Remembering Diane Conerty
Sun Nov 29, 2009
Author: Lee Litchfield
As many of you know, Tom and Diane Conerty were employed by Lee's RV and before that, Mountain States RV, for many years to represent us at rallies. They were always at the Newmar International Rally, Quartzsite and others.
Sadly, Diane Conerty passed away yesterday after being diagnosed with bone cancer a couple of months ago. The Myeloma cancer she had was incurable, but highly treatable in most cases. It was discovered while being treated for acute back pain. The cancer had caused a vertebra to fracture.
She was taking medication for pain and having radiation treatments. When they came through about 3 weeks ago, Diane was having issues with pain and did not get out of the motorhome, as it bothered her to go up and down the steps. I went out to see her and she just seemed weak, but otherwise fine.
Diane was having trouble with her potassium level dropping a couple of weeks ago and had to go to the hospital to try to stabilize it. Her cancer was improving as her white blood cells and platelets were increasing. However, she was still having trouble tolerating many of the drugs given her. Blurred vision, nausea, and irritation were some of the effects.
After 9 days in the hospital, she was allowed to come home Friday, Nov. 20. She was so happy to get out of the hospital and was finally off all her pain medication. However, her energy kept drifting lower and Tom took her to the emergency room Nov. 24. They discovered blood clots in her lungs and she was put in ICU.
The doctors said that her Myeloma and blood were doing just fine. They couldn't figure out why the blood clots popped up, but said it was probably take 10 days to make any real progress. This was very discouraging for the Conerty's as she was going to be in the Cancer Treatment Center again for awhile.
She was there 3 days, but one kidney shut down completely and the other was only functioning a little. On Friday they airlifted her to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. When she left the Cancer Center, she was outwardly doing well--talking and had no pain. They did a test in Phoenix which carried great risk, but the doctors felt they had no choice. Diane's sister, Sharon, flew in and the doctor suggested to Tom that the kids come.
It is my understanding that most of her family was there Friday night and were able to visit with her. She did not respond to treatment and passed away at sunrise Saturday morning.
When I talked to Tom yesterday afternoon, he was understandably still in shock, but was doing as well as could be expected. He told me he didn't plan on having a funeral, but Celebrations of Life, both in Arizona, Illinois and possibly Colorado. These states were where they had spent much of their lives together.
While I did not know Diane as well as I did Tom, I did know her to be a special lady. She was full of energy and an absolute delight to be around. She will be missed by a host of friends and family. Please remember them in your prayers.
For cards or flowers:
Tom Conerty
1110 N. Henness Rd. #790
Casa Grande, AZ 85222
