A stranger might have assumed that a recent Celebration of Life at Abbotsford Pentecostal Assembly was for a political or entertainment celebrity. The spacious main floor of the sanctuary was crowded to capacity In a sense, popular Abbotsford blogger Kristin Erickson was a celebrity, but not for the usual reasons. She was a 41 year old wife, and the mother of 4 children.

On October 29, 2012 she was told she had cancer, and began writing in a wonderfully engaging and poignant manner about her battle against the illness. She wrote of excruciating pain, of radiation and chemotherapy, of surgery to remove a kidney, of her love for her husband and children and the joyous moments with them, of her trust in God, and much more.

Like thousands of her readers, I never met Kristin, but came to feel I knew her.  In the relatively brief time of her illness, there were approximately 150,000 visits to her blog, ( which you can find at canadiankristinconnected.blogspot.ca). In spite of the tests, many days lying in a hospital bed, the numbing pain, her diminishing strength, she had a powerful desire to communicate with readers.

To the end, she was determined to spend quality time with her husband and children. She expressed deep appreciation for the support of family and friends. She praised doctors and nurses for their attention and care. Repeatedly, her trust in God and her love for people crept into her writing.

She battled on courageously to the end, always clinging to hope, never allowing bitterness to overshadow her predominantly positive message. Kristin’s love of life and people, her humour and courage inspired readers around the globe. Many responded with notes of appreciation and encouragement.

She leaves behind a legacy that many celebrities would envy.