{"id":337,"date":"2026-08-13T02:00:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T02:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/?p=337"},"modified":"2026-08-16T12:48:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:48:53","slug":"so-what-had-happened-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/?p=337","title":{"rendered":"So What Had Happened Was&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"337\" class=\"elementor elementor-337\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29c1df6d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"29c1df6d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8fe839 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b8fe839\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c285ade elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c285ade\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hi all.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0been\u00a0almost a\u00a0year since we kicked off Dagger\u00a0Dames\u00a0and most of that\u00a0time\u00a0we&#8217;ve\u00a0been away from the table \u2013 and you deserve to know why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the fall,\u00a0Rishara, our Katari druid played by Karen, had to call out because of a cough. The cough persisted and we decided to restart in the new year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-339 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rishara-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before Thanksgiving, Karen sent me messages from the hospital ending with some of her test results. She asked me to tell the Dames that she had stage 4 lung cancer that has\u00a0metastasized to\u00a0her liver. She began chemotherapy treatment and after her first round,\u00a0everything had\u00a0shrunk\u00a0and things were looking positive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Karen and I\u00a0had purchased\u00a0VIP tickets to Echoes of\u00a0Exandria\u00a0in Atlanta, the live Critical Role show here on May 26. The news in February, after her\u00a0first round of treatment, was great and we continued to work on our cosplay (she was going as\u00a0Lieve&#8217;tel\u00a0Toluse and me as\u00a0Ioun, the Knowing Mistress). She started another round of treatment as\u00a0the spring\u00a0started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The end of May is a busy time in Atlanta. School gets out for the year, Memorial Day, and\u00a0MoMoCon. Add to that the Critical Role crew being at the Con and doing a live show, it was very hectic for Critters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The week before\u00a0MomoCon, Karen and I talked about the results after her next round of chemo. It\u00a0wasn&#8217;t\u00a0good. Everything\u00a0had\u00a0grown. The cancer was in her brain, liver, lungs, and bones. The week\u00a0of Momo, I talked her into foregoing the cosplay (I\u00a0didn&#8217;t\u00a0want her carrying the weight of a costume nor the stress and fuss of it) and getting a hotel room near the venue of the show. She said her doctors had suggested talking to her family about end-of-life planning. Because I\u00a0am arranging my mother&#8217;s estate, I gave her some tips. She told me that it\u00a0wasn&#8217;t\u00a0for\u00a0<strong>now<\/strong>, just to\u00a0have\u00a0in mind. There were other treatment options. It was going to be okay.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Saturday\u00a0she wrote to tell me that she was back in the hospital and would not be able to make the show.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Monday\u00a0before the show, her daughter texted to tell me that they were sending Karen home on hospice as there was nothing else to be done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gassouthdistrict.com\/assets\/img\/0526-Deluth-CriticalRole-355x330-015d529a36.jpg\" alt=\"Critical Role LIVE: Atlanta | Gas South District\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I went to the show and felt like she was sitting on my shoulders. If you are a Critter, like Daggerheart, or both,\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Huyp6p36GkY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">you should\u00a0watch the show<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The next\u00a0morning\u00a0I had to go to Michigan to be with\u00a0family. As the drive started out, Karen&#8217;s daughter wrote to tell me that her mom\u00a0was not able to\u00a0go\u00a0home\u00a0and &#8220;it&#8221; would happen in the hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I got a text at 1:07 pm saying she had left us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Karen became one of my closest friends in the last 5 years\u00a0as I was her DM over 3 campaigns.\u00a0\u00a0Our daughters are engaged and I get to be here to see my daughter be a bride. I am doing everything I can to be an Auntie for Karen&#8217;s children.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There\u00a0is\u00a0a lot of\u00a0emotion\u00a0that\u00a0we&#8217;re\u00a0processing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Her health was the first challenge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And now we are navigating our emotions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the coming weeks, I am going to talk about Karen. I am also going to talk to Holly, the 3rd of our\u00a0trio\u00a0about the evolution of our party.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know no one wants to talk to smokers about not smoking. Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do. But, friends, saying goodbye to friends hurts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Having to help a friend&#8217;s child as she\u00a0gets married hurts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sucks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Nat 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We&#8217;re\u00a0going to lick our wounds for another couple\u00a0weeks. And then\u00a0we&#8217;re\u00a0going to get back to the table.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When Karen told us she was sick, she said, &#8220;I think you&#8217;re\u00a0gonna\u00a0have to kill Rishara&#8221;.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And we refused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I continue to refuse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Stay tuned to\u00a0find\u00a0the ways\u00a0Rishara\u00a0impacts\u00a0our story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And, if you smoke, please try stopping. If you love\u00a0a smoker, ask them to quit and keep asking. A site that may be being overlooked by our current administration is\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/smokefree.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/smokefree.gov\/<\/a>\u00a0Use it while you can.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let&#8217;s\u00a0keep rolling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And\u00a0let&#8217;s\u00a0never stop forgetting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Love you all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hi all.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0been\u00a0almost a\u00a0year since we kicked off Dagger\u00a0Dames\u00a0and most of that\u00a0time\u00a0we&#8217;ve\u00a0been away from the table \u2013 and you deserve to know why.\u00a0 In the fall,\u00a0Rishara, our Katari druid played by Karen, had to call out because of a cough. The cough persisted and we decided to restart in the new year.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Before Thanksgiving, Karen [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[40,30,39],"class_list":["post-337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gm","tag-cancer","tag-dames-at-heart","tag-rishara"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=337"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":357,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337\/revisions\/357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damesatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}