Funky Winkerbean - Lisa's BC

djd · September 2007

I am guessing that Lisa is going to succumb to BC in October, to coincide with BC awareness month.

Even though it's just a comic strip, it feels very real and Lisa's journey rings so true with the sisters we have lost here. Cry

NoH8 · September 2007

I haven't heard of this comic strip... can tell me more please

Sandra1957 · September 2007

Well, then I am glad that I only know what I've read about here and haven't followed the strip. It'll be another sucker-punch in the gut when Lisa goes. Thanks for the heads-up.

JustOne · September 2007

I realize it's just a comic strip, but Lisa and I were dx at the same time almost 8yrs ago and I followed her story. We went through 'things' at the same time, and as stupid as it sounds, I thought if Lisa was doing well than so would I. When she was dx with a recurrence, it made me so sad. I will miss her so much, she feels like a friend to me. I do think the writer is doing a great and truthful job of Lisa's dying, but it's still hard to watch/read.

~Pam

bonny1963 · September 2007

amy. I have read this strip years ago but it isn't in our local paper. I haven't been following it. I just looked it up and read the past few weeks. It is so sad. I copied the link for you. It is to a paper in Seattle. (I think) Anyway, you can read it too. See ya, Bonny

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/funky.asp?date=20070925

abbadoodles · September 2007

They call that a comic strip?

Tina

NoH8 · September 2007

Thanks bonny! I'm going to start from the beginning. If anyone else wants to here's the link http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/fwinker/about.htm .

I think it's a great idea to talk about breast cancer in lots of different mediums like a comic to reach more people.

Anonymous · September 2007

There's just sometimes that some of us just can't go to that "dark place." Losing Shelli was horrible. Losing other gals on this board is horrible. Now it gets personal. My daughter's stepmother-in-law will succumb to this disease. And I think back before I had bc or was even concerned about it how many women that died from this.

Yes, it's great to talk about bc in different medium when one feels like facing the depressing outcome. At least depressing with this particular comic strip. Right now I can't go there. Cry

Shirley

Anonymous · September 2007

I never read this strip before but am intrigued and will follow your link, Amy...thanks.

I also googled the comic to see if it appeared in any of my local papers and found an article that claims the comic strip's author, Tom Batiuk underwent surgery for prostate cancer in January of this year and his experience prompted him to give the character a recurrence.

~Marin

hooptiedoo · September 2007

It bothers me to read the strip, yet I just can't stop. Lisa is such a wonderful "person" and I've always liked her. I want to know what happens to her.

Both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law died of breast cancer (ironically I'm the only one in my family who's had it) and the storyline just now is bringing back memories of their final days. The comic is very real in every sense.

I may not be able to read the story to the end for that reason, but I think Tom Batiuk has shown a lot of courage for presenting Lisa's story. And she is dying with such dignity!

NoH8 · September 2007

Marin Lisa is based on a real person, who had a recurrence and died so probably his own cancer pushed the timing of "Lisa's". There's a book called Lisa's story of the first comics fron 1999-2000 and a new one with a release date of Sept 30th (Sunday) to finish telling her story. My guess is that she'll die before the books comes out otherwise it would "spoil" the daily comics.

I was captivated reading all of the comics. Batiuk really captured many of the subtle nuances of the cancer experience for me.

Fireweed · September 2007

The author has already talked about this. He finished this thread quite a while ago and Lisa will die in October. I keep hoping for a few more days!

ADK · October 2007

Lisa will pass on Thursday.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003646748

Sandra1957 · October 2007

The fact that Lisa is survived by a 5 year old daughter makes me angry. It makes me sad and teary. This should not happen in real life, but maybe the comic strip will open some eyes to the reality that many young families face every day.

TerryNY · October 2007

I have read this strip from the beginning and with each passing day, I experience more sadness but I can't stop reading it.

Batiuk discusses reactions from readers and his reasoning for tackling this difficult topic in the funny pages on his website.

I'll see if I can link it:

www.funkywinkerbean.com

Pharmmom · October 2007

I have been reading this faithfully. Its like a train wreck. I get so upset but I have to see how Lisa is every morning (as crazy as it sounds). I know she will pass on Thursday. That she has lost her vision had me in tears yesterday. I am feeling so sad because I know it was based on a real person. I don't know where I have been but I just found out the other day about Shelli. That was like a punch in the stomach. What a beautiful girl with a beautiful family. Makes me so upset.

