Brittany H. Dahms, 19
WESTBROOK - Brittany H. Dahms, 19, of East Valentine Street, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 at a Portland hospital after a long illness.
She was born in Portland, the daughter of David and Robin Marcia Dahms. She attended Catherine McCauley High School, and Westbrook High School, graduating in 2005 with the help and support of many in the school system.
Brittany enjoyed cheerleading and was a coach of the Tuffy League Cheerleaders.
Brittany enjoyed time spent with her best friends, Caitlynn Hersom and Nicole Bormet, who were both there to give her support.
She was predeceased by a brother, Cameron.
She is survived by her parents of Westbrook; paternal grandmother, Jean Dahms of Gorham; maternal grandparents, David and Rowena Marcia of Portland; maternal great-grandmother, Bessie Robinson of Bridgton; a brother, Anthony Dahms of Westbrook; an uncle, Ricky Dahms; an aunt, Jennifer Burdick; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday, at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
The Maine Children's
Cancer Program
100 Campus Dr.
Scarborough, Maine 04074
or
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
87 Elm St.
Camden, Maine 04843
Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on January 4, 2006
Brittany Dahms, who graduated from Westbrook High School last June in the midst of a more than year-long battle with leukemia, died Tuesday morning.
Dahms, 19, who battled leukemia for more than a year, died early Tuesday morning at a Portland hospital with her family by her side.
On Tuesday afternoon, her mother, Robin Dahms, said while it was difficult to let her daughter go, she can take some solace in the fact that Brittany's painful struggle was finally at an end. "You just take comfort in that it's finally over," Robin Dahms said. "A kid shouldn't have to go through what she did. But she doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Dahms called her daughter "a fighter" who struggled with her illness on her own terms, but she also had a softer side. "She had a heart of gold," Dahms said.
That softer side was evident last spring at the finish line of the Boston Marathon where Brittany Dahms and her mother waited for Tim Walker, Westbrook High School's director of student services. Walker was running in honor of Dahms as a member of the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team in Training," a group that organizes runners in races across the country to raise money for leukemia research.
Dahms and her family went to Boston to be at the finish line to cheer Walker on. As the marathon passed the three-hour mark, Dahms and her mother began looking for Walker in earnest from the bleachers. Every runner in a Team in Training shirt drew their interest, but as the runners drew closer, it became evident that Walker was still somewhere back in the pack.
With no way of getting updates on Walker's progress, Dahms had no way of knowing when Walker would be finishing, or whether an injury had forced him out of the race somewhere along the course. However, Dahms remained upbeat and continued to scan the crowd of runners approaching the finish line.
After four hours, Walker rewarded Dahms's faith and patience as he turned the corner onto Boylston Street in Boston and came into sight. Upon spotting Walker, Dahms and her mother stood and cheered as loud as they could, assisted by a crowd of fans behind them who helped by calling out Walker's name.
After the race, Dahms said she was proud of Walker. She said it made her feel good to see Walker coming up to the finish line with enough energy to give her a wave and a smile.
"I think it was excellent," she said at the time. "He did a really good job."
Walker said Dahms was personally inspirational to him. "She helped me appreciate how precious life is and how you shouldn't take things for granted," he said. "She was quite a woman."
Walker said he has already registered for the 2006 Boston Marathon and will be running in Dahms' honor once again. He said he knows Dahms will be on his mind during the race. "I'm going to miss her tremendously," Walker said. "She was truly courageous."
Westbrook High School Principal Marc Gousse said many of the high school's staff took the news of Dahms' death hard. He said his heart goes out to Dahms and all of her family.
Gousse said he always admired the way Dahms dealt with her illness. "She certainly epitimized strength and courage," he said. "She absolutely was a role model in many respects, especially in the way she dealt with adversity on a day-to-day basis. She was a quality person."
Walker also pointed to the way Dahms dealt with adversity as one of her strengths. "Never once did I see her complain or show signs of self-pity," he said. "She really was a fighter."
