Sharon Sakai, R.I.P.

Sharon and Stan Sakai
Sharon and Stan Sakai

It has been totally expected for some time but it still jolts to hear that Sharon Sakai, beloved spouse of cartoonist Stan Sakai, died this morning. Stan announced it on his Facebook page like this…

Sharon passed away at 9:00 this morning.

She died exactly the way she wanted to — at home, surrounded by her family. Matthew flew home from up north, where he is going to school, yesterday.

Thank you all so much for your love, prayers and support.

Thus ends around ten years of love, prayers and support…and a superhuman effort on the part of Stan to take loving care of his life partner. This post should be about Sharon but I can't help note the incredible strength and devotion on the part of Stan. We should all wish that in a time of crisis, we could be that good.

One morning ten years ago, Sharon awoke and told Stan, "I can't hear anything out of my left ear." That was how it began. It tuned out to be a meningioma brain tumor — benign but large and inoperable. For a time, radiation therapy kept it from growing and doing further damage but in 2010, it started again. She experienced facial paralysis, impaired speech, dysfunctional body functions and massive weight loss. The last few months, she just laid in bed, sleeping most of the day and unable to communicate in those moments when she was awake. Once in a rare while, she could squeeze a visitor's hand in a way that suggested there was still a person in there.

I cannot, of course, speak for Sharon. I can say that if I had that happen to me, I would want it to end way before it got to that.

I can, however, speak of Sharon. She was a lovely, friendly lady who seemed to be the perfect fit for Stan. She supported him in his work and practically glowed at his successes and accomplishments. She raised a wonderful family and lit up any room she entered with a genuine, human smile. It has been so sad to see that smile go away.

As I said, this was not unexpected.  When I heard the news this morning, my first reaction was sadness, my second was the compassionate version of "Well, it's about time." Because this has been inevitable for too, too long and it was just so sad watching it happen from afar. Our hearts go out to Stan and those who had to watch it up close. It must have been awful because she was once so lovely and full of life.