LORI JUNE KIPP

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has communicated.
Your remembrances of Lori and your kind thoughts mean so much to us.

From Kenny

To my dear sister Lori,

There's so much left to say. When we talked last Sunday, I wish I'd known I was saying goodbye. I remember everything we talked about, and I'm glad we did talk. I wish I’d known that would be the last time I’d hear your voice. But CF has a way of numbing you to the possibility that life may be cut short, and after so many years and decades, after so many 'routine' hospital visits, no one knew how short the time was that we had left. I want to say I love you. I want to say that I'm glad you were my sister, and how proud I am of you. We always knew you were special. It's only now that Mom and Dad and Emily and I realize just how many lives you touched, how many people you changed, and what an inspiration you've been through your life.

I remember seeing you when you were born, when you came back from the hospital. I’d been playing down the street with Ted and Betsy, and when we saw the car we all came running up the street to see you. I’d wanted a little brother or sister so badly. And there you were, wrinkly and slightly blue faced, wrapped in a blanket and being held by your proud mommy. Dad was holding the camera, and even though my memory of that day is crystal clear, I'm glad we have a picture of me looking at you for the first time. My little sister. The home movies are proof that these were happy times.

You were diagnosed with CF when you were 5. I was 9. I remember the day clearly. The whole family knew that something was wrong, but we'd been plagued with mis-diagnoses for many months. When Mom picked me up at school after she'd learned for sure what was wrong, she was in tears. It may have been the first time I saw my mother cry. That the news had been broken to her by a doctor whose last name was 'Sunshine' was the first ironic twist. At that time the life expectancy was 17. We were all given a ticking clock...but somehow, as you got older, that clock ticked slower and slower. Life expectancies increased, right along with your age. Another ironic twist is that in just a few weeks you'd be 39. The life expectancy age right now is 38. You were about to pass it for the first time in your life.

I remember vividly going up to Stanford Children's Hospital with you and Mom so many times. It got to be routine, just another part of life. Go to the hospital for a check-up, hit the mall that was close by, and go out for lunch. It was like a day trip, a little family outing. Mom must have been under so much stress. CF was still very new for us, and we knew so little about it.

As you got older, CF seemed to be less of a ticking clock, and more of just a very large burden, but one we all could live with and accommodate. It wasn't easy, but we all had our parts to play, and in so many important ways our family got closer because of it.

Mom got heavily involved in fundraising. I think that the public exposure to the CF community and cause in California, if not everywhere, was pushed ahead by Mom's work. If that's true, then there's no telling how many people Mom's work helped, and that's part of your legacy as well. Mom and Dad dug in, and their way of dealing with the fear and uncertainty of CF was to make a difference. Their efforts helped so many, but they were really all about you. I remember the first stages: going door to door with Mom to ask for donations for a disease that I had only the vaguest knowledge of, much less the people we were asking. I remember one woman asked me with some disgust if I was in the Moonies. I was maybe 10, standing alone at a door, asking for a contribution for something I barely had any knowledge about, trying hard to hold back tears, and being accused by some stranger of being in a cult. Then there was the Race for Life, and then horse shows (where Mom ever got that idea is beyond me, but they were a HUGE event, and incredibly successful). It was a confusing and stressful time, but through it all we still had family trips, holidays, and a closeness that tied us together. I remember the stress, but I also remember a LOT of laughter, and many good times. (You will always be the kid who blinked at the Christmas lights, making them go ‘on and on’, the kid who was obsessed with ‘Favorite Blanket’ and ‘Baby Beans’…even after her head fell off, the kid who spoiled Dad’s gift by whispering very loudly at the dinner table, “Don’t tell him about the PROPELLER!”, the kid who couldn’t quit sucking her thumb without mild medical help, and the kid who accused me of making the house move when we were having an earthquake, thinking I must be jumping on the bed…I was to blame SOMEHOW).

I can only imagine what those years must have been like for you; the whirlwind of activity that always revolved around CF. I’d bet you anything though that you remember none of the sad times, and ALL of the happy times.

I remember going to camp, and realizing that kids that hadn't returned from the previous year had died. Many were your age and younger. What did you think about that? I'd have been scared to pieces. But I never got the sense that you related any of that to yourself. Your concern was always for other people and what they were going through. My involvement in CF camp at first was a bit selfish...you seemed to be having SO much fun, and came back with so many stories. I felt left out, so I jumped in and became a ‘thumper’ for 10 summers. Seeing you at camp, and getting to know all the people associated with it, with and without the disease, made me realize the dignity, the maturity, love, and support everyone gave each other. Those are important memories for me, and they are thanks to you.