Following the marathon and her high school graduation in June, Dahms underwent a bone marrow transplant that doctors hoped would help her beat the disease.
Unfortunately, as the year drew to a close, Dahms and her family got some terrible news. "The transplant didn't work," explained Robin Dahms last week.
Robin Dahms explained the transplant went fine, but complications set in soon after. In November, the cancer returned. Her doctors tried to begin treatment, but decided to stop it soon after when it proved to have no effect.
Despite the fact that Brittany's transplant wasn't successful, Robin Dahms said any other families facing a similar situation shouldn't be discouraged from trying a transplant. "What doesn't work for one person will work for another," she said.
Right up to the end of her life, Robin Dahms said her daughter retained the same spirit she had throughout her ordeal. "She fought this on her own terms," she said. "And she lived her life on her own terms."
Visiting hours for Dahms will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 5 and 6 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Maine Children's Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Scarborough, Maine 04074, or to the Make A Wish Foundation, 87 Elm St., Camden, Maine 04843.
Article, January 4, 2006 by Mike Higgins - American Journal
WESTBROOK - Brittany H. Dahms, 19, of East Valentine Street, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 at a Portland hospital after a long illness.
She was born in Portland, the daughter of David and Robin Marcia Dahms. She attended Catherine McCauley High School, and Westbrook High School, graduating in 2005 with the help and support of many in the school system.
Brittany enjoyed cheerleading and was a coach of the Tuffy League Cheerleaders.
Brittany enjoyed time spent with her best friends, Caitlynn Hersom and Nicole Bormet, who were both there to give her support.
She was predeceased by a brother, Cameron.
She is survived by her parents of Westbrook; paternal grandmother, Jean Dahms of Gorham; maternal grandparents, David and Rowena Marcia of Portland; maternal great-grandmother, Bessie Robinson of Bridgton; a brother, Anthony Dahms of Westbrook; an uncle, Ricky Dahms; an aunt, Jennifer Burdick; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday, at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
The Maine Children's
Cancer Program
100 Campus Dr.
Scarborough, Maine 04074
or
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
87 Elm St.
Camden, Maine 04843
Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on January 4, 2006
Brittany Dahms, who graduated from Westbrook High School last June in the midst of a more than year-long battle with leukemia, died Tuesday morning.
Dahms, 19, who battled leukemia for more than a year, died early Tuesday morning at a Portland hospital with her family by her side.
On Tuesday afternoon, her mother, Robin Dahms, said while it was difficult to let her daughter go, she can take some solace in the fact that Brittany's painful struggle was finally at an end. "You just take comfort in that it's finally over," Robin Dahms said. "A kid shouldn't have to go through what she did. But she doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Dahms called her daughter "a fighter" who struggled with her illness on her own terms, but she also had a softer side. "She had a heart of gold," Dahms said.
That softer side was evident last spring at the finish line of the Boston Marathon where Brittany Dahms and her mother waited for Tim Walker, Westbrook High School's director of student services. Walker was running in honor of Dahms as a member of the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team in Training," a group that organizes runners in races across the country to raise money for leukemia research.
Dahms and her family went to Boston to be at the finish line to cheer Walker on. As the marathon passed the three-hour mark, Dahms and her mother began looking for Walker in earnest from the bleachers. Every runner in a Team in Training shirt drew their interest, but as the runners drew closer, it became evident that Walker was still somewhere back in the pack.
With no way of getting updates on Walker's progress, Dahms had no way of knowing when Walker would be finishing, or whether an injury had forced him out of the race somewhere along the course. However, Dahms remained upbeat and continued to scan the crowd of runners approaching the finish line.
After four hours, Walker rewarded Dahms's faith and patience as he turned the corner onto Boylston Street in Boston and came into sight. Upon spotting Walker, Dahms and her mother stood and cheered as loud as they could, assisted by a crowd of fans behind them who helped by calling out Walker's name.
After the race, Dahms said she was proud of Walker. She said it made her feel good to see Walker coming up to the finish line with enough energy to give her a wave and a smile.
"I think it was excellent," she said at the time. "He did a really good job."
