My name is Philip. I am the third child in our family of five children. My sister Karen was the oldest of the five. I have spent a lot of time during this past more than two weeks, crying and trying to get a scan of the painting Karen did for me, titled “My Family.” It is the only piece of art from Karen than I have and it has always been put in a place of honour in the apartment or dorm or “hotel room” that I live in. I have not been successful in getting a scan of it to show you. I apologize. My sister Karen was one of the few people in my life in whom I could confide. I have had a much harder life than most know about, but my sister was always there for me, helping to solve what I felt was unsolvable; helping me with her enthusiasm, to reach for a futher goal that I felt was just beyond my reach. After mom died, Karen became the rock for the family to rest on. She was always positive and kind. I tried to put together a trip to Canada for this summer so she could meet my wife and see me once again. She always said that I didn’t come home often enough. The trip was cancelled as I do need to have the final surgery to close the hole in my side and the doctors were talking about surgery this summer. Thus I had to cancel the trip as having surgery will not allow me to travel. Karen knew that I do what I do to try to make a better world for all to live in. I have long held the belief that China holds many of the keys to our world’s future. She encouraged me to do what I felt was the best that I could do to leave this world a better place. I will miss Karen so very much and I know you, all of you, will join me in this feeling. Karen was special and we knew that she was and will always be in a special place in our hearts.

Rest In Peace my sister,

Love

Philip