Krysti Guest 21 July 1965 - 26 July 2011

On July 26th our friend Krysti Guest lost her hard fought battle with Neuroendocrine cancer. Her passing is a tragic loss for all those that had the honour of meeting her. 

I first met Krysti at our first Victorian Patient Support group early last year. She was quite newly diagnosed, but already you could see that she had a fight on her hands and from that first moment of meeting I knew she was going to give it everything she had. My brother John was speaking at the meeting and as it was not long after our own loss of our sister Kate, it was confronting to see all these beautiful young women in the prime of their lives all bought together by the fact that they had the same rare and misunderstood cancer. Krysti made an impact from the moment she walked in. Her determination shone through when challenging the life expectancy she now faced. As she said 3 to 5 years was not enough she had to have so many more years in order to look after her beloved, then 4 year old, Polly. 

After this I had the privilege of seeing and speaking to Krysti often as she tried and tested every treatment, practice and diet that was thrown at her. It was on a Friday afternoon that we sat at her house and she showed me photos of her life in Broome wanting me to see what a wonderful life she had and that she was not just "sick" Krysti but also a fun, happy, outgoing and confidant woman.

Krysti made such an impact on all of us last year when she took to the podium at the my Knight ball. I implore all of you to re read her speech. It is an amazing piece just like the amazing woman who wrote it. 

Our love and thoughts go out to her family, mum Nola, dad Ray, sisters Georgia and Jo and to her daughter Polly, and to all her friends and loved ones. 

Although we only knew Krysti a short time, she will be with us always, as it is people like Krysti that strengthens our resolve to find a cure for this insidious cancer.

- Simone Leyden