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My Journey Since Being Diagnosed with ALS




   I was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease
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Goodbye to Our Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Loved One

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This entry was posted on 6/14/2007 10:28 AM and is filed under uncategorized.

KATHERINE WALLIS

Katherine "Kathy" Lee Wallis, 51, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at home with her family at her side after a year-and-a-half battle with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. Kathy is survived by her husband, Jay Wallis; daughter, Courtney Wallis, and future son-in-law, William Dutra; son, Corey Wallis, and daughter-in-law, Keri Wallis; mother and father, Jo and Olen Wood; brother, Robert Reddoch; sister, Susan (Reddoch) McMillin; and many other family and friends who loved her dearly.

Kathy was born on July 29, 1955 in San Diego, California, but spent the majority of her life in Olympia, Washington; She graduated from Timberline High School in 1973. She worked for the State of Washington for over 20 years, primarily for the Department of Labor and Industries in Tumwater, Washington.

She loved cats and dogs, especially her poodle, "Matilda"; Bunco nights with her girlfriends; trips of any kind; Taco Time; eating home-cooked meals at her mother's kitchen table; plays and musicals; going to the movies; taking care of her family; talking on the phone; reading; craft projects, including scrapbooking and sewing; singing in the car to her favorite easy-listening music; great-smelling lotions; and cuddly down throws.

Kathy courageously fought this disease and taught us so much about faith and hope. We are comforted to know she is finally in a place where her body works again and she is now at peace.

Services will be held at the Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen Road S.E., Lacey, Washington 98503, on Saturday, June 16, 2007, at 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please view Kathy's website at: WWW.KATHYSALSBLOG.COM. Donations may be made in Kathy's name to the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, 19110 66th Avenue South, Kent, Washington 98032.

 

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    • 6/14/2007 9:04 PM Julia Bytnar wrote:
      Dear Courtney and family---
      You are a true example of what family, faith, and love are all about. Kathy was so blessed to have you by her side until the very end; how comforting for her. We so wish we could make it to her service, but will be unable to make it due to long-term plans that same evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you say good-bye to Kathy, as well as remember and celebrate what a beautiful, courageous, kind, faithful, and loving woman she was. She is now dancing with Jesus; it can't get any better than that!
      Love and prayers---Julia and Brad
      Reply to this
    • 6/14/2007 9:22 PM Jeannie Norton wrote:
      Sweet Kathy...your battle is over...you are victorious... you have reached your destination... no longer at the foot of the cross, but now in the arms of your Savior...rest in peace now.
      Jeannie & Ted
      Reply to this
    • 6/15/2007 1:56 PM Brian Cassidy wrote:
      Courtney and family,
      Courtney I am very saddened by the news of your mom. It has been a long time since I saw her and was unaware of her illness until reading the paper today. From what I have read on the site it sounds like the last year and a half was filled with lots of wonderful memories. Your mom was just simply awesome. Take care, Brian C.
      Reply to this
    • 6/16/2007 8:02 AM Sonja Zimmer wrote:
      Thoughts
      Cherish things while you still have them,
      before they're gone,
      and you realize how precious they really are.
      Life can only be understood backwards,
      but it must be lived forwards
      Slowly take a single step to move forward.

      You have met one of life’s greatest challenges with confidence; love and respect for your wife, mother, and daughter. The challenge of the past year and half has forever changed your future. No you did not ask for it, did not want it and certainly did not like it but you did it!
      Jay, Courtney, Corey and Jo you did that, you met the challenges you gave Kathy your Love support understanding, and patience, you gave her the best gift of all, yourselves.
      This time of grieving is yours there is no time line, no rules to follow, you are allowed every emotion that you feel. It is OK.
      Relish your successes don’t dwell on the failures, There is always something to learn from them.
      Know that she will always be with you, in your heart and soul. Her physical body has left us but her spirit lives on forever in your love for her and each other.
      Delight in life’s simple gifts, as she did, her love for animals, her family, friends, playing bunco. I envision her laughing talking and eating with abandon. Continue as she did to Laugh often and love much.

      Don’t Post Pone Joy!
      Reply to this
    • 6/20/2007 2:52 PM Susan Haugh wrote:
      Courtney, I worked with your mom in the Word Processing Unit at DSHS--About 20 years ago (I think). I'm shocked to read about her death and the illness that caused it. She was a terrific person and I wished we had kept in touch. She talked about you and Cory all the time and was so proud of both of you.
      My heart goes out to all of you.
      Reply to this
    • 6/20/2007 5:11 PM Lori Butterfield wrote:
      My deepest condolences to Kathy's family. I knew her from work and I really liked her. I hope you are able to get some comfort from knowing that she is in a happier place now.
      Reply to this
    • 6/28/2007 9:33 AM Joanne Klein wrote:
      My deepest condolences to your family. I knew at the support group meeting that we were at the same place. Watching our parent go through the dying process. I know that I felt peace knowing that my Dad was no longer uncomfortable and that he was happy in heaven. I know that there are going to be rough days ahead. We just have to remember the good times and try to live our lives like they did. Doing the best they could and staying positive every day. My Mom and I wish you all the best. We are sorry we just heard otherwise we would have gone to the service.
      Reply to this
    • 7/5/2007 1:50 PM Claudia wrote:
      Hi Courtney and family.
      I have just read your blog and my heart is on my sleeve. My dad is in the last stage of ALS as well. He was diagnosed just a year ago. We have an upcoming Appt. with Dr. Ravitz for a final evaluation and will get hospice in to help. It has been a journey of great strength and pain. I understand what you have been through, and know that you can understand ours. Letting go is not easy, but his quality of life now is nothing less than cruel. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, it has helped me with some outside perspective. We will keep walking for ALS in hopes of a cure.
      All the best. Claudia and family.
      Reply to this
    • 7/9/2007 1:01 PM Michelle Hawley Barnes wrote:
      Dear Courtney,
      I just wanted to extend my condolences to you and your family. Though I hadn't seen Kathy is quite some time, I always loved her growing up, and remembered her as one of the 'cool' moms; I am deeply saddened.

      I too know what it is like to care for a parent who is slowly leaving this life, and the ways in which the experience can change who we are inside. Your strength and bravery is to be commended. Please know that my thoughts are with you.

      Michelle
      Reply to this
    • 7/11/2007 3:28 PM Manon Brown wrote:
      The Bunko Babes had a final goodbye for Kathy on 6/31/07. We laughed, cried, looked at pictures and at the end went outside to release the red balloons that we had all written notes to Kathy on. We held hands and prayed then released the balloons. We watched them until they just about disappeared. At that spot a rainbow appeared..... We believe she read the balloons and sent us that rainbow to let us know she was there. We will always love and miss her. Bunko Babes
      Reply to this
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