Walker said Dahms was personally inspirational to him. "She helped me appreciate how precious life is and how you shouldn't take things for granted," he said. "She was quite a woman."
Walker said he has already registered for the 2006 Boston Marathon and will be running in Dahms' honor once again. He said he knows Dahms will be on his mind during the race. "I'm going to miss her tremendously," Walker said. "She was truly courageous."
Westbrook High School Principal Marc Gousse said many of the high school's staff took the news of Dahms' death hard. He said his heart goes out to Dahms and all of her family.
Gousse said he always admired the way Dahms dealt with her illness. "She certainly epitimized strength and courage," he said. "She absolutely was a role model in many respects, especially in the way she dealt with adversity on a day-to-day basis. She was a quality person."
Walker also pointed to the way Dahms dealt with adversity as one of her strengths. "Never once did I see her complain or show signs of self-pity," he said. "She really was a fighter."
Following the marathon and her high school graduation in June, Dahms underwent a bone marrow transplant that doctors hoped would help her beat the disease.
Unfortunately, as the year drew to a close, Dahms and her family got some terrible news. "The transplant didn't work," explained Robin Dahms last week.
Robin Dahms explained the transplant went fine, but complications set in soon after. In November, the cancer returned. Her doctors tried to begin treatment, but decided to stop it soon after when it proved to have no effect.
Despite the fact that Brittany's transplant wasn't successful, Robin Dahms said any other families facing a similar situation shouldn't be discouraged from trying a transplant. "What doesn't work for one person will work for another," she said.
Right up to the end of her life, Robin Dahms said her daughter retained the same spirit she had throughout her ordeal. "She fought this on her own terms," she said. "And she lived her life on her own terms."
Visiting hours for Dahms will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 5 and 6 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Maine Children's Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Scarborough, Maine 04074, or to the Make A Wish Foundation, 87 Elm St., Camden, Maine 04843.
Article, January 4, 2006 by Mike Higgins - American Journal
Brittany H. Dahms, 19
WESTBROOK - Brittany H. Dahms, 19, of East Valentine Street, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 at a Portland hospital after a long illness.
She was born in Portland, the daughter of David and Robin Marcia Dahms. She attended Catherine McCauley High School, and Westbrook High School, graduating in 2005 with the help and support of many in the school system.
Brittany enjoyed cheerleading and was a coach of the Tuffy League Cheerleaders.
Brittany enjoyed time spent with her best friends, Caitlynn Hersom and Nicole Bormet, who were both there to give her support.
She was predeceased by a brother, Cameron.
She is survived by her parents of Westbrook; paternal grandmother, Jean Dahms of Gorham; maternal grandparents, David and Rowena Marcia of Portland; maternal great-grandmother, Bessie Robinson of Bridgton; a brother, Anthony Dahms of Westbrook; an uncle, Ricky Dahms; an aunt, Jennifer Burdick; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday, at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
The Maine Children's
Cancer Program
100 Campus Dr.
Scarborough, Maine 04074
or
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
87 Elm St.
Camden, Maine 04843
Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on January 4, 2006
Brittany Dahms, who graduated from Westbrook High School last June in the midst of a more than year-long battle with leukemia, died Tuesday morning.
Dahms, 19, who battled leukemia for more than a year, died early Tuesday morning at a Portland hospital with her family by her side.
On Tuesday afternoon, her mother, Robin Dahms, said while it was difficult to let her daughter go, she can take some solace in the fact that Brittany's painful struggle was finally at an end. "You just take comfort in that it's finally over," Robin Dahms said. "A kid shouldn't have to go through what she did. But she doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Dahms called her daughter "a fighter" who struggled with her illness on her own terms, but she also had a softer side. "She had a heart of gold," Dahms said.
That softer side was evident last spring at the finish line of the Boston Marathon where Brittany Dahms and her mother waited for Tim Walker, Westbrook High School's director of student services. Walker was running in honor of Dahms as a member of the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team in Training," a group that organizes runners in races across the country to raise money for leukemia research.