Then, in your 20's, you started going into the hospital more frequently, but that too soon became a tolerable burden. "Maintenance," we called it. I had moved away to Indiana by then, and was following everything from a distance. Sometimes I wonder if that's why I moved so far away....to get out from under the cloud of cystic fibrosis that was a continual presence in our family's lives.

You lived alone for a few years. I remember talking to Mom during that time. She'd come up and bring you meals, help you with housework, and battle the stupid ant problem that your landlord couldn’t care less about. It took all the energy you had to try to maintain something of a normal life. Just getting up and going to work every day was exhausting for you. But you soldiered on, with hardly a complaint.

When my daughter and your niece Emily came along, you were the best aunt anyone could be. The love you have for her is incredible. You added SO much to her life, and although at 16 she’s lost you far too soon, the lessons that you taught her and the memories you helped make for her will be a part of who she is forever. Her kids will know you, Lori. I wish like anything that they could know you for real, but believe me, the pictures, the movies, the stories, and your life in our memories will live and be passed down for a long, long time.

Then Mom and Dad bought the house in the Bay Area, so you all could live together and they could give you the care you couldn't give yourself. We all love you so much. Mom and Dad built their whole lives around you.

I remember just a couple years ago...you'd been hospital free for 2 or 3 years. It was a record. How could we not think that you were strong, that things were getting better?

We started taking more family trips. Disney World several times, the Caribbean cruise, Christmases and a couple of weeks every summer in California.

In the last year or so things changed. Hospital stays became more frequent and less productive. Still, we all had hope. You’d beaten the odds for so long that I guess we all just took it for granted that you’d always beat them. A few more bumps in the road, but again, a tolerable part of the burden of CF. Complaints from you? Nope. I never heard any.

In the last couple of years I felt that you and I had really grown past our childhoods, that we had grown closer and had a better understanding of each other. I wish I’d told you more often how much I love you, and how proud I am of you and the way you’ve lived your life. But I think you knew.

The last text I sent you (and you got it, I’m so glad you got it) was only a few hours before the end. I’ll keep it in my phone forever. I told you how much we all loved you, that Emily and I were spending a lot of time thinking of you and hoping that this particular bump in the road would get better, and would lead to the lung transplant that would have changed your life and let you live more freely than you ever had. We were all SO full of hope. I never imagined that that would be the last communication I had with you. But I’m so glad that I did have one final thought, and that it expressed my love, and that you got it. The final cruel and ironic twist is that right up until the end, we all were given every reason to believe that this was a gateway to you getting better. The fact that you were taken so quickly and so completely and in such a hopeful atmosphere is a scar that none of us will ever really get over.

Your name will be in my phone forever, your email address will stay in my computer, and your Facebook page will stay up. Pictures on the walls, gifts you gave us, and all the little things that remind me of you will have a permanent place in my home and life. It’s my way of keeping you alive, Lori. I love you so much.

Mom and Dad had a daughter and a son. Exactly what they wanted. CF was a cruel insertion into what should have been an idyllic family life. It threw a wedge between you and me, which I'm SO glad we patched up in the last couple of decades. But it also taught us all to be stronger. It taught us that families should do everything they can to overcome adversity. At the end, it’s taught me that there are so many unimportant things in life, and only a few really important things. And when the important things go, they go forever, so appreciate them while they’re here. You will ALWAYS be my sister. You will ALWAYS be with us. When Mom and Dad and Emily and I are together, you’ll ALWAYS be there too. I have SO many good memories of you, of our family, and I’ll treasure those for the rest of my life.

And what I’m learning now, from calls, emails, and posts, is that I didn’t know the half of the appreciation others have for you. I’m losing count of all the people whose lives you’ve touched.

To all the people who have written and posted, to all the people whose lives Lori touched, thank you. You have no idea how much my family and I appreciate your thoughts and messages. You should know that what Lori gave to you, you gave back to her in a million little ways that you may never know.

I love you Lori. Thank you for being a part of my life. From this point forward I will try to be the person you’d want me to be. And you’ll be alive in me every moment of every day. As the CFer’s say, breathe easy. You’ve given so much, and although your life has been cut short, you’ll live on in so many other people for many, many years to come. And THAT, kid, is about as close to perfect as you can get.