Barb

TerryNY · October 2007

I hope this is some small consolation but I have yet to find any confirmation that Lisa is something other than a comic strip character.

I've read the cartoonist's web site, read numerous articles about this strip (because it is so unusual to read about cancer in the funnies!) and the latest issue of 'Beyond Breast Cancer' magazine has a small article on it as well. Nothing has mentioned that she is based on a real person.

The cartoonist himself is a cancer survivor, however.

Ok, I'll admit, this strip is hitting me harder than I thought. :-(

Anonymous · October 2007

I've not read anything about it being based on a real person either, I thought I was going crazy since I couldn't find anything, thought I'd missed it. I sure hope it's not.

NoH8 · October 2007

Thanks ADK, I knew it had to be soon. I have to commend the Batiuk on his accuracy. It reminds me so much of when my friend died.

There's actually a fund that came out from the comic strip http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071002/cltu080.html?.v=90 and there's more on this on his website http://www.funkywinkerbean.com/legacy.html .

JustOne · October 2007

I walked in the Komen Race on Sunday here and on someones back they had wrote Walking for My Winkerbean's Lisa, among others. I thought that was rather sweet.

The character of Les has always been kind of pitiful anyway and now he will be left with a 5y/o. I wonder how this will play out.

May be Lisa will be back in dreams for Les. It's funny, now I'm worried about him and Summer.

~Pam

NoH8 · October 2007

Don't they feel so real Pam because I'm worried about Les and Summer too. I hope Les eventually finds someone else, he's such a great catch and deserves to be with someone special, hopefully who is very healthy and he doesn';t have to take care of her.

djd · October 2007

Whether the story is based on a real person or not, it is a true story that we have seen played out in real life on these boards too many times. It's really hard to believe how many sisters have traveled an eerily similar journey before passing on from BC.

Pharmmom · October 2007

I didnt expect the loss of vision. What is that? It really threw me.

Barb

Anonymous · October 2007

i was surprised by that, too, barb.

Pharmmom · October 2007

Did you see it today? She says "is it time to go..." and there is this weird guy wearing a mask in a tuxedo. He puts his hand out to her. What the heck is that? Am I missing some meaning here? I think I would have preferred a nice friendly looking angel!!!!!!

NoH8 · October 2007

I assume the guy in the suit is death taking her from this life to whatever people believe- whether that be another life, reincarnation, nothingness etc. Jews don't believe in angels so hopefully Batiuk is going to leave it open to everyone's beliefs or nonbeliefs.

JustOne · October 2007

To me, it looked like 'Death' was wearing a white mask. Maybe under that mask is whoever Lisa wants to be led to the other side.

With very little words, Batiuk has done a wonderful job of portraying Lisa's last hours. It's heartbreaking.

~Pam

Anonymous · October 2007

I would hope that your mind knows your loved ones are there with you and that in your mind you see yourself as whole instead of weakened and sick. It was nice to see Lisa standing, with hair on her head, dressed well, standing and hugging her hubby.

Pharmmom · October 2007

Yes i too like that she is looking strong and well in those captions. I'm also hoping that behind the mask will be someone who she will be very happy to be taken to the other side with.

I read that what they are doing next is jumping the cartoon ahead in time 10 years. So we will see what becomes of Les and Sunny his daughter. She will be about 15 years old.

JoanofArdmore · October 2007

OMG, OMG, I'm completely broken up!I'm weeping unreservedly.

To me, that guy is NED.Maybe if things go bum, NED is there, all beautiful and gallant, leading us to Paradise.

Lisa, Jews DO believe in angels!All the archangels are from the First Testiment-the Jewish Bible!

Maybe you're thinking of St Peter.After all, we still put up the glass every Passover, for the Angel Eliija.

Ok, it helped to write here.I have quit weeping.Sniffling gently now.

I LOVE this comic strip!

Thank you, Donna.

NoH8 · October 2007

I also think Batiuk did a wonderful job portraying Lisa's cancer battle from the viewpoints of both the sufferer and caregiver. That would be interesting to see 10 years down the road for Les and Summer. I hope he's remarried and that they're happy.

Funky Winkerbean - Lisa's BC

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