A death foretold: Burnaby blogger announces his own death
Newsbot @ Tue May 10, 2011 9:22 am
Title: A death foretold: Burnaby blogger announces his own death
Category: Misc CDN
Posted By: Zipperfish
Date: 2011-05-10 09:16:28
Canadian
Zipperfish @ Tue May 10, 2011 9:22 am
Derek was a friend of mine. He was a really remarkable guy--marine biologist, writer, musician, technophile. His site--penmachine.com--received 8 million hits following his death.
Zipperfish @ Tue May 10, 2011 9:24 am
$1:
METRO VANCOUVER -- At 6:40 p.m., on Wednesday, Derek Miller passed away in his Burnaby home. He was 41.
He died of complications from colorectal cancer. His death, his wife, Airdrie said, had been a peaceful one.
At 7:51 a.m. Thursday, this message was posted by his family on Miller's blog at www.penmachine.com. It was entitled "The Last Post."
It began:
"Here it is. I'm dead, and this is my last post to my blog. In advance, I asked that once my body finally shut down from the punishments of my cancer, then my family and friends publish this prepared message I wrote — the first part of the process of turning this from an active website to an archive.
"If you knew me at all in real life, you probably heard the news already from another source, but however you found out, consider this a confirmation: I was born on June 30, 1969 in Vancouver, Canada, and I died in Burnaby on May 3, 2011, age 41, of complications from stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer. We all knew this was coming.
He died of complications from colorectal cancer. His death, his wife, Airdrie said, had been a peaceful one.
At 7:51 a.m. Thursday, this message was posted by his family on Miller's blog at www.penmachine.com. It was entitled "The Last Post."
It began:
"Here it is. I'm dead, and this is my last post to my blog. In advance, I asked that once my body finally shut down from the punishments of my cancer, then my family and friends publish this prepared message I wrote — the first part of the process of turning this from an active website to an archive.
"If you knew me at all in real life, you probably heard the news already from another source, but however you found out, consider this a confirmation: I was born on June 30, 1969 in Vancouver, Canada, and I died in Burnaby on May 3, 2011, age 41, of complications from stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer. We all knew this was coming.
DrCaleb @ Tue May 10, 2011 10:13 am
Sorry for your loss Zip.
Zipperfish @ Tue May 10, 2011 10:42 am
Thanks DC. I attended Derek's living wake last month. Great party. Got to drum with Derek and a bunch of otrher musicians--including The Odds. Tough for his wife and kids though--he leaves behind two daughters, 11 and 13.
Brenda @ Tue May 10, 2011 10:51 am
I'm so sorry Zip. Must have been bitter sweet for his wife and kids... RIP, Derek
BartSimpson @ Tue May 10, 2011 11:31 am
My sincere condolences, Zip. My father in law lost his fight with pancreatic cancer on April 18th and we're feeling it even harder three weeks later. I doubt that this is any consolation, but I'm just saying that it's a loss and I understand. In a very big way, my father in law was blessed with 80 years and it's all the more tragedy that your friend died at 41 with the promise of so many good things yet to come...anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, grandchildren...
Is there any kind of fund being put together for your friend's family? If so, I'd be honored to remember him that way.
Zipperfish @ Tue May 10, 2011 11:42 am
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
My sincere condolences, Zip. My father in law lost his fight with pancreatic cancer on April 18th and we're feeling it even harder three weeks later. I doubt that this is any consolation, but I'm just saying that it's a loss and I understand. In a very big way, my father in law was blessed with 80 years and it's all the more tragedy that your friend died at 41 with the promise of so many good things yet to come...anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, grandchildren...
Is there any kind of fund being put together for your friend's family? If so, I'd be honored to remember him that way.
Is there any kind of fund being put together for your friend's family? If so, I'd be honored to remember him that way.
Thanks Bart. No fund that I know of, but the gesture is sure appreciated. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Pancreatic cancer is bad news. Sounds like he had a good run, though, and that's the best we can ask for in this sojourn between eternities.
Derek's gone viral...
New Zealand Herald: Final blog touches millions in cyberspace
CNN: Blogger announces own death after battle with cancer
Fox: Colon Cancer Patient Leaves Last Message After Death
Sydeny Morning Herald: Canadian blogger Derek Miller's final message draws millions
London Daily Mail: 'Here it is. I am dead': Canadian blogger announces own death in heart-rending post from beyond the grave
BartSimpson @ Tue May 10, 2011 11:48 am
Wow.
BionicBunny @ Tue May 10, 2011 12:04 pm
I'm sorry to hear of your loss Zip. I can sympathize and I know cancer is a horrible thing.
One of my relative's boyfriends of 9 years wanted to die in his own home rather than a hospice so she took care of him around the clock making sure he was as comfortable as possible. You can only hope they pass away peacefully but he woke up from his coma the day before he died. He started to cry because he couldn't see, he was disoriented and he didn't know at first if he was alive until she reassured him. It bothers me thinking about it but I am sure it does much worse to her since she had to deal with it.
DerbyX @ Tue May 10, 2011 2:45 pm
My condolences Zip. Sounds like he was a heel of a guy and will be greatly missed. 
Bodah @ Tue May 10, 2011 3:27 pm
My sympathies Zip, It sucks losing a friend you care about that young.