Sincerely, your big brother,
Kenny

From Emily

Although I know you will never get this, I have some things I still need to tell you. You mean so much to me. You were more like my best friend than my aunt. You are such an inspiration and I cannot even express how much I love you. You made a difference in someone's life everywhere you went. You were such a bright light in the world. Our little family will never be the same without you, but I don't think you could ever truly be gone, could you? I love and miss you so much.

From baseball friends

FC
Yes, Mr. Hanks, there IS crying in baseball... from today on. Lori, thank you for brightening our section of AT&T Park. Your smile, your love of the game, your wealth of knowledge of the game, your passion for the Giants, and your appetite for Ballpark Nachos will all be missed but never forgotten. There are angels in the outfield, and one of them is named Lori...

RG
I am saddened that our friendship was in its mere infancy with your passing. In the short time that I knew you, I saw a woman with mighty strength and will power to never give up. Most of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to see our Giants play in the World Series, that Game 2 will always be special, I am so glad you got to see it and that you and your parents shared the experience with me. Please take care, play ball in the only stadium better than AT&T, and my prayers will always be with you and your family.

From the Giants
[The Giants organization sent flowers, a card, an autographed baseball... and will be posting a scoreboard message before the game on June 11]
We were saddened to hear of Lori's passing. Your Giants representative and others who have contacted us all say that she was a truly dedicated and enthusiastic Giants fan. I understand that the Giants were "first in her heart", and am so glad that the team was able to win a World Series title while she was with us... It sounds like Lori herself was a true Giant and I know she will be sorely missed by her family and firends.


From childhood and school friends

AA
I remember going to your house before school every day. You and J were my best friends in grades one and two. While we didn't get a chance to reconnect in later years, I have enjoyed keeping in touch on Facebook and am so sad to hear of your passing. The Facebook writings are so inspirational. You clearly touched many people in your life.

RP
Lori, you were the first person I met when I started Colton middle School, coming from a different country, not knowing anything about the U.S., different cultures, backgrounds was very difficult! You took time out to reach out to me, explained a lot of things, had lots of fun learning new things!! Loved our lunch times where we exchanged our lunches, loved those cheetos!! Sure had a lot of fun!! Thanks a lot and so proud to have known you!! Prayers go out to your family!!

TC
There are just no words that can express the great sadness I feel. Richard Marx, Wonder Woman and Super Girl Underoos, Fancy Ketchup... It was a pleasure growing up with you and even though we had not seen each other in a long time I still felt like you were one of my closest friends. I will never forget you…..

BB
Lori Kipp ~ Proof that great gifts come in small packages. You willl be so greatly missed. I was honored by being your friend.

CJR
Sweet Lorelei,...your cheerful smile, kindness, HUGE heart, and zest for life will always remain with all of those who were blessed to know you. I will miss you so very much. Thank you for being a 'forever' friend to me. You have taught me more than you will ever know...

NC
Lori, we were born two days apart in the same hospital. Eight years later we met and became friends. I will always remember the sleepovers and great times at your house. We connected again in adulthood and I discovered we still had so much in common. I still laugh at some of the stories you told me. Thanks for being such a great friend. I'll miss your cheerful spirit. Lori sent me Mickey gummie candy on her last trip to Disney. I'll never forget that.

AK
I've known Lori since grade school.....and I used to pound on her back in high school b4 a swim meet so she could breathe better. You lived so much longer than the doctors ever said you would. You fought the good fight. I'm so glad that we were friends for so long.

KB
I smile knowing that you brightened so many lives during your time on earth. I will always cherish our childhood memories of playing Operation, double dutch jump rope, braiding our hair with baby daisies, slumber parties filled with laughter and so many more.

TSB
There just isn't enough space here to say how much Lori was a part of my life. I cry, even though she told me she didn't want anyone to boo-hoo over her...well too bad Lori...I'm boo-hooing! I am so thankful to your mother for giving you the advice to ask a new kid to lunch the first day of school of your Jr and my Sr year of high school...who would've known that that invitation would lead to a relationship closer than sisters. I love you and will hold you in my heart till we can have lunch again.

CLSD
Lori I will always remember our trip to Germany in the summer of '88. I have fond memories of you on that trip...

JH
Lori, I will never forget you being one of my first friends when I came to Foothill. We had so much fun together. I will never forget dying easter eggs at my house with you and J...

