Colorectal Cancer Coalition:

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This page was created by Mandy Nelson

Christine Niemi

Photo Pages

Christine's Photos

Team Fundraising Goal: $5,000.00

Total Number of Gifts: 26

Total Value of Gifts: $2,101.00

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Recent Donors

Kristen Ramer Liang

Hanh Pham

ELAINE POPOVICH

DIANE IHRY

DENISE EVERSON

Carl and Susan Nelson

UCLA HSSA Executive Board

Amanda Diaz

Nic and Stacy Gianino

Ellen Handrahan

Full Donor List

The cruel reality of colon cancer was introduced into my life via my best friend, Christine Niemi. She was originally diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had spread to the liver in August 2005 at the age of 28. After two major surgeries and months of chemotherapy, she had no evidence of disease. This blessed reprieve lasted only about 1 month. Then, in June 2007, a reoccurrence was discovered in her abdomen and she has been on chemotherapy ever since.

She made the difficult decision at the end of June 2009 to leave her life in L.A. behind and move back home. She also had to give up an internship with C3 this summer, which broke her heart. Within a day of arriving back home in Nebraska, she ended up having emergency exploratory surgery. Initially, the doctors were hopeful, but within a week she was back in surgery where they found she was actully full of cancer that had not been seen on previous scans. All the doctors could do was close her back up, and try to make her last days on this Earth as comfortable as possible.

She is surrounded by family and friends, and is wrapped in a blanket of peace and love from the support she is receiving via her Facebook group: "We Support Christine Niemi & We Want to Kick Colorectal Cancer's Butt!" Please feel free to join the group and post your stories and memories of Christine. We have been sharing them with her, and it makes her smile that beautiful smile of hers. She also has a blog that chronicles much of her journey: coloncancersucksass.blogspot.com.

She is quite an inspiration, and it is because of her that I went up to Capitol Hill in D.C. on March 24, 2009 as an advocate for C3's Call On Congress to try and fight for my friend and others in her situation -- and those yet to be diagnosed. Colorectal cancer does not just affect the middle-aged and elderly, it can happen to anyone. So, we need to stand up as a nation and fight cancer. I hope Christine's story inspires many of you to do just that.

Thank you for your support.
-Mandy Nelson

Christine passed away Saturday, July 18th at 7:45am. She will by deeply missed, always loved, and never forgotten by all those who were blessed to know and love her. She was an inspiration, a true friend, and a hero. Her beautiful smile, laugh and witty humor -- even in the midst of battling cancer -- is a shining example to all that life IS worth living and fighting for.

Christy did not want us to be sad. Instead, she wanted us to celebrate her life by learning from her experience, and by continuing her fight against colorectal cancer.

So, let's raise a toast to our beloved Christine...and then go kick some cancer ass!

~Mandy

Guest Book

Dear Visitors (Christy would say that it sounds like I am addressing a group of aliens with this greeting, so I think I'll leave it -- *grin*), please add your name and a short message to our Guest Book. Thank you.

Sign the Guest Book

Mandy Nelson Tue, Dec 29, 2009 Thanks for all the donations thus far -- over $2000! Woohoo! Christy would be so proud!
lucy degidon Tue, Aug 18, 2009 Dear Friends and family of Christy, As a rectal cancer survivor, I thank you for all the love that you gave to this brave young woman during her life, and when she was fighting cancer. We who are luckly enough to kick cancers ass, are greatful, and wish to battle for early screening, and better treatments in the future. She will live-on in your hearts and in your deeds. Lucy Degidon
Andrea A. LeBlanc Wed, Jul 22, 2009 Christine's mom, Jan, was my supervisor for 5 years and I met Christine through her. When she visited home, she was kind enough to bless our office with the world's greatest chocolate chip cookies! And more importantly, she blessed us with her smile! I was just telling her mom that it would light up that dingy office like no other! I feel blessed to have known such a fighter and all around wonderful person! She will continue to inpsire me for years to come...
Brooke Haase Tue, Jul 21, 2009 What wonderful friends you all are! I know Christy through her cousins from Wisconsin. What a wonderful person! She will be truly missed and loved forever. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Miriam Laugesen Mon, Jul 20, 2009 Christine was in my Fall 2008 class, American Political Institutions and Health Policy. She was quiet, but I soon got to know her and was stunned by her courage and strength when I found out what she was battling. I think she only missed one class the whole quarter. I wanted to tell her to take it easy, but I knew she wanted to take a full load; she said she had come to the program because she did not want to sit around and do nothing. In a case study on cancer therapies she brought the material to life with her own experience lobbying on the Hill. Here was one of the quietest, most modest students I had ever met, telling the class about meeting senators and doing advocacy. I felt she was teaching me, not the other way around. I wanted her to go to DC for the summer and I was so thrilled when she said C3 had given her an internship. I was always thinking about her, this year, wondering how she was doing, and hoping everything would work out for her. I'm so sad for her family. I want you to know that she was inspiring and courageous. I know I will miss her.
Share Sawyer Sun, Jul 19, 2009 Christine was a hero and a fighter...and so are her friends. They faced this battle with her and are the example of what true friendship is. Beautiful.
Elizabeth Morgan Sun, Jul 19, 2009 Thank you, Elizabeth, for your benevolence. ~Mandy
Jessica Huennekens Sun, Jul 19, 2009 Thank you, Jessica, for your generosity! ~Mandy
Jessica Gleckel Sun, Jul 19, 2009 Thanks, Jessica! We appreciate your support. ~Mandy
Elaine Woo Fri, Jul 17, 2009 Elaine, Thank You! I am signing you in, too :-)
Rachel Wecht Thu, Jul 16, 2009 Rachel, I am posting your name here, so that we remember your generosity. Thank you! --Mandy

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