating certain foods. She is on no meds and never has blood work. She is sick alot of the time and doesn't look healthy at all but thats the way she wants to do things. I wonder if that approach is less dangerous with lupus than it is with Wegs. We know that without immunosuppressive drugs, we Weggies would die of the disease itself. Maybe that is not a given with lupus, or maybe it depends on the seriousness of the case. I know someone with lupus who had a severe case; it went into her heart and she had to have major heart surgery. She is doing well now, but has been on prednisone for 40 years and will be for the rest of her life. I don't know what other meds she has taken. I believe that diet can help with AI diseases, but doubt that we should rely on it alone. It is all very interesting, and I love that more and more, we are looking at AI diseases as a whole, even though there may be big differences between them. We need to learn more about all of them. Best of luck to your yoga teacher, Debra.

[vdub]

Did anyone meet her in person? I think vdub almost did but I might be mistaken about that.
You are right. I did almost meet her. We were in Yuma and had set a time to meet at the hospital where she worked. We had just pulled up to the parking lot when I got a call that she had flared and wouldn't be able to meet. That was about a year ago.

When we are traveling in the RV, I often send a PM to wegs along our route to see if they would like to meet for lunch or something. I have tried to meet with Cindy twice. Usually, people are too busy, though. I don't think I've ever met another weggie, but it's not from lack of trying.

[pberggren1]

I've met 17 Weggies so far.

[drz]

I've met 17 Weggies so far.

Phil, you must be a real Weggie magnet? Are you sure GPA isn't contagious. Are these all in person meetings?

[pberggren1]

lol.....yes, all of those are in person meetings.

[RCOSSIO]

Well the crazy Cuban has not been in the forum for quite some time and I am happy to see all new members...it was just a few members when I joined 5 years ago. I am sad to see this post from Lightwarrior, but as soon as I read about her passing it quickly brought to mind about a thread I started 2 years ago "If there was anyone famous with WG"

Lightwarrior response still gives me chuckle... I copied it below....Here's to you Lightwarrior!!!

My closest brush with fame is Robert Redford. I didn't see him or even talk to him, but.....he said my name. I was in a documentary about the transportation of nuclear waste in New Mexico and he narrated the documentary. I still watch it sometimes just to hear him say my name. Ah......:love:

[pberggren1]

Hi Richard, how are you keeping?

[RCOSSIO]

Phil can't complain lucky that Cellcept has worked well and i have been reducing, probably by next year I will be on no meds. Some minor occasional joint pains but my blood work has been normal for almost 4 years. I pinch myself just because I have seen to many of my peers in this forum suffer. But like I said I live in the "Now"

[Sangye]

It's great to see you, Crazy Cuban Richard. I'm so happy to hear that you're doing so well. Big hugs to you, amigo. :hug1:

[Debbie C]

Great to hear u r doing so well...don't be a stranger !