Blogger, documentary subject who led fight against cystic fibrosis, dies

[rslater]

I knew this girl through a friend of a friend and I once had an amazing talk with her the first time I ever met her where she proudly poured her heart out about her condition to me and its one of the only conversations that I can't forget. I hope this can inspire some to register online to become an organ donor as their are so many lives we each can save. Its a great gift that we can all give, so open your hearts and give.

Eva Markvoort, whose battle with cystic fibrosis was portrayed in an award-winning documentary and popular blog, has passed away just days before her 26th birthday.

Markvoort died of lung failure Saturday morning at Vancouver General Hospital, while awaiting a second double-lung transplant.

"She was so full of life," said Eva's mom Janet Brine yesterday, speaking from the family's New Westminster home.

Eva, who was diagnosed with the incurable disease as a baby, had a double-lung transplant in 2007, but her body began to reject the donated lungs last summer.

"She lived with cystic fibrosis, and she died of cystic fibrosis," said her mom.

"Eva has been quite an inspiration to other people with challenges in life."

Markvoort's life with cystic fibrosis was the subject of '65_RedRoses', which won the audience award for Best Canadian Feature at last year's Vancouver International Film Festival.

"She wanted the struggle to mean something," said co-director Nimisha Mukerji. "She wanted to leave a legacy."

The film is now playing all over the world, and will be re-broadcast on CBC Newsworld's The Passionate Eye this Friday.

Mukerji said organ-donor registratons have risen due to the film.

Markvoort's blog of the same name drew thousands of visitors from around the world. More than 1,200 people people left messages of condolence yesterday, from Canada, the U.S., and countries such as Portugal, Scotland and Poland.

Todd Owen, director of the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Association, said Eva was a beacon of hope to others with the disease.

"She was an inspiration," said Owen. "She did not let the illness stop her."

Markvoort was recently honoured for her work with cystic fibrosis, with the prestigious Summerhayes award from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Last month, Markvoort received her arts degree from the University of Victoria, after illness forced the theatre student to stop two courses short of graduation.

Markvoort had also beaten hundreds of applicants to land a job helping sick kids in Toronto, but her mom said Markvoort was too ill to start work.

Markvoort leaves behind her mom Janet, dad Bill, sister Annie and brother Hunter, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial is being planned.

On April 17, the Transplant Research Foundation of B.C. is holding a celebration to recognize Markvoort's contribution to the transplant community.

In her videotaped farewell last month, Markvoort said she felt lucky to have loved so much in her life, speaking softly between short breaths from her hospital bed.

Her final words were: "Just love. Just love everyone."

http://www.theprovince.com/health/Bl...508/story.html



Here is her amazing blog. If you go back to February 11th you can watch an inspiring and emotional video about the unfortunate decline in her health.

http://65redroses.livejournal.com/

Here is the link to register online.

https://www.transplant.bc.ca/onlinereg/bcts.asp

[Vansterdam]

RIP

will watch the passionate eye this fri

[ShyGuy]

RIP...

[dub.g]

RIP

wow i actually had a hard time looking through her journal, she went through some detail of her suffering...

[Nocardia]

Awareness about congenital health disorders is important in our society and it is amazing what our healthcare can do for patients who suffer from them. Many patients are faced with the reality at such a young age and go at it head on with maturity which inspires others. Letting people know the true suffering allows others to open their hearts/bodies to feel when many people become desensitized because of our culture.

Although her life was cut short, it highlights the fact that one can inspire many and that lifes' daily problems are no match for some people's life long problems.

That being said, donating time as well as donating organs once deceased can give parents and family members more time to experience and feel emotions they never really knew existed.

Hopefully those who have heard her story and stories of hundreds of other patients, will open their eyes to what impact they can have on another persons life by donating or showing some love.

[rslater]

Our transplant rate is one of the worst among developed countries. Just one Canadian in 78,000 becomes an organ donor.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/health/...#ixzz0jfQbeWjS

[PiuYi]

RIP Eva