UNR grad Alicia Parlette, who chronicled her struggle with cancer, dies

[tonysam]

Alicia Parlette, 28, died Thursday afternoon at UCSF Medical Center.

The 2004 University of Nevada, Reno graduate chronicled her battle with alveolar soft part sarcoma, a rare from of cancer in a 17 part series for the San Francisco Chronicle. She found out she had cancer shortly after being hired by The Chronicle as a copy editor.

Parlette was admitted to the hospital on April 2 with hip pain and problems breathing.


She and doctors decided to end her treatment, and Parlette spent the last few weeks in the hospital saying goodbye to friends and family.

Reno Gazette-Journal

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. I have been following her story --

from the beginning. She is a real inspiration on how to live and how to die. She just got engaged recently, to a guy she met on BART. :)

Her life was a short one, but she lived it fully.

[mike_c]

2. *sigh*-- RIP, Ms. Parlette....

She was a brave young woman who left the world a better place than she found it.

[tonysam]

3. San Francisco Chronicle article

As her stamina declined, a steady flow of friends came to say goodbye, and thousands more sent messages via Facebook and a special Web site set up for her.

Ms. Parlette recorded her thoughts on a digital recorder, and friends are planning to transcribe them.

In an April 14 interview with The Chronicle, Ms. Parlette said writing "Alicia's Story" made her feel like a writer with a capital W.

"It became really like a lifeline in a way for me, because I would often come to conclusions about things - things I didn't even realize until I had written them."

From the beginning, Ms. Parlette said her illness was linked with blessing. She didn't think it was a coincidence that just as she was starting to feel creatively restless, she now had every reason to write.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/22/DDMP1D11M1.DTL#ixzz0ls5ep4yE

[SDuderstadt]

4. I have to say I had lost track of Alicia and just assumed...

she had made progress in her fight. I was stunned to learn her situation was just the opposite and I mourn her passing. Even though I never met her, I feel just like I did. She will be sadly missed.

[cilla4progress]

5. Shame. Damn shame.

I just learned of Alicia through a link on this site last week. I spent the weekend reading all 17 entries in her story and ultimately, book.

As an atheist, this only confirms my doubts. How can anyone cling to a belief in a just god in the face of the death of a beautiful young person? Esp. given the other pain in her life (loss of her mother several years previously)?

Blessings (of the earth), Alicia, and to your family and friends. Go in peace, and know that your life and struggles will not be forgotten.

[Berry Cool]

6. I cling to the belief in a just god because I don't believe God makes everything happen

or controls everything. And I don't think this had anything to do with God. Why does God always get the rap from atheists for everything bad that happens?

I do retain hope that Alicia is in a much better world than this one.

[cilla4progress]

7. I can dig you, somewhat

I have my own belief in "god," which is actually just some cosmic version of justice, which may be in our own heads. Also, that we are all connected...the golden rule. I feel like people should always define "god," before using him/her/it in a context. I neglected to do that.

What I should have said is, how can there be a mainstream-Christianized-personal-version-of-a-just-god, who would let these things happen? Please enlighten me. I enjoy the give and take.

[tonysam]

8. Kick for visibility n/t