JG
Lori was my first best friend. We met in kindergarten the year my dad was in Monterey at the Language Institute. I have blurred memories of kindergarten, but thirty-three years later, I could still tell you that my best friend's name that year was Lori Kipp. I was blown away when she found me on Facebook and marveled at the opportunity to catch up with each other's lives. Lori, even long distance, was an inspiration. She talked about her life and the people in it with such glowing words, it made me evaluate the lens in which I was viewing my own. My heart is with all who knew her, loved her, and miss her.

MHM
My husband and I grew up with and went to high school with Lori.  Of course over the years we have been just "facebook friends" since everyone has moved and lives all over now days.  I do remember Lori had cystic fibrosis but she was always so brave about it. I really, really liked her in high school.  She was always so bubbly and kind.  Having 2 kids of my own now I can only imagine the heartbreak you are feeling...

KE
I've always reminded our swim team about character and how Lori personified this.  She was an integral part of our swim program and will be missed.

DP
I can say that I am blessed to have had you as part of my life. You were a bright light to our high school [swim] team and always a positive in my high school classes. We shared many classes together and had way too much fun at so many meets with our teammates and, of course, K!

CW
I hope you know a big chunk of my heart will forever be reserved for my memories of Lori. As a lifelong educator, thousands of students marched through my life - and it is Lori who is at the front of that line.

BW
I remember her very fondly as a bright eyed, enthusiastic young lady in my elementary school class.

BP
Of course I remember her best from Foothill School and the opportunity I had to get acquainted with all of you.  I will always remember your  trust in asking me to “do percussion” on Lori when you went away for a few days.  I felt proud that I could do something meaningful for her and for you.  Yes, we lived with the knowledge that her life expectancy was short, but as the years went by, it was more and more hopeful.  Lori showed a courage beyond most people with a spirit-filled life and zest for living.  I feel fortunate to have known her.

AS
I went to UCSB with Lori and we stayed in touch via mail and email all these years.  She was an amazing person and taught me a lot about how you choose to face what life gives you.  Lori inspired me in many ways and I will miss her.

TB
Lori knew the reality of her life. I believe that gave her reason to NOT hold back, to LIVE her life to the fullest of her abilities. To go to college, to travel, to give of herself so freely. She had a courage that leaves me speechless. She was a priceless soul...

C&KR
We remember very much the time she spent with us in our home, she was such a friendly, open, life accepting person, despite of her disease. We loved her for her strength.

It's very hard to express our sad feelings in English, it's not our mother tongue. We knew Lori only for a short period of her life, but she made a big impression to us.

RR
I am sitting here quite a while and I just don't know how to start this e-mail to you. My stomach has a big hole and I started crying again, while trying to find the words that could describe how I feel. On one side I am so glad and thankful, that I had the chance to see Lori again last summer [in Germany]. It reminded me of the great time we spent together in Monterey and Würzburg. She was just such a special person. She simply had the gift to touch someone's heart right away. It was her naturalness and her strength together with the ability to enjoy so many things in life that made us "giggle" so much together! On the other side I'm just so so sad at heart, because I counted on seeing her this summer again so much...

KR
This is very hard for me to write. To express my feelings in English... Lori was a very special person for me. Keeping in touch all the years was a good experience for me. And after having met her last summer the contact became more intense and important again. Please be sure that we keep Lori in our memories as a very special person, a postive, intelligent, person full of zest of life and willpower for which I always admired her. I also connect lots of precious memories with her.

TGB
I'm reminded of a fond memory that I shared with Lori and her Mom. I remember spending a whole day at one of the horse shows selling raffle tickets as a fundraiser for CF. Lori and I had so much fun that day, laughing and playing. I remember that was the day I learned about the horribly unfair disease. I know CF enveloped all of your lives so completely, but to me, she was just "my friend Lori". No labels, no titles, just simply my friend.

MMF
Lori was such an amazing person and friend to so many people. Lori was in the class behind mine at MHS, and her incredible attitude, spirit and friendliness always made a strong impression. Being young, I had no idea then what courage, fortitude and grace she also had.

JP
Lori and I met in kindergarten at Foothill School... I never really thought much about Lori’s consistent coughing, the handful of pills she seemed to always be taking, or the everyday routine of her therapy. I remember waiting to go out and play after school, while we sat in front of the t.v. as her mom, Norma, thumped Lori’s back. How we tried to make time pass quickly by watching sitcoms while she was then hooked up to the machine that helped clear her lungs. This was routine. Looking back on it now, I can’t remember a time that she ever complained, felt sorry for herself, or seemed anything other than “normal” to me. I guess the first few things that truly molded me as a young person was her way of always rolling with the punches, looking at the positives, and truly enjoying life to the fullest, despite life’s twists.

