Kirasupdates

This page is dedicated to Kira’s Journey and fight with inoperable & cancerous brain tumor. OK, a lot of people are asking when/how this all happened. Thank you!

This page is for friends, family and supporters of Kira and her fight with brain cancer. This started Friday 11-3-17. We learned of the diagnosis 11-9-17…

Many people following this that are friends of Robert’s (dad), Wendy’s (mom) or Kira’s (Baby girl). Just wanted to give an idea how this played out. If You want, you can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/helpkirafight or directly to my paypal

account (no fees) @ [email protected]. Her Timeline:

Late September - Kira complained about double vision. We took her to an optometrist and they prescribed her new contacts. We know it sometimes takes a while to adjust so we gave it a little time but the double vision did not improve. Friday, Nov 3 – Kira complained of a bad headache which continued through the weekend. We made attempts to manage it with OTC meds, rest, dehydration, etc

Monday, Nov 6 – Wendy took Kira to urgent care because Kira still had the headache and was feeling dizzy. The urgent care doctor suggested that we call our primary care physician and make an appointment to either do an MRI (he was concerned more about the double vision) or have the doctor do a migraine “workup”. He told us to take Excedrin Migraine – which actually seemed to relieve her pain that night. Tuesday, Nov 7 – Kira woke up feeling dizzy again and the headache had returned. Wendy took her to the ER. The ER doctor did bloodwork to check for infection, cell counts, etc. All good. He recommended we keep our appointment for the general practice doctor (which I had scheduled for 2:30 that day). He suggested that the general doctor order an MRI. Same day, Tuesday, Nov 7 – General doctor visit. The doctor said he was concerned about the double vision and ordered an MRI stat. The imaging place could not make an appointment for us until Friday (ironically today – the day I’m writing this timeline). We went home and tried to manage the headache and rest. Wednesday, Nov 8 – Kira woke up nauseous and with a headache. She experienced slurred speech and dizziness and spinning. Wendy called the general doctor’s office and they told her to go directly to the ER (again). Same day, Wednesday, Nov 8 – Went to the ER in Encinitas. The ER doctor did a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to test for meningitis. Those results came back negative. The ER doctor ordered an MRI which they did. After a long while of waiting, the doctor relayed the findings of the MRI to Wendy. Large mass in the base of the brain that appeared to be malignant. (side note: Robert had been in AZ for a work conference during all of this. He was not due back in San Diego until Saturday. He sped back home in Kira’s car (she coincidentally just bought that was in AZ)

Wednesday to the ER and arrived just after receiving this news about the tumor. He may have driven so fast that he broke the car :-/)

Same night, Wednesday, Nov 8 – transferred by ambulance to Rady Children’s Hospital ICU. They did another, more comprehensive MRI around 10pm. The doctors were gone for the night. Thursday, Nov 9 – Team of doctors, social workers, nurses and life specialists informed us that it was indeed a cancerous tumor. We have since been sorting through a flood of information about cancer, brain tumors, clinical trials, biopsies, pain management, quality of life, etc. Thank you to everyone for all your support and referrals and research and snacks and prayers and hums and positive vibes. Your positive energy is felt and appreciated.

08/26/2026

80th 25th… random things that have happened this month…

- Told Kira’s entire story to my building manager

- it was my dad’s birthday on the 17th…. I realize I’m 6 years younger now than he was when he passed… go cowboys.

- today is Serra’s bday ❤️❤️❤️

- i ended up in urgent care this morning getting X-rays - I’m ok. But my boss did loan me a cane.

- dolly passed today ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

- i dreamt that i was incapacitated a few days ago and i was trying to determine what letters to write should my hands be weak so that those close to me would go ahead and let me die… came up with FMLLOL… a couple people now know what any version of that means.