Dahms and her family went to Boston to be at the finish line to cheer Walker on. As the marathon passed the three-hour mark, Dahms and her mother began looking for Walker in earnest from the bleachers. Every runner in a Team in Training shirt drew their interest, but as the runners drew closer, it became evident that Walker was still somewhere back in the pack.
With no way of getting updates on Walker's progress, Dahms had no way of knowing when Walker would be finishing, or whether an injury had forced him out of the race somewhere along the course. However, Dahms remained upbeat and continued to scan the crowd of runners approaching the finish line.
After four hours, Walker rewarded Dahms's faith and patience as he turned the corner onto Boylston Street in Boston and came into sight. Upon spotting Walker, Dahms and her mother stood and cheered as loud as they could, assisted by a crowd of fans behind them who helped by calling out Walker's name.
After the race, Dahms said she was proud of Walker. She said it made her feel good to see Walker coming up to the finish line with enough energy to give her a wave and a smile.
"I think it was excellent," she said at the time. "He did a really good job."
Walker said Dahms was personally inspirational to him. "She helped me appreciate how precious life is and how you shouldn't take things for granted," he said. "She was quite a woman."
Walker said he has already registered for the 2006 Boston Marathon and will be running in Dahms' honor once again. He said he knows Dahms will be on his mind during the race. "I'm going to miss her tremendously," Walker said. "She was truly courageous."
Westbrook High School Principal Marc Gousse said many of the high school's staff took the news of Dahms' death hard. He said his heart goes out to Dahms and all of her family.
Gousse said he always admired the way Dahms dealt with her illness. "She certainly epitimized strength and courage," he said. "She absolutely was a role model in many respects, especially in the way she dealt with adversity on a day-to-day basis. She was a quality person."
Walker also pointed to the way Dahms dealt with adversity as one of her strengths. "Never once did I see her complain or show signs of self-pity," he said. "She really was a fighter."
Following the marathon and her high school graduation in June, Dahms underwent a bone marrow transplant that doctors hoped would help her beat the disease.
Unfortunately, as the year drew to a close, Dahms and her family got some terrible news. "The transplant didn't work," explained Robin Dahms last week.
Robin Dahms explained the transplant went fine, but complications set in soon after. In November, the cancer returned. Her doctors tried to begin treatment, but decided to stop it soon after when it proved to have no effect.
Despite the fact that Brittany's transplant wasn't successful, Robin Dahms said any other families facing a similar situation shouldn't be discouraged from trying a transplant. "What doesn't work for one person will work for another," she said.
Right up to the end of her life, Robin Dahms said her daughter retained the same spirit she had throughout her ordeal. "She fought this on her own terms," she said. "And she lived her life on her own terms."
Visiting hours for Dahms will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 5 and 6 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Maine Children's Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Scarborough, Maine 04074, or to the Make A Wish Foundation, 87 Elm St., Camden, Maine 04843.
Article, January 4, 2006 by Mike Higgins - American Journal
WESTBROOK - Brittany H. Dahms, 19, of East Valentine Street, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 at a Portland hospital after a long illness.
She was born in Portland, the daughter of David and Robin Marcia Dahms. She attended Catherine McCauley High School, and Westbrook High School, graduating in 2005 with the help and support of many in the school system.
Brittany enjoyed cheerleading and was a coach of the Tuffy League Cheerleaders.
Brittany enjoyed time spent with her best friends, Caitlynn Hersom and Nicole Bormet, who were both there to give her support.
She was predeceased by a brother, Cameron.
She is survived by her parents of Westbrook; paternal grandmother, Jean Dahms of Gorham; maternal grandparents, David and Rowena Marcia of Portland; maternal great-grandmother, Bessie Robinson of Bridgton; a brother, Anthony Dahms of Westbrook; an uncle, Ricky Dahms; an aunt, Jennifer Burdick; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday, at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
The Maine Children's
Cancer Program
100 Campus Dr.
Scarborough, Maine 04074
or
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
87 Elm St.
Camden, Maine 04843
Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on January 4, 2006
Brittany Dahms, who graduated from Westbrook High School last June in the midst of a more than year-long battle with leukemia, died Tuesday morning.
