That is because I thought her best friends should know first. Blame me for not shouting it out to the world. I didn't think Karen would want any histrionics about this. Simply love and encouragement.
She's strong and has more gumption than most of us here!
Others? Please let me know how she can e-mail you thru my PM. Then We all can be updated by her friend.
Until later - j

I am so sad at a loss for words.

I was told today that Karen, (beglet, Kmeb) died today.

Many of us have known her for many years. She was ill with very severe autonomic neuropathy, probably due to amyloid, for many years, and was attached to the world through her beloved cats and her computer, and friends she met here, and some in RL.

I met Karen here, and while I have never met her in person, I feel touched and upset by her passing. For many years we corresponded outside of the board, through emails and phone calls, and the support went both ways.

I learned of her life, and it was one where she had great zest, and thrilled with life energy, until cut down with immobility and gastroparesis, misunderstood by family, and an independent woman in a dependent body.

At one point she mailed me two motorcycle jackets for which she no longer had a use, thinking I could use them. They were a wonderful gift, the jackets of a tough woman, a size 2 (which I could never wear, but kept in my closet, nonetheless), who I could picture racing cars and bikes.

I was not in close touch with her recently, as I was doing so much better, and found myself back in the world of the "well", more active in RL, and less on the board. But I feel guilty about this, like I wasn't there for her when she needed it, at the end, because I'm doing so well just now.

I know that her life was painful and difficult, and that this was surely a blessing for her, to finally be released from the straitjacket in which she was living. But it is sad that an old friend is gone. I will miss knowing she is there, with her cats and her computer and her spunk, chatting up her doctors, getting in their face, or charming them, as she could, either way.

Dahlek was a great friend to her always, and I know she appreciated her support tremendously.

I feel much of the same way as Liz. I wish I had done more for her.

I corresponded with Karen, outside of neurotalk, for several years, when we were trying to solve the puzzle of her AN, and also, when she went thru the upset of moving to her new place. I know how much she loved her cats.

We lost touch the last few years, and I only heard from her a few times in the recent past. I'm heartbroken over her passing. I guess I assumed things were fine, I guess they weren't.

She was really a wonderful person, with a huge heart. I know she suffered so much over the last few years, and she was not one to complain.

Rest in peace, my friend.

I am so sorry to read this

She had asked her user name here to be changed to beglet a while back.
I have put an "In Memorium" on her profile

Our deepest sympathy

--on what Liza Jane and the others have said here; I also knew and corresponded with her for a long time, as we all worked on her physiological puzzle, and I hope she has found some pain-free peace at last.

Having also only corresponded with her intermittently over the last few years, I have been shocked and reminded to catch up with some long-time posters who don't come around her much anymore. (Think I'll be sending some e-mails.)

Rest in Peace


i did not know kmeb personally but did talk to her a few times in private message and of course over the years her messages on here. she battled valiantly her disease and did the best she could with the hand she was dealt. she had an incredible medical burden to bear and now is at peace.