Remembering WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo

[TwitterQueen1]

This is a thread in remembrance of Leslie, who IRL was called Christine and who sadly died, peacefully, in her sleep, in the morning of 6th April. It’s a place for everyone to share their thoughts, memories and feelings about a lovely, inspirational woman who gave unstinting support to those with cancer. Most of us will know Leslie from the Cancer Support threads (latest one here) she led for years, offering many handholds, much reassurance and unending support, especially when newbies joined. Leslie was always kind, always gentle, always encouraging, pulling together random, disparate strangers into a loving, supportive network.

Leslie asked me to let everyone on MN know when she died. I am under instruction “not to write anything gushy or naff or say I "lost my battle"!” So no talk of soldiers, battles won, lost, fought etc. Let’s celebrate her life, short though it was, be glad that we knew her and grab laughs and loves when and where we can.

Leslie was:
• Only 28, diagnosed at 21 with (a genetic) colon cancer.
• A lifelong veggie with a HUGE love of cheese. Cake was pretty important too. Oh, and pizza. And ice cream.
• Blessed with a loving family; mum, dad and sister, plus a large network of relatives and friends. Plus 2 flippin’ big bunnies called Marigold and Juniper.
• A hooker – otherwise known as a knitter of blankets, hugs, scarves etc. She not only contributed to the lovely Woolly Hugs group here on MN but also recommended ladies with cancer for their very own Woolly Hug.
• A glitzy, glam shoe aficionado who saved her best pairs for the chemo ward
• For those curious about her user name, Leslie Knope is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.

I asked Christine about how we might remember her. She had no suggestions other than perhaps donating to Woolly Hugs if people want to. I am happy to coordinate this.

Christine, you were a true friend to me, bringing me into the cancer support group and being my cheerleader as well as everyone else’s. You are much loved and will be so very missed. Rest in peace xx

Rest in peace wonderful Leslie. You are already missed, I am not sure how I would have navigated all this cancer malarkey without your kindness and support. Not to mention your exceptional memory for everyones tests/drugs/reations/advice/help.
Much love Leslie xxxx

So sorry to hear this. I read the Lacies threads every now and then, she was absolutely amazing. Even to the end judging by her last thread I read about her extended family visiting. RIP Christine.

Woolly Hugs will let us know in a day or so about the best way to get donations in Leslie's name to them

I will show Leslie's family this thread in a few days too, so they can see all the lovely comments.

I will go to her funeral (don't know when that is yet).

I only met her once but she was so lovely and I'm truly honoured that she asked me to write this page for her.

I’m a Lacie and typing through tears.

Leslie (I don’t think I’ll manage to change names now) was quite simply a bloody marvellous MNetter. Many of the Lacies are, but she was one of the ones who replied so kindly when I first posted whilst still rather reeling after a sudden and unexpected diagnosis. And even though my cancer is completely different from hers, she was just so insightful in pulling together the fears, issues, ups and downs, and even funny moments we all had in common.

And she was a cheerleader to me in my running goals (sometimes posted with some trepidation, for fear of annoying people, but she was never annoyed). To personalise a charity T-shirt, I run to beat my blood cancer and my goal for the start of this year was to run 3x half marathons. The first was on the day Leslie made it to see the kitchen she designed (one of her last trips out of bed), the second she congratulated me, the third was this weekend, I’m dedicating that run to you, my sweet, every muddy, hilly step of the way.

I didn’t know why we called ourselves Lacies when I joined the thread. It was actually a typo, but I thought it was a metaphor because so many of us had bits missing and it was those gaps that made us beautiful. There’s a whole new gap now and, no matter how sad, I shall remember the beauty that was Leslie

Having known Leslie in real life as a friend for some years, wise beyond her years, heartfelt condolences. A life gone too soon, but one filled with such grace and such kindness. She will be much missed.

Christine/Leslie was a very special person & she will be very much missed

I'm so sorry to read this She will be very much missed on here x

My condolences to all her friends and family

Another one who benefitted from Leslie's kindness during a cancer scare. A kind, remarkable woman and what a legacy to leave. RIP.

Leslie will be very much missed across the boards. She offered an amazing handhold to me when I sought out her guidance as my mother and my sister were diagnosed with and died from cancer in the last few years.
Her ability to remember lacies' backstories was exceptional and I truly do believe there was no spreadsheet!

Thinking of her family, her parents and her sister who will be devastated but hopefully will take some comfort for the love that MN has for Christine.

To Leslie's family, who already know this, your lovely Christine was the best. She was an immeasurable force for good on Mumsnet, offering kindness and wisdom and calmness and comfort to everyone who needed it.

She had such a sweetness about her. She will be so missed.

Leslie and TQ welcomed me to the thread when I was in free fall after my breast cancer diagnosis. As others have said Leslie was amazing in her ability to remember where everyone was with their illness and treatment and always seemed to be there just when needed with support and wise advice. Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Christine in real life, I will miss her very much. Rest in peace Christine xx

This is so sad, she was such a help and seemed like a lovely person. I've name changed since my time on the cancer boards but she was a beacon of hope in a dark time. I'm sorry her time was short. Best wishes and condolences to her family

It's always sad when a life is cut short; Leslie's words helped more people than she ever knew, both those with cancer and inadvertently those caring for them (her words helped me understand even as I was reading the threads to my friend who had cancer).

I hope you're now at peace Christine

I guess we have to think: what would Leslie Knope do? It's an excellent approach to life, and death for that matter.

Leslie Knope would have a huge binder of thoughtful ideas,

she would organise a massive fundraising event for those in need,

she would eat some waffles,

she would put herself last behind the needs of everyone else and

she would relentlessly act in the way that was good and right, regardless of the shit surrounding her.

Maybe when we are going about our lives and trying to honour Christine, and other people we have loved, it would be good to be literal. What would Leslie Knope do?

How lucky we were to know her.

Bit lost for words at the mo, but I’ll always be so grateful for her love, support and relentless enthusiasm. Parks and Recs fans here too, loved it when she went from Ruby to Leslie.

She truly set the gold standard didn’t she? Younger than many on here, but we learnt so much.

Huge hugs to TQ. Thank you darling. We knew this day would come. We were never going to be ready.

Time What a lovely thoughtful post.

If her legacy is that some more people try and follow her example, then that's a good thing to come from her too short life. This is an inspirational thread, sad but so inspirational.

A truly amazing young woman who will be missed by many, many people. I am so grateful to her for keeping the cancer threads going. She was wise, funny, kind and inspiring.

Sending love to Christine’s family and friends. I too hope that they will be comforted a little by this thread
❤️

Time that is a lovely lovely post. I'll try to live up to that.

Amazing woman. RIP.

I'm so sorry to hear this news. She was very kind to me throughout DH's illness.

I have known Leslie /Christine for nearly 6 years now, I can't believe it has been that long. Always wise, kind, funny and with real integrity. I have met her a few times and her lovely Dad. I am so very sorry.

The world is a harsher colder place without her.

TQ We knew the time would come when you’d need to do this, it’s so sad for all of us & her wonderful family & other friends, but given we couldn’t change what was going to happen, I’m a little bit relieved she’s no longer ‘waiting to die’, no matter how positive you are that must be incredibly difficult to deal with. Our lovely, lovely young friend is already missed so much 🌷

Although I knew this news would come it is still so sad to read that Leslie will no longer be able to support all the lacies with her caring advice and kindness to all at vulnerable times in their lives. She will be long remembered with fondness.
Condolences to her parents sister and friends. I hope they realise that although she has left us she will live on through us all

Truly the loveliest lady. RIP leslie