- many, many people have told me they have felt kira ‘around’ a lot

- told a complete stranger on one of many planes all about Kira - she was sitting there next to me with her daughter who was obviously struggling with some sickness - she was taking selfies with her… so I introduced myself and started showing her my selfies with Kira on planes

- there was a fire in my building and I had to do serious acrobatics to get Olive out (she’s fine) but the only thing I was stressing about while sitting outside with the fire trucks blaring everywhere is that I didn’t grab Kira’s ashes

- I spent hours and hours staying up way too late trying not to be skeptical about where the world is headed with my sweet Sonya

- I am in Milwaukee for the 3rd time this month and have a new reverence for the pavement

Oh… and this…. I accidentally stumbled upon an audio recording of Kira crying and begging to just let her die 5 days before she actually did…. I had never heard it before. And I certainly wasn’t looking for it…

Gutted.

Just gutted.

I would have walked to the water today… if I could walk…

But all in all, things are good. I’m the most tired than I can remember being. Had a really good conversation with my guy the other day and it all just came pouring out - not the first time that’s happened - just the most recent… should probably find a new therapist that I haven’t already told what’s wrong with me 🙂

Miss my girl.

Hope all is well… love and hugs ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟

08/19/2026

I miss my girl hard today… nothing momentous… no anniversary… my chest feels empty… and I miss my girl…. ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟

07/26/2026

79th 25th… I had a dream 2 nights ago that it was the 25th and I was on the side of a hill of some unfamiliar planet trying to figure out how to do my Kira ritual… the dream seemed to last forever. I was determined to make it happen… but I couldn’t find a flat surface or anything to help me create the heart, the K and the month number… I was climbing all over this hill and it was very rocky… I thought for sure I could find something to put it together… but everything I picked up just wouldn’t work or it crumbled in my hands or was too heavy or wasn’t the right shape…. I was cutting my fingers and slipping and falling and skinning my knees…. The sun was going down and in this dream, that was like an hourglass - once there was no light, it would be too late… and I felt panicked. I kept looking around and trying so hard to figure it out… but I couldn’t… it was like my brain stopped working… and then I woke up… there was no ending to the dream - it just stopped.

After I don’t know how many hours traveling yesterday and delayed flights and airplane mechanical failures and sitting on the runway, then returning to the gate, sitting more and deplaning and walking 50 gates to sit more and finally board a different plane, I eventually got home at 2:30am. I had planned to go to La Jolla today, but the day just started slipping away and I’m wiped.

I found things tonight to do my ritual…

Miss my girl so very, very much.

❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟

06/26/2026

78th 25th ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

girls eating Wendy's for dinner. Very cute and funny.

05/25/2026

77th 25th…. There is something very special about this video… we were both listening and sharing the experience simultaneously…. I was impressed that she loved this song… but it was along with her friend, Charlie Poole, that she was experiencing this little trip down a music lane that she wasn’t exactly born on… I love this moment so much. We shared so much plane time. I supposed it’s no surprise that I’m on a plane today, May 25, thinking of my girl as I often do when I’m on a plane. We flew so much during her treatment. Even the week before she was diagnosed, we were on a plane to Wisconsin for my sister’s wedding - which is where I’m headed now - for work… years later… I went to see the Michael movie last weekend - which I have opinions about and didn’t know what to expect when I went. I grew up with the Jackson 5 and with Michael Jackson and all the things that went along with that - verses people who may just be being introduced to that whole sh*tshow now - no offense. But I love this moment either way with my girl…. Another 25th… half the people in my life don’t even know what this is about anymore. Strange world. But I know… I know exactly what the 25th is to me… I treasure those who have been with me on this journey and those who are just learning a still loving deeply. Thank you always to all of you… forever and always ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟

