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We Lost a Marvelous Friend
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We Lost a Marvelous Friend

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › We Lost a Marvelous Friend

  • Post
    • November 3, 2024 at 10:32 am
    Johnjk04
    Participant
      Just wanted to pass along, our sweet Bubbles / Celeste / Les has recently left us, for the eternal peace. Bubbles passed away on 10/23/2024. We are forever in debt to her for her endless knowledge of the melanoma world. She always knew where the new clinical trials were opening up. Bubbles, you always surrounded us with your love and compassion. I will constantly miss my good friend. Bubbles, your smile, laughter and warmth will be my companion for life
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    • Replies
        • November 4, 2024 at 1:10 pm
        YoJa
        Participant
          Oh my Gosh. That is devastating and surprising. May she rest in peace. She was committed to helping so many terrified melanoma patients here.
          • November 5, 2024 at 10:48 am
          Patrisa
          Participant
            I’m hearbroken. Celeste has always been there for everybody, always trying to help, listen, encourage and comfort…

            May you rest in peace dear bubbles. ❤️❤️

            • November 6, 2024 at 6:23 pm
            Cat
            Participant
              I am devastated. I was receiving my PD1 treatment when Celeste was getting her treatment. We were both in a clinical trial with Dr. Webber, who also recently passed from cancer. Does anyone know was caused her death? God Bless her and may she rest in peace. She helped thousand of Melanoma patients.
                • November 6, 2024 at 6:53 pm
                Johnjk04
                Participant
                  Cat, all of us are feeling an enormous amount of pain.
                  I received an email from her this past August.
                  Sadly Les was in the midst of her third different cancer.
                  It’s called adenocarcinoma of the appendix.
                  She did sign a no recitation form.
                  No where in her email, did I get a sense that her life was closing down.
                  All of us are so fortunate to have her in our lives.

                  Les is a superstar ⭐️.

                  • November 6, 2024 at 7:11 pm
                  Cat
                  Participant
                    Thank you John for replying. I agree! Les was Celeste’s rock! I thought that she beat adenocarcinoma. My heart is broken for her family. I just can’t believe that she is gone! How did you hear about her passing?
                    • November 6, 2024 at 7:58 pm
                    Johnjk04
                    Participant
                      Okay the details Cat! Celeste’s nicknames are Les and Bubbles.
                      Her husband is Brent or B as she liked to call him.
                      Pretty sure they have one daughter and one son.
                      Celeste was in the first nivo trial, I was in the first nivo / Ipi trial.
                      So Celeste and me became buddies from this forum.
                      I even dined with Celeste and Brent at Pepe’s Apizza, New Haven.
                      Once I was ten years remission, I left this forum, cancer took enough of my time.
                      Came up with an idea to have a celebration party for Dr. James Allison.
                      MD Anderson has given us approval for an October 2025 party (it’s a surprise, shhhhh).
                      Will get back to all 5 year Yervoy survivors later. I promise.
                      So I reconnected with Celeste in August, to help plan the party.
                      Celeste and I really enjoyed each other’s company.
                      Her husband, Brent, knew about our special friendship and sent me an email with the devastating news.
                      And now, you know the rest of the story.
                      Glad that you are still living the dream, Cat. Congratulations 🎊!!!
                      • November 6, 2024 at 10:17 pm
                      Johnjk04
                      Participant
                        Just want to apologize. With Cat’s assistance, Celeste only had two types of cancer.
                        She beat the melanoma with the first Opdivo trial.
                        Some years later, she was sadly given the adenocarcinoma of the appendix cancer.
                        With treatment, she went into remission. Sadly it did come back to her and took her life.
                        Sorry to mislead any of you.
                        Thanks Cat.
                        • November 8, 2024 at 10:09 am
                        Cat
                        Participant
                          Thank you John for filling in the blanks. Celeste and I occasionally emailed encouraging each other when we would get clear scans. I have been Stage 4 melanoma cancer-free since 3/2012. However, the fear of melanoma or another cancer showing up is a fear that I live with each day. I have heard of others like Celeste getting another cancer after taking pd1 and being in remission for years. Every day I am grateful that pd1 worked for me while others have died. I will never forget Celeste and her legacy on this forum selflessly helping others. She will be missed.😢
                          • November 8, 2024 at 10:56 am
                          Johnjk04
                          Participant
                            Cat, you are so welcome. Celeste was such a brilliant, caring, encouraging friend of so many people.
                            Cat, I have been in remission since August 2012. So big, big congratulations 🎊 to both of us.
                            Please don’t let cancer hold you prisoner. You beat it fair and square. Cat, you are the champion. Wake up every morning and put on your survivor tiara. You won.
                            Now go out and “keep living the dream”!
                          • November 7, 2024 at 7:22 pm
                          chrispl1974
                          Participant
                            I am utterly shocked. Celeste was the heart and soul of this forum. Apart from being compassionate and kind, she also had tremendous knowledge and gave me a lot of hope when I was first diagnosed nearly 6 years ago.

                            She overcame melanoma and it seems that she lost the battle against adenocarcinoma from what I read in previous posts.

                            May god rest her soul. Quite a few like MelanomaMike and others passed away in recent years as well. Like Celeste they will always hold a very special place in my heart.

                            • November 8, 2024 at 3:52 pm
                            Lucas
                            Participant
                              Sorry, to hear of her passing. I was wondering where she had been in regards to the forum. She has contributed and left so much information for all of us survivors and fighters. I’m forever grateful for her chaoticallyprecise blog that has provided such detailed answers when going through my treatments, side effects and recurrences. As well as her hundreds of responses to forum questions on this site. Her wisdom talked me off the edge so many times and she seemed to genuinely care for us all. Thank you Celeste and may you rest peacefully.
                                • November 8, 2024 at 5:44 pm
                                Johnjk04
                                Participant
                                  Chris and Lucas, all of your words about Celeste were so thoughtful, caring and loving.
                                  Thank you very much.
                                • December 9, 2024 at 10:46 pm
                                jbronicki
                                Participant
                                  Oh my gosh, something made me check the board, I haven’t in a while. When I saw the title, I didn’t want to open it. It’s just devastating news. I can’t process it really, there is no truer patient advocate (and rattie) than Bubbles. She did more good and provided more information to patients then anyone I have encountered, she was fearless! I never knew whether to call her Bubbles or Celeste or Les, she was all 3 to me! I actually speak about her often in my job now as a clinical trial manager, all I can say is I hope to make her proud….her family is so lucky to have her, no words for their loss, so sorry
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