This is Jade's Mom, Deb Saunders. Today is Monday, Feb 2, 2004, and I have sad news regarding Jade. Jade's surgery was done on Friday, Jan 23, 2003. She woke up on Saturday and was feeling good. They even had her up and sitting in a chair a few times on Sat. On Sunday, she began to have pain and breathing problems. They tested her for blood clots and some other things, then took her back to surgery Sunday evening. They found that one of the staples had come loose and stomach acids were leaking into her abdominal cavity. She became septic from the leak/infection, and her fever went up to over 106 deg F. She never really woke up after that. They did an EEG to check for brain activity on Tuesday and repeated it on Wednesday. She was declared brain dead on Wed. She finally passed away on Friday, Jan 30, 2004 at 4:16PM MST.
Jade was well aware of the risks and complications of this surgery and decided to go ahead with it in order to improve her life. She even prepared for this eventuality. Here is a copy of a letter she left behind in case she passed away.
To My family and my friends,
If you are reading this, then chances are I did not make it through the surgery or I died of complications afterwards. I know this is hard but I am ok with it. I truly believe that if I am allowed to die, I have completed what I must in this life. You have all touched me in very special ways and I thank you for your friendship and companionship in this life’s journey. I pray that you find the peace that I have as I sit here and write this.
Death is only a new beginning. it is a new transition. It is a transition that we must take alone. As much as I would like to I cannot take any of you with me as I cross over. But be strong in the knowledge that the love that you have given me in this life will help sustain me on this journey. We will all see one another again. Of this I am certain. It does not matter if you are Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Jewish or any other religion, there is an afterlife and we will see our loved ones there. I will see you there and you will see me there.
Remember to do all that you do in love. And remember what you do will return to you. The energy you send out whether it be good or bad will come back. That is one lesson I have learned in my life and I would like to leave my friends with it. You cannot escape your karma. But you can give it your best to keep your karma pure and not harm others.
And finally when you see the moon rising in a dark sky, think of me. I love you all
Jade