Regine's Book (29 page)

I'm thinking about my family having to go through all of this. It's so awful to think about. It's not just my life that's being ruined. I really don't know how I'm going to get through the next few days. I really don't know.

In total, 1,165 readers sent Regine their encouragement after this entry. Here's a small selection:

Regine…This is so, so sad to hear! I've been reading your blog for so long now…through all the ups and downs…I feel so close to everything, as if I knew you. I often think of you. I'm a nursing student and I meet a lot of people with the same diagnosis as yours at the hospital, and so this seems especially real to me now. This is all so unfair!!!

—
Anonymous

Don't be afraid. Remember that you're unique, and totally one-of-a-kind. Special people like you, Regine, survive everything. You have to fight tooth and nail on your way to getting well. Hang in there; you're fantastic.

You also take incredible photos. You're an artist, Regine, and you'll go far with your art. It's a subject you should consider pursuing when you start university. Your art and creativity are unique. With your amazing talent, you'll get far in life. Fight, Regine, FIGHT. We all love you very much. A big warm hug from everyone to you, Regine. ♥

—
Anne Marie

Dear Regine,

You've made your way through your short life, and moved people all over the country in the process. You've changed people's attitudes, thoughts, and values—you've touched us with the stinging, painful, and profound stories from your life. Thank you so much! No one
knows where your path will lead next, but there are a lot of us who keep you, your family, and your friends in our thoughts. It's a small consolation, I realize that, but still…

—
Many warm thoughts from Hanna

This is difficult stuff, Regine. With all the bad news you and your family have received lately, I hope that your doctors have offered you the option of professional counseling. Your entire family is tough, but what you're going though is brutal. The good thing is that you've been faced with similar issues before, and impressively enough you still found happiness afterward. I'm following the suggestion of the person who proposed that we think of you every morning and evening at eight o'clock. It can't hurt, anyway. Say hi to your parents.

—
Bengt E.

I love you!

—
Sofsen

Dear Regine,

You're the same age as my youngest daughter, and thinking about what you must be going through is just heartbreaking. I sympathize with you and your closest family and friends who probably feel so incredibly helpless right now. No matter what happens, you've accomplished so much more than most other people do in the course of a normal life span. You've moved the entire country. You've brought out empathy and emotions in total strangers, Regine. That's a huge accomplishment. There were 500 people who commented on your last post, and we don't know how many others also read the news and cried.

Don't underestimate your body's power to heal itself. You have to believe it's possible; you have to imagine that you're healthy and
strong! I'm going to participate in the vigil for you, and I also light a candle each night at eight pm. It's been decided, Regine: You'll be the second person to go into remission from this treatment.

—
Ase

It says “Face your fear” when we click on your blog, and you've shown the whole country that, true to your word, you're really staring down your biggest fear now that the chips are down. You need to know that there are thousands of people thinking about you, and that YOU'RE NOT alone!

Friends and strangers alike are impressed by you, and love what you've done (and who you've shown yourself to be) on your blog.

You're not going anywhere. Long live Regine Stokke—the girl who faced her fear.

—
Thea

You've shared your words, thoughts, fears, and smiles with us all. And there are many, many people in this country who you have moved to tears. If only our thoughts could make you well…

You have, in any case, gotten me to think a lot about how lucky I am to be healthy, and you've made me think more about what I can do to help. Thanks to you, I'm now a blood and bone marrow donor. I'M THINKING OF YOU AND HOPING FOR THE BEST!!

—
Angelique

I'm crying.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't do anything but hope.

My life hasn't been the same since I started reading your blog, close to a year ago now.

You're incredible!

—
Ida

Regine!

You don't know how beautiful you are. You've melted the hearts of thousands of people out here, including me.

You've inspired a 37-year-old dad to become a blogger, and you've made a 37-year-old father shed real, honest tears.

Do you know what? I've got young children, and they've asked me why their dad never cries. I'm a father, and I cry. But I'm probably like most men: I can only cry when my children can't see me.

