Message from Carissa's mom

Fifteen- year-old leukemia victim, Carissa Fluke, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2008. A Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, December 5, 6:30 p.m., at Christ The King Lutheran Church.

Below is a letter from her mother, Lisa Hardinge, to the community of Fallbrook.

Carissa Fluke attended local elementary schools including Maie Ellis, La Paloma, and Potter Junior High. She went to Calvary Chapel Fallbrook and enjoyed participating in Christmas plays. She was involved in Tammy’s Tossette’s, karate, and band before attending Fallbrook High School.

Now she has begun her greatest journey. When I think of Carissa, I will always remember her smile. I remember how at Christmas she would open one present and she was done. She had all she wanted. We would spend the rest of the day coaxing her into opening the rest. No matter how much she liked her presents, she would try to give them to everyone else.

I am truly honored to have been her Mother. I know that she has touched all of your lives as well. I can never explain how your letters and prayers touched our lives during the last part of Carissa’s journey.

Thank you for your prayers and love. Know that they were answered. She is now healed and no longer in pain. She smiles down upon us all.

I would like to share some of her thoughts from her journal with each of you. “I had a good life because I had people that really loved and cared for me.”

Her family sends a special thank you to Calvary Chapel, Fallbrook Cafe, Albertson’s, Christ the King, the Donnelly Family, Regina, The Gintier Family, and numerous community members in the Friendly Village for their support.

Forever Carissa’s Mom,

Lisa Hardinge