Support My Warrior’s Service - Cancer Journey
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Hello Everyone,
My Ultimate Warrior, My Mother, Ewa Kurtycz, left us on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:40AM at the young age of 64. She is survived her two sons (Andrzej and Krzysztof-in Poland), Mother (Krystyna- in Poland), and two siblings (Grazyna-in Netherlands and Andrzej-in Poland).
My Mother was an Ultimate Warrior, battling her first cancer in 2014 (parotid), second in 2016 (uterine), and third battle in 2022 with a recurring testing and prognosis every quarter. Her third recurring battle took a turn for its worse in February 2023 when she found out her cancer is no longer stable and had metastasized (into the lungs, lymph nodes and into her lumbar bones). In July of 2023, she began to experience pain that started to affect her daily life.
On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 she was hospitalized after radiation when one of her doctors noticed her pain and look on her way out the lobby. He immediately had her admitted and testing began. That night I was notified of her worsening condition, dropping everything and flying back from a business trip in Las Vegas. As a Warrior she took the battle head on until her very last breathe.
The next five days became progressively worse, first with a collapsed lung, and then scans confirming aggressive metastasis of the lung and in multiple spots since her last scan in June 2023. The pain increased everyday, her function decreased, and on Saturday night her pain was the worst that I’ve seen in my life. Friday we were able to have Father Frank visit and give my Mother her rites. Saturday morning we help a virtual family prayer between my Mother, Grandmother, Brother, and Aunt with Father Andrzej from Chicago. Sunday morning was her last day of communication, but she was still aware and conscious. Sunday and Monday were comforted with a myself, a few friends and communication with family over the phone.
She passed as a Warrior, until her last breathe. She was a Warrior outside of her battles, raising two sons (Krzysztof and Andrzej) on her own, and always sacrificing opportunities for the benefit of her sons, friends, family, and individuals she made an impact on from her service as a Librarian, Business owner of a solo cleaning business, Agriculture Tech, and serving as a Resource to homeless families on the Treasure Coast (the same Homeless Center she and I lived in for nearly two years from 2006-2008).
As her son, since her first battle, I promised her that I will be there for here no matter what and when the time comes “I will be ok!” I truly appreciate everyone’s support during this process which is completely new to me. Though we knew this time could be near, the timing has left me in a position my Mother and I had not planned for just yet. I kindly ask for any donations to help facilitate the proper Service and Celebration for My Warrior.
All raised funds will be allocated as such:
I thought of this foundation while going through my experience, I do have an excellent support system including friends, family, ACA, Scully Welsh Cancer Center, VNA, the Nurses and Doctors, Strunk Funeral Home… but I did not have that one go to resource that directly addressed me as an unprepared 30 year old watching his mother quickly fall ill. Decision making at such a young age can become skewed by other experiences or with limited sleep, I want to make sure folks in my position have that resource at the least.
I am forever thankful for everyone’s support ♥️️
SERVICE DETAILS:
My Ultimate Warrior, My Mother, Ewa Kurtycz, left us on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:40AM at the young age of 64. She is survived her two sons (Andrzej and Krzysztof-in Poland), Mother (Krystyna- in Poland), and two siblings (Grazyna-in Netherlands and Andrzej-in Poland).
My Mother was an Ultimate Warrior, battling her first cancer in 2014 (parotid), second in 2016 (uterine), and third battle in 2022 with a recurring testing and prognosis every quarter. Her third recurring battle took a turn for its worse in February 2023 when she found out her cancer is no longer stable and had metastasized (into the lungs, lymph nodes and into her lumbar bones). In July of 2023, she began to experience pain that started to affect her daily life.
On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 she was hospitalized after radiation when one of her doctors noticed her pain and look on her way out the lobby. He immediately had her admitted and testing began. That night I was notified of her worsening condition, dropping everything and flying back from a business trip in Las Vegas. As a Warrior she took the battle head on until her very last breathe.
The next five days became progressively worse, first with a collapsed lung, and then scans confirming aggressive metastasis of the lung and in multiple spots since her last scan in June 2023. The pain increased everyday, her function decreased, and on Saturday night her pain was the worst that I’ve seen in my life. Friday we were able to have Father Frank visit and give my Mother her rites. Saturday morning we help a virtual family prayer between my Mother, Grandmother, Brother, and Aunt with Father Andrzej from Chicago. Sunday morning was her last day of communication, but she was still aware and conscious. Sunday and Monday were comforted with a myself, a few friends and communication with family over the phone.
She passed as a Warrior, until her last breathe. She was a Warrior outside of her battles, raising two sons (Krzysztof and Andrzej) on her own, and always sacrificing opportunities for the benefit of her sons, friends, family, and individuals she made an impact on from her service as a Librarian, Business owner of a solo cleaning business, Agriculture Tech, and serving as a Resource to homeless families on the Treasure Coast (the same Homeless Center she and I lived in for nearly two years from 2006-2008).
As her son, since her first battle, I promised her that I will be there for here no matter what and when the time comes “I will be ok!” I truly appreciate everyone’s support during this process which is completely new to me. Though we knew this time could be near, the timing has left me in a position my Mother and I had not planned for just yet. I kindly ask for any donations to help facilitate the proper Service and Celebration for My Warrior.
All raised funds will be allocated as such:
- 1. 100% covering of Ewa’s funeral and memorial expenses
- 2. Some of the raised funds will be used for family expenses including grief counseling and unexpected living expenses during a bereavement period.
- 3. Any remaining funds will be used to kickstart “Ewa’s Warrior Foundation.” Raising uterine cancer awareness / general cancer awareness and providing a resource (financial, support and planning) for single mothers who are battling cancer and are in need of an additional support system. Additionally, the foundation will serve as a key resource for patient’s children between the ages of 18-35, who are not prepared for losing their parent, including financial support for funeral and memorial arrangements, transportation assistance, pet watching support (for those needing to tend to their parents away from home), hospice support (resource for decision making etc).
I thought of this foundation while going through my experience, I do have an excellent support system including friends, family, ACA, Scully Welsh Cancer Center, VNA, the Nurses and Doctors, Strunk Funeral Home… but I did not have that one go to resource that directly addressed me as an unprepared 30 year old watching his mother quickly fall ill. Decision making at such a young age can become skewed by other experiences or with limited sleep, I want to make sure folks in my position have that resource at the least.
I am forever thankful for everyone’s support ♥️️
SERVICE DETAILS:
- Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
- Time: 11:00AM - 2:00PM
- Location: Strunk Funeral Home | 916 17th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
- Virtual: Service will be broadcasted for friends and family around the world.
Organizer
Andrzej Karwaczynski
Organizer
Vero Beach, FL