But now they've seen that their daddy
can
cry, and do you know why? They've seen me crying because I've read your whole blog…You have an amazing power to awaken feelings in other people, Regine.

I've told them about you and your disease. They want me to say hello from them. They're also thinking of you.

You've done so much with your blog—you have no idea.

You've made it easier for people to talk about serious diseases. You've made it easier to understand what life is like for seriously ill people.

One of my kids is often very sick, so I know what it's like to be in your family's shoes.

Take in all the love that people send to you, Regine. It's real, and we're really thinking about you.

You're probably scared to death. You're worn out and tired, but I have a belief burning inside me: Everything will work out in the end; everything will get better.

The fact that one person has made it before means that it's worth trying. It will be wonderful when the doctors can say that not one, but two people have now made it.

I believe in you, Regine. You're obviously stronger than most people. I have faith that this will work.

Regine…you're so important. You're courageous and persistent. You're an inspiration without equal, and you're such a beautiful human being.

You show the true fullness of life in yoaur blog. You capture the vividness of the world in your photos. You're so vital, so full of life that I can't see how life could ever be taken away from you.

Take care of yourself, Regine, and do everything you can to keep your hope alive.

A warm greeting from someone who admires you, and will admire you forever.

—
A 37-year-old dad

Regine's poem generated 200 comments. Most of them contained high praise and were filled with adjectives like beautiful, lovely, and powerful.

It's wonderful how much you have inside you, Regine. Just think of how much you've done, and how much you've provided for other people! The list includes:

1. your descriptive and (for us readers) informative blog posts,
   
2. artful, high-quality photographs, and
   
3. a fantastically compelling poem that I just had the honor of reading.
   

You've augmented your surroundings with intelligence, art, and inspiration. You've offered more than healthy people EVER give. It's Incredible to think of how much you've done—even while fighting this battle.

It's only fair that you get back some of the magic that you've put out into the world. It's only fair that you achieve your goal (and our dream for you): a long life.

—
Bengt

Hi there! Every day when I turn on my PC, the first thing that I do is check your blog. What's happening? Where is she? What's she doing, what's she thinking, what does she wish for, what's she feeling? And when you don't post anything, I get anxious.

Everyone is hoping you'll get good news soon! The poem you wrote is beautiful, Regine…You're so talented. Katrine, Camilla, Kristiina, and I talk about you often, and never stop thinking about you and wishing you well! We're with you!

I went to take tests to see if I could become a blood donor after you encouraged us, and do you know what? They need my blood type, so I'll get going with that on Tuesday. They said there were many people who registered here in Kristiansund after you asked them to give blood! THAT'S ALL THANKS TO YOU! Well, say hello to your family, and keep it up.

—
Hugs from Marianne

Regine's brutally honest description of her situation generated 415 comments. The psychologist's comment was representative of a large group of grateful readers. And Thea and Proben's comment represented a large group who were left speechless:

We're completely speechless. This is really hard to read. But we still hope that the tide will turn, and that things will start to get better soon.

Is there anything we can do…anything at all?

As we said, we're speechless, but we're thinking a lot about you and your family!!

—
Thea & Proben

No, Regine. You didn't die a year ago. This fantastic and impressive blog isn't the work of someone who's died. It's the work of someone who's alive and very talented—someone with a strong will to live. And it's written by one of the strongest and most impressive people I know.

If best wishes, crossed fingers and toes, prayers, and hope could get rid of the disease that's taken up residence in you, the disease would have lost a long time ago. But unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

Regine, thank you for giving so much of yourself to those of us who are sitting on the sidelines, hoping and praying for a miracle.

With a big hug from me to you.

—
CSG

Dear Regine,

I've been following your blog for a long time but never written any comments. I'm an aspiring psychologist and, of course, a fellow human being, and I've experienced some incredible happiness and some incredible sorrow in my life.