On July 22, 2024 at 12:10am CJD stole a bright light from Our World. This vicious disease snuck up on an amazing, loving, kind, and Godly woman and invaded her body without her or anyone even knowing it was there; until we did know. Even then, we didn't really know, we just knew that the Cathy we knew was slowly, but surely, changing, and fading away. She started forgetting everyday things, and asking the same questions again and again, and repeating herself, and becoming forgetful - and none of that was Our Cathy. This thief in the night, CJD, robbed her of the future and retirement she was supposed to have. And I, for one, am ANGRY. No, I am more than ANGRY, I am FURIOUS that this savage picked and took Our Cathy, and there was not one damn thing we could do about it but sit there, feeling 100% useless and powerless to help. And it seems like it was all in the space of about a six month period. Yes, THAT FAST and she was GONE.
Cathy, as she was to most who knew her, was an amazing, wonderful friend (and surrogate mom).I still, some days, feel like if I don't put it to print, or say it out loud, it won't be true. But it is true. And she is gone from this earthly world. It's truly like a light has turned off and the world just isn't as bright without her smiling face. I miss her so very much, it just sucks. I do know that she knows how much I love her and treasure all the moments, the laughs, smiles and days that I was blessed and lucky enough to call her my friend. In the well written words of Luke Bryan: So long my friend, until we meet again....I'm gonna sit right here, and drink a beer.
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Then watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
The CJD Foundation does an annual walk - Strides for CJD - in major cities on a certain weekend each year. There isn't anything in Arizona or nearby, but our courageous members of the Southeast Valley have decided to start a group and create our own walk, in honor of our beloved Cathy Green, who passed away from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease this summer.
Please join the Cathy Green's Legacy Team for the walk on October 6th at Seville Golf and Country Club. If you cannot walk but wish to make a donation or sponsor the Cathy Green's Legacy Team, please do so by making a monetary donation in Cathy's honor.