Memorial Service

My dearest Lans,

Today we planned your memorial service. We will celebrate your life on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 12951 North 83rd Avenue Peoria, AZ. We know you were happiest when you were surrounded with people who love you and so everyone is invited.

I hope you are thrilled with what we have planned for you, but here's the deal sweety pants: you were too busy livin' to talk about dying(refused to go there actually) so we were flyin' blind in this planning session. . . . You like clowns right? Just kidding my girl. . . I miss your smile.

From Jen Simpson

I've had the great pleasure of working along side Ilana at Banner Thunderbird for a couple years now. Ilana is like a bright light shining in the darkness. Wherever she is and whatever she is doing, she exudes this amazing positive energy that is so contagious, you can't help but to be happy too. It's her big eyes, beautiful smile, giddiness and sweetness. I've never heard her complain or whine about the day she was having or patients. She always sees the silver lining in everything. She is the most selfless, caring and considerate person I have ever known. She inspires me to be a better person and to never take anything for granted. I know her boys will grow up to be amazing people too just because they have had someone as wonderful as her in their lives even if for a short while. God bless Ilana. I love you and miss you girly! God bless Ben and Matthew and Andrew, and Ilana's whole family. I pray for you all as you grieve this momentuous loss

From Xionarla Finken

Seven years ago I worked with Ilana as a Patient Service Representative on the 2nd floor along side her. I left Mayo after 5yrs working here and juts got rehired in April. Of course getting re-in touch with my co workers from the 2nd floor I heard about Ilana and was updated on her life.

I remember many cute moments of Ilana, when she met Ben and how witty she always got when he came over to see her on the floor. Her HUGE SMILE and her LAUGHTER echoed throughout our floor. Her journey when she was studying her pre-requisites for Nursing and her accomplishment when she got into Gateway! :O) We were all sad to hear that she was leaving Mayo. Our team became unbalance without her.

Surely Ilana touched sooo many people. And amazingly even the ones that were maybe no longer in her everyday life…like us here at Mayo. We will always remember her Radiance and can hear her laughter in our hearts.

We wish you and all her loved ones warm and peaceful prayers. God has a purpose and He only knows why he has taken your precious angel so soon.

From Shilo Butler, a fellow nurse at Banner Thunderbird

Ilana, you were full of life and charisma and your smile was infectious! You were an amazing nurse and enjoyed helping people, but you also had a wonderful passion of helping women through their battle with cancer and the effects is has on their physical appearance. My mom was one that was blessed by your passion. She is a breast cancer survivor and had breast reconstruction. You encouraged me to bring her to your family's shop and although she was a little hesitant, we came. Your smile and warm heart made her feel welcome right away. You helped her feel comfortable in her own body again. We are very sorry to see you go and will miss your warm heart, smile and love that you shared so freely.

Keeping her with us

Today Ben, with help from the moms, will be planning the funeral for Lans. Her funeral will most likely be Saturday. I will post details as soon as I have them.

So many have asked what they can do. If you knew Ilana, we are asking that you send any stories or pictures you have with her. Matthew and Andrew will not be blessed with her physical presence in their lives but we have every intention of keeping her legacy alive through our memories. Please, please take a moment to write down your special memories of her and email them to me at rebeccamoore79@gmail.com.

I will continue this blog for the boys. It will include our memories of her and the growth of her boys who she fought so hard for. From this point forward this blog will be written to her. You are welcome to write your memories to her as well. I will post them here.

'til we meet again. ..

Our sweetest Lans passed away early this evening.. . She fought until the end. Thank you for the many prayers and the support in her fight. Words can not express our love for her and her role in our lives. Please keep my brother and family in your prayers as we deal with this tremendous loss.

Sunday morning I got a call saying they didn't expect Lans to make it the day. . . she had pneumonia and her feeding tube was either leaking or infected and she had a UTI and her oxygen levels were dangerously low. They refused to do exploratory surgery to check her stomach tube for fear she would not survive.

An hour later my sister called and said she was still critical but stabilized. They were treating her with heavy antibiotics. Her trach had healed over so she had the oxygen tube down her throat and they had her on heavy sedatives.

I went to visit her yesterday. She was very sleepy she was trying to pull her oxygen tub straight because it was so uncomfortable on her throat and lips. I couldn't bring myself to take a picture.

Ben came and insisted on more nutrition for her as he couldn't feed her and needed her gut healthy so he could continue the naturapathic medicine. The doctor told Ben that they were

doing every thing they could for but didn't want to give him false hope. His words were in one ear and out the other. . . he refuses to give up on her. He tended to her with the most gentle concern - checking her vitals, listening to her lungs, kissing her and explaining softly what he was doing for her. He is determined to see her better like the others he had met who were cured after modern medicine gave up.

Today Lans is off the vent and it was most likely an infection around her tube because it has gotten better not worse. Ben is able to feed her again through her feeding tube. Ilana told Pam on the way to Del Webb, "I will never give up." Ben and Ilana are truly a perfect match. If they refuse to give up, how can we? My mom and I were laughing in amazement at our girl. We are certain that girl could move mountains with sheer will. So we are still hopeful. What a roller coaster ride this has been.

My sis-in-law sent her a wish bone charm for her bracelet and I gave it to her yesterday . . . Tiffy it might have done the trick ;).