With much sadness we announce the death of a friend and RET+ community member, Liesl Richter. She passed away Oct 26 with family by her side after living with RET+ lung cancer for nearly 4 years. Leaving this earth far too soon-- only in her mid 30s -- She leaves behind a new baby, husband, family and friends. Liesl was an active member in the RET community, frequently engaging and sharing her experiences with numerous members. Despite managing a successful legal career, new baby, treatment and cancer related side effects, she volunteered her time helping out with RETpositive leadership, contributing to meetings and providing legal advice. In addition to being generous with her time, she was passionate and successful in fundraising for research. To date, she has impressively raised over $33, 000 for RET+ lung cancer. It was her hope that research would some day make RET+ cancer--the cancer that took her life and so many others like her-- a manageable, chronic disease. She endured a lot while living with cancer, but often minimized or downplayed with humor, seemingly conscious to not cause too much concern among others. She was tremendously generous, kind, helpful, funny, and gritty. A few comments from the RET cancer community: "She was truly such a leader and precious soul. Prayers for her family and friends. She will be missed immensely." "She was so incredibly kind. I only knew her online, but her love and concern for me and others was real. She answered during some of my darkest hours, with empathy, love and realness. She will be missed terribly." "Her presence and optimism will be missed in the group" She will be missed immensely and live on in our memories and in the work she has done to help others. In lieu of flowers, family has requested donations to the following: RETpositive Happy Lungs Project Jasmine
