Rhonda Jan Cook
November 23, 1957 - January 25, 2011

Rhonda Jan Cook, named by her father Ron and her mother Jan, was born on November 23, 1957, and died on January 25, 2011, after suffering a brain hemorrhage on January 24, 2011 - a day that started out like a normal Monday.

Rhonda was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, and will be missed by many. She was remarkable for her enthusiasm, determination, and a heart of gold. For those close to Rhonda the huge wound in their hearts left by Rhonda's death will not be easy to heal -- but in time it will be filled with more memories than pain. And all can be comforted knowing that Rhonda now rests in God's loving care.

Rhonda suffered more than her fair share of medical difficulties, but faced each with courage and determination, and a "never-give-up" attitude. She adapted to the limitations forced upon her by brain & spinal surgeries. She wasn't able to drive, so she walked or used the bus. She had a need to give back to the community, so she was a teacher's aide, and served for several years on the Committee for Eastside Capernaum Young Life. She craved the company of others, so she joined the church choir. Her speech was sometimes hard to understand, but that didn't keep her from joining in conversations. She not only survived difficulties -- she thrived in spite of them. She loved God, her family and friends. She loved life.

Her medical difficulties included a malignant brain tumor in 1984. Her first words after brain surgery were not something you would expect, like "How did it go?", but rather "How is April -- is she OK?" - April is her daughter, then only 2 years old. After surgery, Rhonda received radiation treatments to prevent a return of the malignancy. A wig and a few scarves to address her hair loss, and she was good to go!

In September, 1991, just after being hired as a teacher's aide for the Bellevue School District, she suffered a stroke. Tests revealed that she also had a tumor in her cervical spine. This was removed in early 1992, and was not malignant. So, despite some slurring of her speech and mild difficulty with swallowing, she was back at work in less than 4 months.

In early 1993, Rhonda had to have her cervical spine fused because it was failing structurally due to damage caused by the tumor removed in early 1992. This made it difficult for her to turn her head, which would have made it difficult for her to drive safely, so she reluctantly gave up driving.

Rhonda kept her job with the Bellevue School district until 2001. By this time it had become apparent that the radiation treatments she received in 1984 had caused a type of brain damage that occurs long after the treatments have ceased. She lost her job because the damage interfered with her ability to pay attention and initiate appropriate actions. Over subsequent years she also started to have trouble walking, especially longer distances.

The most significant loss of ability occurred Labor Day weekend, 2007. She woke up Sunday morning unable to speak, having extreme difficulty swallowing, and trouble walking. This stroke-like event remains mysterious in that her doctors were not able to see anything that would explain it despite several CAT scans and MRI's. The brain damage is a likely component, but the doctors could never explain the sudden over-night presentation of this change in the absence of something visible in the imaging. A feeding tube was installed to provide nutrition. Rhonda spent many hours over the next few months in speech therapy trying to regain her ability to speak and/or swallow. Unfortunately, the therapy sessions had to be discontinued due to a lack of progress. After most of a year had passed, her focus in life changed from therapy to correct these major disabilities to making the most of her life while living with them and being as independent as possible. A portable pump to facilitate receiving food, water and medications through her feeding tube, a message box with pre-recorded messages for communication at home or out in the community, a speaker phone to facilitate communication using the message box at home, an emergency button on a wrist bracelet for assistance if she had a problem she needed help with, and a pass to ride on Access Transportation and she was good to go again. A typical week for Rhonda included an afternoon program for people with brain injuries called "Heads Up" on Tuesdays, a day with her mother on Thursdays, and a morning exercise class at Highland Center on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next 2 1/2 years right up to and including Monday, January 24, 2011, the day that started out like a normal Monday. She called her husband upon returning home as she always did, and played the messages "I got home safely", "How are you doing today?", "I love you", and "Good Bye". She was found in distress within an hour and a half after arriving home by her very good friend and next-door neighbor Kristen Chesmore, who has been a constant source of help and support for many years. Rhonda apparently did not suffer as she never pushed her emergency button, and she never regained consciousness.

Rhonda grew up in the DesMoines area, and graduated from Mount Rainier High School in 1976. That same year she was a runner-up in the Miss DesMoines Pageant. After High School, she went on to achieve an AA Degree in Early Childhood Education from Highline Community College. She married in 1980, and had her first and only child in 1982. She and her husband and daughter moved from Renton to Bellevue in 1986 and joined Cross of Christ Lutheran Church where they have continued to live and worship ever since.

Rhonda is survived by her husband of 30 years, Jeff Cook (Bellevue), daughter April Cook (Bellevue), mother Jan Brady (DesMoines), sister Patricia Sanislo and brother-in-law Donald Sanislo (Auburn), brother-in-law Greg Cook (Tucson, AZ), step-mother Eleanor Brady (DesMoines), one niece, three nephews, two great-nieces, and one great-nephew. She is preceded in death by her father Ronald Brady (DesMoines), and brother Timothy Brady (Auburn).

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