Fund in Memory of Kathleen Formica Neal

Kathleen Formica Neal 9/13/1965- 11/04/1984

I never got to “know” my Mom, but I still feel like she lives in me in so many ways. As I grew up, a little girl without her Mama, she thankfully has been kept alive by my entire family. I heard stories of her gregarious personality, her passion to speak up for what she believed, the amazing spark in her big blue eyes, her kind and perfectly imperfect HEART, her contagious smile and her astonishing unique dimples! (I was even blessed with a sweet cousin with huge dimples to remind me of her every day!)

My Mom, Kathleen Formica Neal, passed away entirely too young. Although God needed her with Him, so many hearts broke here on earth! Her parents (my Grandparents) Bill and Carol, had their lives and hearts shattered into pieces in the blink of an eye. Her siblings, Bill, Mike, Carolyn and Greg, lost their beloved sister. A pain too deep to imagine, hearts too broken to mend, and a sadness too great, for such young souls to bear. My amazingly perfect Father lost the love of his life, at the tender age of 17. Unimaginably, he was left to face this scary world, with a newborn baby girl, as a single Dad.

Kathy touched so many more lives than those aforementioned. She was an angel here on earth, always looking out for the less fortunate and trying to spread kindness wherever she went. She was so proud of her role as a Pom Pom girl for the SAHS marching band, and immediately won the hearts of everyone she ever met. She was genuine, kind, full of life and simply one in a million!

Sadly, my Mom passed away from undiagnosed Long QT Syndrome on November 4th, 1984. Back then, doctors didn’t even know this existed. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age and treated accordingly. Her parents provided the very best care available to her and protected her in every way that any loving and devoted parents would.

Within 3 short months of becoming a Mom, MY Mom, she tragically passed away. At the time of her passing, it was thought to be caused by her epilepsy diagnosis. Many years later, through a random EKG of a family member, we came to find the truth behind her untimely death. LQTS took her from us! Although this discovery was reliving a terrible nightmare, it ended up saving my life and that of many other family members. Through education and research we have learned that LQTS is commonly misdiagnosed (many timed as epilepsy) and our goal moving forward is to spread awareness.

Thank you Mom, for giving me the ultimate sacrifice and saving my life, as well as the life of my daughter, as we both tested genetically and clinically, positive for LQTS type 2. I live to not let that sacrifice be in vain. There is not a day that goes by where she is not on my mind, and on the minds of everyone who loved this perfect daughter, sister, wife and mama! We speak of “Grandma Kathy” often in our home. Her memory will always be kept alive by our amazing and loving family. My little QT Alanna, was even given “Kathleen ” as her middle name to be sure our beautiful angel lives in our hearts forever. Rest In Peace my Guardian Angel; my Mom; Grandma Kathy. #ForeverinourHEARTS 💕