I distinctly remember my mom talking to me about C.F. and cautioning me that if the doctors/researchers were correct my friend Lori might not be my friend for very long. Back then the life expectancy was some ridiculously low age... Somehow I never thought that would happen to my friend. It just couldn’t, could it?

Lori and I shared a deep love for baseball. I never realized how much of an influence I had on her getting hooked until an e-mail of re-connection and reminiscence came to my inbox a few years back. She reminded me of how I used to buy up a bunch of Topps wax-packed baseball cards and we’d sit and open them together. Good times! She reminded me of how I would explain what each abbreviation on the back of the cards meant and how to tell if the guy’s stats were good or not. I've thought about how you really do impact other people’s lives, even when you don’t realize it, and felt proud that I gave her the passion for something great and that I actually contributed to her life in some small way.

One of the most important things she taught me at a young age was tolerance; tolerance for people who may be a little different than yourself and how it is so important to have true compassion for others. She reminded me in her very descriptive, funny way of a time at Colton Middle School when we sat down to lunch together, as usual, and I threatened a boy (sorry J) that I would punch him in the face if he made another comment about Lori always “popping pills”. We joked about it many years later, but I truly believe that my actions were the least I could do to pay her back for the positive influence her friendship had on me.

I think a book could be written listing all the wonderful things Lori’s family did and for no other reason but to make her life the very best it could be. The sacrifices they all made were absolutely enormous and the best thing about it is that it was just “normal” for them.

When I heard the news of Lori’s passing, I found myself slipping into thoughts of how I figured our friendship would probably end this way and how “they” finally ended up to be right…that my friend Lori wouldn’t be my friend for very long. But, then I stop and smile when I think about all the lives she touched (and mine was just one of many), the great life she led, and think of all the positive things… just like she would do.

From CF friends

AS
I am so sorry for the sudden, cruel, unbelievable, horrific nature of CF and how it can take someone so beautiful and vibrant like Lori so quickly. I will always remember her from our camp days, from our shared hospital stays, and will fondly remember how much I respected and admired her for living independently, working, and somehow seeming to be stable with CF after so many years. Now it just seems so unfair. Please know that we all mourn your loss... We celebrate Lori's memory and feel privileged to have known her.

KB
We didn't have enough time in our friendship, but I will always count you as a good friend and inspiration. You live on in all the lives you've touched, and there have been so many. I hope you are free now.

AM
Lori, you did so much for the Stanford CF community this last year... You were a mentor to me, and I will never forget when you babysat me for an entire weekend as a kid. I am so sorry you didn't get the chance of transplant. You will be missed. Breathe easy my dear....

EH
Even though we'd just reconnected last April it seems like forever. I am thankful you came back into my life and thankful for your encouragement to join the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Advisory Council. We are all stronger because of you and admire the strength you have shown...

BE
Lori was an amazing woman. I was telling M just today that she taught me to stand up for him in the hospital - to be his advocate because it's OK to be an advocate, that doctors and nurses do not know everything. I just wish I could have told her that, and I wish I could have thanked her for teaching M so much. It was Lori in particular who taught him the need to care for himself for the sake of those he loves and who love him.

She is more than just another "CF friend". She (and your family in general) is considered a dear friend who knew and understood the hardships of living with CF. Lori was very dear to us both - her continuous battle gave us hope.

You raised an amazing daughter who became an inspirational woman who clearly touched every life she encountered.

TT
CF is so cruel. You will be missed greatly. When I was just a young kid at camp I really looked up to you. I don't know if you ever knew that. Breathe Easy.

JS
A sad goodbye to a great CF "camp" friend of many years. Thank you for your insight to so many things and I admire the way you enjoyed your life.

SAH
RIP Lori! Thank you so much for helping us adults with CF have a voice and find balance with the Adult CF Clinic, and thank you for helping me reconnect with people from CF camp. You will greatly missed! We love you!

JY
Lori... You have been a part of our lives for so long and have done so many amazing things for CF & its community. I still remember the old days at CF camp. Great times & the freedom we all longed for once a year. My sympathy & love go out to The Kipp Family. Thank you for sharing Lori with us. She touched so many lives & hearts. I feel blessed to have known such a great person.

