Mark's Cancer-battle ended this week,
... Mark died peacefully and unexpectedly in the presence of family this week, at home in Austin, Texas. He had fought Stage IV esophageal cancer and kicked its butt for more than 12 years, and had fought a second battle against a non-related cancer and totally kicked that one to the curb. Mark had initially, in 2005, been given a prognosis of "you'll be lucky if you live 3 more months", yet not only lived 12 more years but continued to squeeze as much living into those years as possible.
During his battle, as you can read on this blog, he lived in Thailand part of every year and travelled the world, getting every bit out of life that he was able. Each year Mom and Mark would take their "Glad to be Alive" trip; among the destinations were Vietnam, The Netherlands, Cuba, and Cambodia. Mark spent time visiting the small islands of Thailand with his sister and mother, enjoying the chance to show them some of his favorite places from his younger years, when he would ski and SCUBA dive.
Mark's death was likely not directly a result of his cancer, though the long fight with this had left Mark with battle scars. In July, Mark fell quite hard at his home in Thailand and, after consulting with the hospital in Thailand, flew home to Texas (to Mom and) to have surgery in Houston for a burst vertebrae. The back surgery was successful, but it took a toll on Mark's health and vitality. He was feeling better post-surgery, and then died suddenly.
Mark's obituary can be found online at Mark Richardson Obituary -please leave a condolence. Mom would love to hear from everyone, so please feel free to just say "hi" or leave a note.
We, his family, and his friends are devastated. But Mark prepared us for this many years ago, when he was at his sickest:
I (this is Stephanie, Mark's sister) would ask that you hug your family a little closer and longer today. Tell them you love them. Call someone you haven't spoken to for a while and let them know you are thinking of them. We all will go, eventually, but for now we get to say what we need to say to them, and we get to live a little more.
During his battle, as you can read on this blog, he lived in Thailand part of every year and travelled the world, getting every bit out of life that he was able. Each year Mom and Mark would take their "Glad to be Alive" trip; among the destinations were Vietnam, The Netherlands, Cuba, and Cambodia. Mark spent time visiting the small islands of Thailand with his sister and mother, enjoying the chance to show them some of his favorite places from his younger years, when he would ski and SCUBA dive.
Mark's death was likely not directly a result of his cancer, though the long fight with this had left Mark with battle scars. In July, Mark fell quite hard at his home in Thailand and, after consulting with the hospital in Thailand, flew home to Texas (to Mom and) to have surgery in Houston for a burst vertebrae. The back surgery was successful, but it took a toll on Mark's health and vitality. He was feeling better post-surgery, and then died suddenly.
Mark's obituary can be found online at Mark Richardson Obituary -please leave a condolence. Mom would love to hear from everyone, so please feel free to just say "hi" or leave a note.
We, his family, and his friends are devastated. But Mark prepared us for this many years ago, when he was at his sickest:
"I'm fortunate, actually. People die unexpectedly all the time, step out and get hit by a bus on the way to work or whatever. I know I have very little time, and that it's coming. I get to say goodbye, and live a little more."
I (this is Stephanie, Mark's sister) would ask that you hug your family a little closer and longer today. Tell them you love them. Call someone you haven't spoken to for a while and let them know you are thinking of them. We all will go, eventually, but for now we get to say what we need to say to them, and we get to live a little more.
