Rest Easy Tasha

As I lie in my bed fighting through a second straight day of significant GI pain and sickness due to my disgruntled pancreas, I log in to Facebook. I check my news feed; there at the top of my page is a notice my dear friend Tasha has passed away. I am stunned and shocked. How can this be?

Tasha just celebrated her 27th birthday on May 29. She had Mitochondrial Disease which significantly affected her gastrointestinal tract and ability to breathe. She was one of my dear friends and comrades who also had a tracheostomy and used a ventilator to breathe.

Her death was sudden. She was having GI issues. She went to the hospital to have everything sorted out. They did a surgery to place a feeding tube into her intestines. The surgery caused her intestines to become paralyzed. Measures were taken to alleviate the pain and pressure in her GI tract. Unfortunately due to all the complications, she passed away.

I try not to be too overwhelmed with emotion, but it is so hard. Another one of my dear friends passed away a year ago. Her story was nearly the same. She had Mito. She went to the hospital. GI complications arose. She passed away. She was 23 years old.

When the rest of the world is in panic mode over a virus, Mitochondrial Disease rages on. People continue to be diagnosed. Lives continue to end. A cure is no where in sight. There is no vaccine for Mitochondrial Disease. There is no herd immunity to the illness. The best we can do is share and learn from one another. The best we can do is remember those who fought so bravely.

Rest easy Tasha. You will be deeply missed. May your family and friends find comfort in the legacy you left behind.

In loving memory of Tasha Lynch.