AE
In shock and offer my deepest sympathy to the whole Kipp Family for the loss of our friend from CF Camp, Lori. Her zest for life will be greatly missed. She was an inspiration to all of us with or without Cystic Fibrosis. I am grateful to have known her.

KS
Lori, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten! I have so many great memories of good times at CH@S! The birth of your neice, graduation from Santa Clara Univ.....so many great accomplishments and celebrations. You will live in my heart forever.

EK
From my earliest visits with Lori as a pre-teen to the last visit a week before she died, we shared joy, frustration, contemplation, speculation with and about life. Even as a teen, Lori was one of my most forthright teachers/mentors in the complex world of CF. I will always be grateful for her unswerving friendship.

EG
I feel so blessed to have known such an inspiring, energetic, enthusiastic and caring person.   We met years ago and I remember having such wonderful conversations with Lori. I recall the "good old days" at the CF clinic on Sand Hill Road and the friendships that developed.  So much has changed but that closeness never goes away.   It has been so wonderful how we have been able to renew our relationship through the ACFAC.  
 
Her knowledge of CF and how well she advocated for herself set such a high standard for all of us. It is with such a heavy heart that I say to you that Lori will be so so so missed.....as daughter, friend, CF advocate and wonderful angel.  I send my hugs and condolences.

From friends at work

Excerpts from a notice that went out to YMCA employees and members:
It is with a heavy heart and sad news that I reach out to all of you today.  We received word on Sunday morning that Lori Kipp, a beloved 17 year employee of the Peninsula Family YMCA, had passed away. Lori had fought for years to battle her terminal disease, cystic fibrosis.  She spent many years going in and out of the hospital and always returned to work with a smile and with her steadfast commitment to her work.  We all expected her to return this time as well....

As I'm sure you can imagine, our Y is reeling from the news of this loss today.  Our team has rallied through hard times in the past and we are doing so again, supporting each other in the best ways we know how. If any of you want to talk about this, please reach out.  All of us are in this together.  Finally, please visit Lori's page on Facebook where you can share your memories and read those of others.

CSM
Kipper, you were SUCH a bright blessing. Always quick with a laugh and a smile, never allowing CF to define you. You taught me so many things, above all else to live life to its fullest, take nothing for granted and seize each and every day with zest and vigor. Your fight and fortitude are and were admirable. You will be eternally missed and are SO very loved, Lori. May you rest in peace and finally breathe easy...

PS
I remember when we first hired her I thought "she's too young, no way is she of age to work" - she was so short and cute. LO-LO, I'm going to miss your smile when you walk in in the morning...

TJ
Lori, I grieve for the loss of your amazing, bright, beautiful spirit, but I am comforted by the thought that you are at peace. I'll miss you Tiny Wonder.

TC
Lori, I am heartbroken and left speechless. You showed us all what courage is all about, you were always the fighter. You will be missed by all.

LS
You were a bright light at the Y and will be missed.

TC
Lori and I worked together at the Y for many years. I worked in the membership dept. and she was upstairs. She was such a positive, caring and loving person. We shared a lot of laughs. She was always there to talk to and always willing to help others anyway she could. She will be missed.

From medical community friends

SK
Words can not express how sad I am today knowing you are not here to brighten this world. I am honored I was able to call you friend even for the briefest of time. You will be remembered and missed.

CN
I will always remember you, your sense of humor and cheerful self. Thanks for teaching me about CF and having a zest for life.

MN
I was a nurse at Stanford. I adored Lori and her spirit. I have to thank you for bringing her into this world and sharing her with us. She was just so amazing and will always be in my heart. I know my life is much better for having known her. When I think of what Lori dealt with on a daily basis it puts things in perspective. She defines: "making a difference in the lives of others." She was truly a fighter and an inspiration. I moved back to NY 12 years ago and we remained in contact because she was so special. I am honored to know her.

RR
You were one of the first persons I took care of when I first started working at Stanford and after all these years it has been both a blessing and an honor to call you a friend. It warms my heart to know that you are now running with the angels because that's what you are ... an angel.