04/25/2026

76th 25th… so I sold my place in La Jolla - where I lived for the last 7 years… where Kira said she was going to heal, where I experienced the EMTs carry her out on a gurney in one of the scariest days of my life… where I sat in solitude during Covid right after Kira’s passing… where I have cried the hardest tears I’ve ever cried…. Soul shattering despair where I don’t think I could feel closer to the ground without sinking straight to the middle of the earth. I moved from La Jolla to Little Italy in San Diego… a 2bdrm / 2 bath to pretty much an efficiency. I left my job of 12 years and am now the CEO of a law firm in Milwaukee. This all happened in less than 6 weeks. A lot of change. I love where I live - I love the new opportunity I have been given work-wise - I never thought I’d start over professionally… but here I am and I’m intimidated, feel a little imposter syndrome and live in a completely different place. I’m not even that far from where I used to live - but it feels like a plane ride away. Everything is different. Today, I went out for a walk (which is a great thing about Little Italy) and there was an art walk. There were so many beautiful things on display. I love art - I have way more art than I have wall space - hands down…. A whole quarter of my living room is filled with art where I have no idea where it will land… some I just love, some from Zane, some from Sonya, some from other friends or family. But, I came across an artist today from Mexico who had a peice that I loved - it’s Frida. Of course it is the 25th. And it’s not paint. It’s not sketch… it’s straw art… which I have never seen before. I met Edgar - the artist. The technique is very meticulous and really incredible. I don’t know where it will end up. But, it’s mine now and it’s perfect. I don’t know how these 25ths will be now that I don’t live near the beach - although I do live near the port… so, there’s water. So much change in so little time and yet… it’s all the same really. Love and hugs to you all… thank you as always for your continued support and encouragement. This is a time of change and adjustment… all in the right direction. I’m eternally grateful for this journey and the lessons along with it.

❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

03/26/2026

75th 25th… Kira has always reminded me of Frida… those forever eyes, their beastmode grit, love of art, their determination through struggle, those brows! their style, their similar life’s journeys, their natural magnetism and intense impact on so many who knew them and those who didn’t… and just sassy, sassy, sassy… I have Frida art and portraits through my house because, well, they’re beautiful and they just are a vibe I love…. Today, I was out and of course there was a woman with a giant Frida tattoo on her arm… of course there was ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

Miss my girl…

03/08/2026

Just cause I was browsing through old photos/videos… ❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

02/27/2026

74th 25th (except it’s the 26th)…. Big heavy sigh… I think this is the first 25th that a 25th has past and I missed it…

I’m sick - not sure exactly what’s wrong… the internet says I have cancer or an std or some sort of terminal illness - but I’m pretty sure it’s just a very bad cold and a pretty decent level of work/life stress and no sleep…

and I just now realized it’s the 26th… *gulp*

No way am I making it to the beach today - although it’s really pretty outside…

So, I’ll just leave some photos that made me smile as I looked at them - Kira wouldn’t be upset that I missed yesterday. I know that. And if I weren’t such an emotional crybaby when I get sick, I’d probably be more ok with it than it feels in the moment…

Love and hugs 🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟

01/26/2026

73rd 25th… I woke up this morning with my kitty, Olive, snuggled all next to me, purring… as happens every morning since she came into my world… i tell her every night, let’s go, time for night night… and she does and she sleeps with me all night until i wake up, scoot around her, cover her gently with the blanket while i start my day.

Since Kira was little, she often slept with me… but especially, as a teenager, she slept in my bed with me regularly. Often it started in the evening and we would watch Say Yes to the Dress or Chopped or Frazier or Ink Masters or True Blood or or or… and she and I would both crash out… I would inevitably wake up either in the middle of the night or just earlier than her and just watch her… I fell in love with those moments… she was gangly and restless and talked in her sleep… and she giggled the giggliest giggle sometimes and my heart would just burst. Before and after her diagnosis, I knew I wanted to memorize her sleeping. Her sweet breathing, her snuggling (or punching) me, her porcelain skin, the little freckle on her cheek, her changing facial expressions as she dreamt, her fabulous eyebrows, her everything. I knew it was perfection. I never wanted to forget those quiet, peaceful, beautiful moments… just her and me… and the awe of her life and the luck of mine…

My sweet kitty is a completely different animal (literally), but she reminds me of these moments and, for that, I am so grateful.

❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️🤟❤️

Address

Encinitas, CA

Website

https://www.gofundme.com/helpkirafight

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