Friday, January 28, 2011

Daria’s Funeral Service

Yesterday was Daria’s funeral service. At the funeral home, the family gathered around in the eating area an hour before the start of her service. We spoke softly to each other and shed a few tears for Daria and for each other. The funeral director then took me to the chapel area to show me Daria’s urn, her large framed picture and flower arrangement.  I silently said oh Daria to her picture and cried and stayed a while. 

I didn’t notice walking in, I thought the place was empty, but there were two young ladies sitting in one of the pews. When I turned to leave, they both got up and tearfully introduced themselves and offered their condolences. I told them that I knew who they were. Daria had given both of them their start in their HR careers. Daria talked about them often, followed their progress and after leaving that job for another, they continued met regularly for dinner.

That was my Daria. Thank you to all those that came to Daria's service and offered their condolences to the family and myself.

Don

Below is the link to the picture montage that was shown at her service. When you get there, click on Daria’s picture to start the series rolling.


or Google, Memories Funeral Home Edmonton AB

Daria’s Eulogy by her brother-in-law Peter

   Daria Maluta passed away January 22, 2011 at the age of forty-nine, two days before her fiftieth birthday. She will be sadly missed, but lovingly remembered by her husband Donald, her mother Jennie, her sisters Maria, Anne, Olga, Diane, and her brother Steve.  Daria had been predeceased by her father Roman Maluta in 2001.

    Daria was born on January 24, 1961, and grew up on the family farm near Glendon Alberta, where she attended school. Upon graduation from high school, Daria moved to Edmonton where she was employed by Canada Safeway for approximately twenty years. It was during this period she became interested in business management and human resource development. In 1995 she studied Front End Management offered by Cornell University, and in 1998 she studied Management Development offered by the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta.  

  During this period, Daria was also a member of Toastmasters International and regularly volunteered at the Youth Emergency Shelter in Edmonton. In 2003 after having been diagnosed with breast cancer, Daria continued her volunteer work and participated in a Cure for Cancer marathon held in Seattle Washington.

  In 2004, she began her studies towards a Human Resources Certificate, offered by the Faculty of Extension, at the University of Alberta. At this time Daria also decided to make a career change, and she was able to obtain employment with Edmonton Northlands with their Human Resources department. In 2007, Daria was hired by the Eveready Income Fund and employed as a Human Resources Generalist, she remained in this position until her illness caused her to retire.  

  However Daria refused to totally give up her studies in Human Resources and was able to obtain a Human Resources Management Diploma from Grant McEwan University in 2010, despite only being able to attend on a part-time basis while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for her illness.

    In 2000, Daria at the age of thirty-nine, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery and was cancer free for eight years, at which point the cancer returned. After her chemotherapy treatments to try to force the cancer into remission, Daria volunteered to participate in the phase 1 clinical trials for the new experimental drug Brivanib, which it was hoped could help future cancer patients. 

  She became a spokesman and activist for those also suffering  from metastatic cancer, and traveled to our nation’s capital to speak to members of parliament about the need for greater cancer awareness and treatment. In this capacity, she set up her internet blog, ( Daria-Living with cancer.)  which allowed her to chronicle her treatment, share her feelings and inspire and encourage others around the world, suffering from this disease. 

 Closer to home Daria continued to volunteer and help others, through the Breast Cancer Network she provided counseling to others on a daily basis. Daria not only shared her busy life with her beloved husband Don  and her dog Daisy, she developed a worldwide network of friends through her blog and Facebook entries, who she continued to inspire daily.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Daria's funeral service at Memories Funeral Home

If you are able, please attend Daria's funeral service at Memories Funeral Home 13403 St. Albert Trail, Edmonton AB Canada, Thursday January 27 at 1:00PM. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

If you can’t make it, I will post the eulogy and the picture montage shown during the eulogy so you will have a better sense of Daria’s personality and the things she accomplished in her life.

Thank you,
Don


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Daria Maluta has Passed

Daria Maluta passed away last night at 04:34 on Jan 22, 2011 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital here in Edmonton AB. I was by her side and was able to kiss her goodbye several times during the night and then watched her slip away quietly in her sleep.

I’m a little too emotional to talk about anything else right now. Meeting right away with family at her mother's place and I’ll post more later.

Don

Friday, January 21, 2011

Daria Rests Comfortably

Daria is resting comfortably but is slowly losing touch. We are waiting for an opening at hospice care about a block away from the hospital. The caregivers say that should happen around Wednesday of next week.

Don

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Daria is no longer able to post to her blog

Don here. This is the most difficult thing I ever have had to say…. Daria is no longer able to post to her blog.

Yesterday around noon, I brought my love to the hospital by ambulance. After some tests by the ER doctors, Daria asked for medication to control pain. It’s difficult for her to speak right now but she still knows what’s going on. 

This morning and every morning, I’ll print out your comments, take them to Daria’s bedside and read …. I think tearfully … each one out loud. Your words mean a lot to both Daria and I, they will be very comforting to hear.

In the next day or so I’ll know more and post.

Don

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Resting at Home

I’m out of the hospital after my ERCP and resting at home, drinking fluids and going to the bathroom. The doctors placed a few stints to get bile moving from my liver.

My belly is really full of gas and I’m not feeling too good right now.

Thank you for all your comments.
D.

Monday, January 17, 2011

ERCP Procedure Today

Today I’m going into the hospital for an ERCP Procedure. I’m hoping the Doctors finds some bile duct obstruction that will help explain some of what is going on. And I'm hoping everything goes well and I will be home safe and sound by this evening. 

If I’m not up to blogging tomorrow, I’ll be asking D to fill in some of the details of how I’m doing.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Feeling Melancholy

Since Thursday’s appointment with my Onc I’ve really been doing a lot of thinking. It’s made me very melancholy. It makes me wonder how much time l have left on this earth?

When I look in the mirror not only am I gaunt but I’m looking Jaundice too. I don’t feel like I’m recovering … I feel like I’m deteriateing.

I am feeling ever so rushed to get things done knowing at any time I could be rushed to the hospital never to come home again. And then there are times I think I might have months to live.

It’s a confusing weird place to be in.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Hopefully Some Good News Next Week

Friday at 8 am I was at the clinic at X-ray … in for an ultrasound of my chest and abdomen. The goal of the technician was to find large pockets of fluid that could be drained. She found one area on my back near the bra line and one was on the left front side near the groin area. They marked some areas on my body, took some pictures and then it was off to see my Onc who was going to do the two procedure … the Thoracentesis and the Paracentesis.

Eventually he took out 750mls of fluid out from around my lung area and another 850mls out from around my abdomen area. I’d have to say it went very smoothly with no pain … maybe a bit of discomfort.

Even after the procedure, my belly is still quite swollen but much of the pressure is relieved. I still cough a bit and my ears feel like I’m under water. I’m hoping it’s just some time for everything to settle in.

While doing the procedures, the Onc repeated … we are not stopping this study till we find out what’s wrong with you. Music to my hears …

The final procedure being done is an ERCP which will be done by a gastrologists. He is looking for some liver duct blockages that can be fixed. Anyways, got a call late Friday to come in on Monday. Wow I am very excited. Hopefully we finally have some solid answers.