HRU
Lori has definitely had a MAJOR impact on the way I treat patients. I came to California in 2002 as a relatively new Respiratory Therapist traveler. She was my first patient with her 8am treatment. I had NO idea what I had gotten myself into. My upper body strength was pretty poor and Lori was very kind in telling me that my CPT wasn't going to cut it. At first, I was mortified. But her kindness led itself to creating an environment where we could laugh and joke and I worked as hard as I could to make sure my CPT was good enough for her. We definitely bonded over the two weeks she was an inpatient and even when she was not one of my assigned patients, I'd make my way down to her room to hang out for a little while every day. She had the best attitude and was truly an inspiration to talk to. Over the course of the next many years, we kept in touch via email and once facebook came around, we quickly became facebook buddies also. I went back to school to become a Physician Assistant and Lori was an amazing source of support from a distance. She inspired me to be the best that I can be and to make sure every patient is cared for as though they are not "just patients" but also friends. After PA school I returned to LPCH, so during this most recent hospitalization, I made my way over to her room to visit as often as I could. She was always smiling. It's funny, because her first comment about the room at the end of the hall was that it wasn't "social enough" for her. She wanted to be in the center of it all so she could socialize. Who comes to the hospital to socialize? That just makes me laugh and it makes me really realize just who Lori was. She was making the absolute best of the situation. She was here to socialize, not to be sick.

JW
When we first started learning about CF, we didn't know anyone personally who had lived much beyond their twenties, and I don't know what we would have done if we hadn't immediately met CFRI parents who were determined to fight against CF every day.  I'm sure I would not have thought to make the change in my career without that support.  The role you played, and then Lori, was inspirational. We just returned from a CF meeting in Europe, and will soon go to an ion transport meeting in Korea. The whole world is now working on CF.  When CF is finally laid to rest, I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that you and your family contributed to making that happen.

MB
When the World Series Championship flag was raised today I thought about Lori with her big smile! I loved talking to Lori about life, Maui and the SF Giants! [Response from Norma: Lori loved having you for therapy...she counted you as one of her best hospital friends.]

DM
Lori had the great gift of calm level-headed optimism and good humor, very fine qualities in a teacher; and she had much to teach all health professionals in how best to assist people with CF live out their fullest potential as well as deal as successfully as possible with this horribly ever-present, demanding disease. Her legacy is rich, beautiful, and will live on.

ZD
It will never be the same without Lori. When I first started doing CF research Lori was my first study subject and she went out of her way to be kind to me. I have never forgotten that and she has always held a soft spot in my heart. We will miss her terribly.

SS
I have known Lori for almost 14 years, since I first started working at Stanford. Lori was always such a pleasure to work with... I loved swapping stories with Lori about the important children in our lives. She was always excited to share the latest about Emily, and I could tell how much she loved her... Lori was always thoughtful. I worked with her in the first week of her last admission. I had gotten to her room a couple of minutes early for one of her treatments and she was not there. Then I noticed a note on top of her bed, "Be back at 12:00. Lori". She was back right on time... She was also the most compliant CF patient I have ever known. She took her health and her therapy very seriously. Having Lori as a patient always made me feel that my job was important... Lori is someone I will never forget, and I feel grateful and blessed to have known her.

KS
Lori touched so many lives in her shortened time on earth. I have many fond memories of great discussions we had. Lori is the foremost compliant CF'er I have ever known!          

More...

MM
Lori, you will be so sorely missed. You were a bright light to everyone that had the good fortune to know you. Know that you are loved and you will always live on in those whose lives have been touched by you. Thank you, Lori! For being such a rare and loving soul. Thank you for giving so much of yourself even when your health was failing you. I personally thank you for the endless love and laughter you offered your niece. You live on in her. She is a blessed girl to have you as an aunt. We miss you. We always will.

NC
My family has known the Kipps for over 30 years, Lori used to babysit me. She was always so cheerful and happy and I remember looking up to her as a "cool girl". Her loss is heartbreaking. If we all had a sliver of Lori's happiness the world would be such a better place!

CI
My mom asked me to post this because she does not have a Facebook account. I guess my brother and I were lucky enough to have you as our babysitter before we moved to Southern California 8 years ago. My mom says that you were the only babysitter that could handle me because of my separation anxiety as I could scream for hours. You were so patient and calm and never seemed the slightest bit frazzeled when my parents would get home. You were the only person my mom trusted enough to leave my brother and me with and I, slowly but surely, came to love you as much as she did. Thank you for blessing our lives.

JD
It amazes me how much of an impact she had on all our lives. What makes for such a rare young woman with such an extraordinary ability to touch so many? I realize it doesn't make the loss bearable, but it does value the significance of her life.

