I remember the first time I heard of Kirstie, it was after my transplant referral had been sent off to Harefield. We were hungry for information and knowledge about transplants and esp as she had CF and that's exactly what we found in Kirstie!
We found her blog and it was just as her programme "love on the transplant list" was about to be aired on BBC!
I couldn't wait to see it, I wanted to know everything, and wow I was defo thrown in the deep end with her story!
After that and following her blog like I'm sure many others, I had Alot of questions I wanted to ask too! This was just before my first assessment and I was so nervous and freaking out about it all. I was 21 and dealth was heading my way!
So like I did back then I contacted Kirstie via Facebook inbox, wasn't expecting much as I knew she would probably be inundated with messages, but she replied to me, and after some back and fourth messages I felt she's the type of person I could get! Just connect with! There's wasn't any bullshitting with K but was beyond supportive!!
And that's when Kirstie Tancock came into my life and will never leave me!!
Kirstie had been so supportive to me and we became good friends, she was one of the first people to visit me after my transplant in hdu and she lite up the room even though I felt like shit! Haha she made it all feel so normal all the bits no1 warns you about she told me how normal it was and instantly put my mind at ease about the start of my recovery!
I remember before the transplant I once found out I had anti bodies and started having a melt down thinking I would never get lungs to match me now and she rung me up straight away on her way to teach a pole class and told me it was all going to be ok, she had really high anti bodies for her second tx and yet she got the chance.
She always had a way of making a bad situation good, and I will always admire her for her strength of that!
You think facing death would be one of those things that no1 could accept, but Kirstie not only accepted but she taught it a lesson!!
Today was a true reflection of that, it was the first funeral I have been too (and I have been to ALOT) that I can honestly say it was absolutely her funeral, it's like she was in the background with a speaker in everyone's ear saying right you next, do this, do that!
And in true Kirstie style she performed and shined!
From start to end the funeral was amazing? Is that weird to say that? I was in uncontrollable tears and in fits of laughter! Her coffin was beautiful with pink and aqua fading clouds with black silhouette of tinker bell and the kids from Peter Pan flying holding hands and in writing it said "F*** this world, I'm going to never land"
It made me laugh and cry at the same time!
Her little baby dog Kia was also at the service which brought me to tears. She cried and barked at parts!
The people she wanted in the chapel were given gorgeous butterfly's to wear for us to sit inside.
And the programme for the funeral was planned out perfect. As you can see in the pics.
She had live singers, her own written poem, and her lovely sister read out bits, and her amazing husband Stuart was brave to read something from him too.
All in all very emotionally day! But something I felt honoured to see! And only Kirstie would have an itv reporter run the service and a live stream of the funeral for people to watch! True Kirstie style!
She then also had a pole dancing performance and singers at the wake and news reporters!
I have to say it was very unique but she would have loved it!
There aren't enough words to say how amazing this girl was and always will be tonne and so so so many others. She done so much work raising awareness for so many good causes!
She also taught me that pole dancing isn't just for strippers! And actually it's a beautiful art form and incredible to do!
We will continue the work she started and her legacy will live on!
We won't stop until organ donation is the norm and people know everything you need to know! If it wasn't for organ donation her life wouldn't have been saved twice! And thanks to my donor I wouldn't have even had the chance to know her and meet her and have a friend!!
She spoke to me about the end when we were in hospital together, but I always hoped it wouldn't happen this soon, we all have a sell by date but Kirstie seemed untouchable!
If I have learnt anything from Kirstie is to live your dreams and continue to set yourself goals and don't be afraid to push yourself!
Life is for living we aren't just here to exist!!
It was also lovely to spend the day with my mum, we dressed up in pink for Kirstie!
And to spend the day with charlotte and hannah and to meet the lovely Sophie.
To watch the live stream for 7 days of Kirstie funeral, here is the information. It will need to be watched a computer or laptop.
to watch the service via the internet.
Www.wesleymedia.co.uk
Go to webcasts
Username : 12201
Password: prcpuwzm