Dahms, 19, who battled leukemia for more than a year, died early Tuesday morning at a Portland hospital with her family by her side.
On Tuesday afternoon, her mother, Robin Dahms, said while it was difficult to let her daughter go, she can take some solace in the fact that Brittany's painful struggle was finally at an end. "You just take comfort in that it's finally over," Robin Dahms said. "A kid shouldn't have to go through what she did. But she doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Dahms called her daughter "a fighter" who struggled with her illness on her own terms, but she also had a softer side. "She had a heart of gold," Dahms said.
That softer side was evident last spring at the finish line of the Boston Marathon where Brittany Dahms and her mother waited for Tim Walker, Westbrook High School's director of student services. Walker was running in honor of Dahms as a member of the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team in Training," a group that organizes runners in races across the country to raise money for leukemia research.
Dahms and her family went to Boston to be at the finish line to cheer Walker on. As the marathon passed the three-hour mark, Dahms and her mother began looking for Walker in earnest from the bleachers. Every runner in a Team in Training shirt drew their interest, but as the runners drew closer, it became evident that Walker was still somewhere back in the pack.
With no way of getting updates on Walker's progress, Dahms had no way of knowing when Walker would be finishing, or whether an injury had forced him out of the race somewhere along the course. However, Dahms remained upbeat and continued to scan the crowd of runners approaching the finish line.
After four hours, Walker rewarded Dahms's faith and patience as he turned the corner onto Boylston Street in Boston and came into sight. Upon spotting Walker, Dahms and her mother stood and cheered as loud as they could, assisted by a crowd of fans behind them who helped by calling out Walker's name.
After the race, Dahms said she was proud of Walker. She said it made her feel good to see Walker coming up to the finish line with enough energy to give her a wave and a smile.
"I think it was excellent," she said at the time. "He did a really good job."
Walker said Dahms was personally inspirational to him. "She helped me appreciate how precious life is and how you shouldn't take things for granted," he said. "She was quite a woman."
Walker said he has already registered for the 2006 Boston Marathon and will be running in Dahms' honor once again. He said he knows Dahms will be on his mind during the race. "I'm going to miss her tremendously," Walker said. "She was truly courageous."
Westbrook High School Principal Marc Gousse said many of the high school's staff took the news of Dahms' death hard. He said his heart goes out to Dahms and all of her family.
Gousse said he always admired the way Dahms dealt with her illness. "She certainly epitimized strength and courage," he said. "She absolutely was a role model in many respects, especially in the way she dealt with adversity on a day-to-day basis. She was a quality person."
Walker also pointed to the way Dahms dealt with adversity as one of her strengths. "Never once did I see her complain or show signs of self-pity," he said. "She really was a fighter."
Following the marathon and her high school graduation in June, Dahms underwent a bone marrow transplant that doctors hoped would help her beat the disease.
Unfortunately, as the year drew to a close, Dahms and her family got some terrible news. "The transplant didn't work," explained Robin Dahms last week.
Robin Dahms explained the transplant went fine, but complications set in soon after. In November, the cancer returned. Her doctors tried to begin treatment, but decided to stop it soon after when it proved to have no effect.
Despite the fact that Brittany's transplant wasn't successful, Robin Dahms said any other families facing a similar situation shouldn't be discouraged from trying a transplant. "What doesn't work for one person will work for another," she said.
Right up to the end of her life, Robin Dahms said her daughter retained the same spirit she had throughout her ordeal. "She fought this on her own terms," she said. "And she lived her life on her own terms."
Visiting hours for Dahms will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 5 and 6 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Maine Children's Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Scarborough, Maine 04074, or to the Make A Wish Foundation, 87 Elm St., Camden, Maine 04843.
Article, January 4, 2006 by Mike Higgins - American Journal
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Link to brother #116865689 Cameron K (baby) Dahms
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