Carrie Lynn Harper: devoted daughter, sister, godmother and aunt, admired school guidance counselor and friend to many, passed away peacefully on December 12. 2019 surrounded by love.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 18, 1952, Carrie graduated with a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Guidance and Counseling. Carrie impacted the lives of many children, students, and families throughout her 33-year career with the Elkhart Lake School District.
In March of 2017, unable to recover from what she thought was a respiratory virus,, Carrie sought treatment from her local doctor’s office. She would later be hospitalized with fluid in her lung and a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. So began Carrie’s nearly three-year cancer journey, which would see her become a determined fighter, arming herself with medical data, research, and information on the disease, and the various treatment options available to her.
Carrie was a gifted artist and avid collector. She made beautiful stained-glass pieces, lamp shades, and kaleidoscopes. Upon learning of her diagnosis, Carrie spent time making handmade dreamcatchers, woven baskets, and leather monkey “fists” which she gifted to those close to her as a remembrance. Carrie used her final years to make lasting memories with her family and close friends, never letting cancer get in the way of an opportunity to experience joy.
Carrie chose to share her cancer diagnosis with only a few, as in her own words “I need to feel as normal as possible”. She did share and exchange her personal struggles and triumphs with fellow on-line MBC survivors and was looking forward to one more “metaversary” which was not to be. Carrie was very surprised to learn of the lack of funding for metastatic breast cancer and became a fierce advocate for the “beyond pink” campaign to channel research funding toward Metastatic Breast Cancer and METAvivor.
Carrie’s forever wish, when diagnosed with this terminal disease, was that she be remembered by contributions to METAvivor, Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness, Research, Support and Awareness. As she stated, “If you want to preserve my memory and help others, please consider being part of this noble cause”. Carrie’s memory will be forever in our hearts, but also let it give at least one more day, one more memory for someone with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. Your contributions will be forever remembered and appreciated.
While Carrie’s fight is over, others fight on. For those whose fight continues, one of Carrie’s favorite quotes to live by was “You are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think” from A.A. Milne.
