Myra Lani Fisher November 12, 1949 - September 28, 2013

To all of you near and far, my family, friends and my great community of loved ones, it is with a full and happy heart that I want to thank all of you. You brought such richness, color and beauty to my life journey. Through your gifts of friendship, support, love and encouragement, you made this final journey full. Thank you for your smiles, your laughter, and your open and caring hearts. 

A special thank-you to my yoga communities across the world - Sisters, Bend, Black Butte, Hawaii and India. I am blessed having had the opportunity to discover my 'second career' and to share it with you while doing what I love most: to practice and teach yoga. 

I have been the recipient of great love and learning during my lifetime, and especially during my recent journey with a rare cancer. I intended for my passing to be a quiet affair, a non-event.

But the energy of a few people turned it into an exploration of life and death and in the process so many hearts were touched; so many lives changed.

It is my wish that my journey - my experiences with cancer and the documentation of my journey assisted by the wonderful support of the Sisters community - be a benefit to others walking in similar shoes. I hope that in the not-to-distant future, the shared stories from other patients and our collective real-world patient experiences may help guide and influence positive changes in the delivery of healthcare and support systems for all.

"In beauty I walk,

with beauty before me,

below me,

above me,

all around me."

-Navajo chant

In honor of the circle of life, I have established The Caroline Paskowski Spina Bifida Fund, in support of Bunny and Mark Thompson's newborn granddaughter, Caroline Cecilia Paskowski, born September 16, 2013 with spina bifida. This fund will be used to help children with disabilities so that they may grow strong and healthy in their lives. It is with deep gratitude that I request tributes in my memory to be made to:

The Caroline Paskowski Spina Bifida Fund, Bank of the Cascades Sisters Branch, PO Box 520, Sisters, OR 97759, 877-617-3400.