Cathy Winkelsas

Carol Winkelsas

My mom, Carol Winkelsas, was truly the greatest mom ever. In May 2021, she wasn’t feeling well and had become very jaundiced, so she went to the ER. Doctors discovered she had a liver issue, and while treating it, they also checked her pancreas and found a spot. Soon after, she was diagnosed with stage 1b pancreatic cancer.

We quickly built a full care plan, and she was scheduled for the Whipple procedure in September 2021. In June, she began partial chemotherapy treatments, as she couldn’t undergo the full regimen until her liver had fully healed. Sadly, her body never recovered enough for her to complete chemotherapy. She grew weak and was admitted to a rehab facility to regain strength. Looking back, we believe that starting chemotherapy too soon may have shortened the time we had left with her.

On the afternoon of July 1st, I received a call from a panicked young nurse at the rehab facility. My mom’s blood pressure had dropped, and she was unresponsive. By the time I arrived at the hospital, my dad was already there. The doctor told us to call the rest of the family. Later that night, at around 11:45 p.m., my mom passed away, surrounded by the family who loved her deeply.

We miss her every single day. We share her stories constantly, carry her love with us, and will always hold her close in our hearts.