MY
Lori was such an inspiration to so many, and so strong... I’ll never forget the first time we all met Lori; M & I were sure that Lori decided she didn’t want to have anything to do with M when she ran off to her room, only to come back with the same dress as Meredith had on [they were 7 and 8 years old] – that was the beginning of a lasting friendship for those two. I remember all those family event breakfasts that Lori gave her all to help you with registration, was organized and bright spirited; I know that those mornings were hard on her; she had a real knack to greet people even when they sometimes were so demanding. Her knowledge of all things Disney and ways to find a good Disney bargain never failed to impress me. She was just such a talented individual!

MD
I still love the story of when I first met Lori.  Our trip to Monterey - I was 8, Lori was 7.  I was so scared to meet any of you but especially her, knowing I would have to spend a week there and hoping all during that long plane ride that she'd like me.  When she first saw me, and she ran immediately back inside the house, my heart sank and I thought it was going to be a very long week.  In minutes she had returned, wearing the exact same dress I wore (I can still picture it...white on top, blue with tiny red flowers on the bottom) and in that moment, even being as young as we were, I knew she was was going to be a cool friend to have. 

In the last few weeks I was so happy to have struck up an email conversation with her.  Her upbeat attitude while being in the hospital made me think again "this is one cool lady".  She never wanted to dwell on herself or the hand in life she was dealt, but was always interested in what other people were up to or were thinking.  She made me realize that when I was feeling down about something I really had no reason to complain.  She endured so much and with so little complaint to the outside world that I could only wish to be more like her.  To say a person shines from the inside out would be to describe her exactly.

I am thinking of you all, and I pray that you find some measure of comfort right now, although I have no idea where it might come from.  Maybe it will come directly from her and the memories that she leaves with the very many people who knew and loved her dearly.  She will certainly live on in the hearts of all those people, including my own.

My thoughts are with you today and every day as you come to peace with your loss.  I cry for myself, I cry more for you, and I cry a little for the people who didn't get the chance to know her.

R&JD
Each and every time we received your Christmas card it was such a joy to mark Lori's progress, her strength, her commitment, and zest for life. When I finally met Lori I could see why her years were so blessed. She has terrific parents who spared no expense to give her everything she needed to carve out her own life. Not many families understand that concept of "real family." You set the tone for a life well lived and with so much steadfastness that never let her think she could not achieve what she wanted.

We have talked often about the people who have influenced us by the lives they live. The Kipps...ALL of you...come out on top each and every time.  Lori made each of us test our own wills daily as she took her deck of cards and played them as they came. Her life speaks volumes about LIVING...to me really nothing else matters. You are both fortunate to have been the ones who were able to share her life on a daily basis. Nothing was easy, nothing was promised, and your loss is not "fillable", but you raised a remarkably courageous young woman.

Each time I received your "Tea" bag I felt my spirit lifted. It always struck me that way. What a gift Lori has been.

J&PM
You have to feel proud of your enormous accomplishment in raising a person like Lori and what she became, a sweet, intelligent, charismatic one. You gave her a full happy life, a life that, with her condition, must have been very difficult, for you and for her and still the best one she could ever had. In a world full of bad things and terrible threats, she lived a quality life to the fullest in a wonderful environment that you provided for her. She will live in the hearts of all the people that knew her because she was a person that touches them.

GS
She was an inspiration to me in dealing with my asthma. Seeing how she fought her CF made me take a better approach towards my asthma...

KY
We were saddened to hear the news about Lori. She was an inspiration not only to people with CF and their families but to the general pubic as well. We came to know her since she was at Foothill School with our son and would, on occasion, come to our house with her friend Alison. I never suspected that this sweet, quiet little girl would turn out to be such a fighter. We admired her courage, the support you gave her, and all your efforts in putting a face on cystic fibrosis... I'm glad that she was able to witness the Giants winning the World Series.

CG
My daughter called me with the news about Lori and then forwarded the link to the information about Lori's life. What a beautiful young woman. J always talked about Lori and remembered so fondly the times she and Lori spent together during the brief time we lived in Fisherman's Flats when the girls were in kindergarten. I am so glad the girls were able to make connection through Facebook. My heart goes out to you as you travel through this extremely difficult time. We never know how many lives our children touch, but reading the wonderful messages from her friends, it is apparent that the world is a better place for Lori having been here.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has communicated.
Your remembrances of Lori and your kind thoughts mean so much to us.

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