[Viva] Sad sad news..Fwd: Rhonda

[Margarite Sanchez]

Hi, I am so sorry to share this sad news with all of you. I want to let you
all know that Rhonda, one of our own moxie ViVA gals, has passed away. I
will always remember her as a vivacious fun loving woman. I send this to you
with the permission of her sister.
all my best,
Margarite

ps. If anyone has any thoughts or condolences feel free to post them here
and I would be happy to forward them on to her family.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Monica Bradshaw <monicasbradshaw at hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Subject: RE: Rhonda
To: margaritesanchez at gmail.com


 Hello Margarite,

Thank you for responding. I am Rhonda's twin sister, yes Rhonda has a 21
year old son, a 6 year old daughter and a 2 year old daughter. Both girls
are negative of HIV and Hep C, we call them our miracle babies.  I'm sure
Rhonda would have no problem letting the other women know about her life and
her passing. Rhonda was healthy for so long since she got clean almost 8
years ago.

Rhonda got sick after her gall bladder operation about 1 1/2 years ago. She
has had Hep C for about 10 years (roughly) and of course you know about her
HIV (i think roughly the same amount of time); but never had any problems
with it until now.

 She passed away at a beautiful facility and the staff was amazing. They
took care of her with dignity every second of every day and kept her
comfortable. Very sad and very hard to do. She passed away peacefully on
Thursday September 23rd with all of us there around her.

Rhonda was full of life and loved to help others and give them hope as she
was given a second chance at a wonderful life. She really didn't deserve to
go through all the suffering the last year, well nobody does; she was put in
a care facility about 7months ago as we couldn't take care of her at home,
she really hated this, losing her independence. I feel so horrible about it
but with all the meds and oxygen and constant trips to the ER and not being
able to walk she needed better care.

My daughter made an educational video about Rhonda, who was so generous to
give her life story when she was living on the street. If you would ever
want to use it or show it please let me know. It would scare any child from
drugs I think :)

 I am hanging in there, but is a very strange feeling to be all of a sudden
not a twin. Thank you for your condolences. I am also expecting my baby in
the next day or so, so it is very strange and a hard time, the circle of
life I guess.

take care
Monica

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:24:34 -0700
Subject: Rhonda
From: margaritesanchez at gmail.com
To: monicasbradshaw at hotmail.com


Hi Monica,
Thank you for sharing this sad sad news with me.
I am shocked and saddened to hear of Rhonda's passing. My heart goes out to
you.
 I think of her as such a vivacious joyful person.

I don't know if she told you about me but I am the one who is responsible
for ViVA (previously called PAPbc). It is an online group of Women,  all of
us living with HIV,  who use ViVA to connect and place notices etc. Rhonda
was one of us.
If you would be OK with it, I would like to send a few words to the 30 or so
+women from ViVA to let them know about Rhonda.
Would you be OK with that? Do you want to write something for me to send
out? Would you prefer me to do it?
It doesn't need to be long or with much detail.
 She had young children didn't she?

No pressure at all.
thank you and i send u a big hug,
Margarite

ps. Are you her twin? I remember her telling me about you. I always pay
attention to twins since I had twin boys 23 years ago one of them died at
birth, they were premature.
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