Honoring Elaine: A Legacy of Faith, Strength, and Grace

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Elaine has found her eternal home. After a lifetime of health battles, Elaine chose hospice care, finding comfort and peace after decades of unimaginable challenges. She was embraced in the arms of Jesus just before noon on October 23, 2024.

Elaine’s health struggles began at a young age, and doctors were unsure if she could even have children. But through perseverance and faith, she was blessed with two sons, Michael and Mark. Despite severe health complications, including the removal of her large intestine, gallbladder, and battling numerous hospital stays, blood clots, and other complications, Elaine dedicated over a decade of her life to caring for the elderly at a nursing home, and later, more than 3 decades to the students at Cornerstone School.

As her health deteriorated, Elaine was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare and devastating autoimmune disease that attacked her vital organs. This illness led to bile duct cancer and the need for not one but two liver transplants. The first liver transplant, in 2005, was a near-miraculous transformation. Elaine looked better than she had in years, but her joy was short-lived when the new liver was attacked by a virus and procedural complications, and she was put back on the transplant list. Miraculously, another liver became available, and Elaine received her second transplant just a year later. It gave her a new lease on life, allowing her to return to her beloved career in teaching and relish the precious moments spent with her grandchildren.

However, Elaine's battle was far from over. In the summer of 2023, doctors discovered a new, aggressive cancer in her kidneys that had metastasized into her lymph nodes. With her body already compromised by decades of autoimmune disease and liver transplants, the options were bleak. Chemo was a gamble: treating the cancer meant risking the rejection of her transplanted liver, and leaving the cancer untreated meant certain defeat. But in true Elaine fashion, she chose to fight. For more than a year, she endured grueling cycles of chemotherapy, each one bringing her back to the hospital, weakening her, yet buying a little more time with her family. She had to withdraw from teaching and leaving the home for anything aside from hospital visits and much of her time was spent sleeping (more than 18 hours a day) reducing her quality of life.

As her strength faded, her pain became unbearable. After decades of courageously enduring pain, she finally asked for comfort care and hospice, signaling that her journey was coming to an end. Elaine’s selflessness and bravery throughout this battle has been nothing short of remarkable.

Throughout this long battle, Elaine has never had comprehensive medical insurance and no opportunity for life insurance. She worked for a small private school, and while Randy’s insurance provided some relief, high premiums and the loss of coverage over the years left the family financially strained. They never asked for help during the decades of this journey, but now, as we move forward from her final chapter, we are asking for support to cover her funeral and final expenses.

For over 40 years, Randy and Elaine have loved each other through sickness and health, raising their family in a humble 850 sq. ft. home, putting their children and faith first. Randy, who has stood by Elaine through every hospitalization, every surgery, and every painful treatment, now faces the unthinkable—navigating life without his beloved wife. The medical bills, the funeral costs, and the emotional weight are staggering. Yet, throughout her entire journey, Elaine and Randy never asked for financial help. But now, as a family, we ask for support to ensure Elaine is honored in the way she deserves. Your donation will go directly to covering the costs of Elaine’s final expenses, easing the burden on Randy as he mourns the love of his life.

Please consider donating if you are able. Any amount will make a significant difference in helping Randy navigate this difficult time without the added financial burden. Your generosity will ensure that Elaine’s life is honored with dignity, and that her family can focus on healing.

Thank you for your kindness, your prayers, and your support during this painful time.

With love and gratitude,

The Sorenson Family