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HOPE Mentor, Flagstaff Laura’s first child, Kameha Erin (born: 2002), was a beautiful toddler who unexpectedly became very ill from RSV/pneumonia. One moment Kameha was dancing around the house in her red velvet dress and the next day she was having trouble breathing and things quickly and progressively got worse. Kameha was air lifted down to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and within days she was on life support. She was on the ECMO machine for over 20 days and in the end died from complications with the machine (death: 2005). Laura was 6 months pregnant with her son, Evan, when Kameha died. She subsequently had another daughter in 2007 and named her Olivia. Laura is an associate professor of communication at Northern Arizona University. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in health communication, research methods and theory. She loves studying and teaching communication because how we speak to each other shapes the quality of our lives. Laura lives in Flagstaff, AZ with her wonderful husband, Ken, and children (plus two dogs, two frogs, and eight fish). The death of a child is the ultimate deprivation. Kameha is missed dearly. Laura celebrates and honors her life everyday by remembering her and by reaching out and helping others who are grieving. |
