The Columbine Community has merged after a survivor of a shooting of a tragic die of cancer.
Karissa Rund, 40, died on March 3 after a 10 -year battle with stage 4 colon cancer.
She survived the terrifying shooting in 1999 when Eric Hanes and Dylan Klebold opened fire in the Colorado High School -Cafetaria, killing 12 and were injured more than 20 before they killed themselves in the upper floor Library.
Karissa, also known as a 'super survivor', not only got it alive from the horrible massive shooting and cancer all those years, but was also a widow for her first husband Greg Rund, who lost his life in fighting as Marinier in 2004.
Greg, who was Karissa's high school, was tragically killed on December 11 that year by an enemy attack in Fallujah, Iraq.
She was then engaged to Doug Rund, Greg's brother. It was at the time that she was first diagnosed with cancer.
Doug and Karissa were inseparable and always for each other, according to their friends.
Sarah Beth Buck, a friend of the couple, said that Karissa “was the biggest encouraging who had ever known most of us,” adding it: “Her mission of services to people, the hope of God proclaims despite pain and suffering, and a light despite darkness – this inheritance has changed her corner of the world.”
Karissa Rund, 40, a survivor of the shooting in Columbine School, died tragically on March 3, after a 10-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer
Karissa was engaged to her husband Doug Rund after the first husband – Doug's brother – died in fighting in 2004 (depicted: Doug and Karissa)
Sarah also noticed how much the couple supported each other through all the ups and downs.
'Doug, day in day out, selfless and unwavering Karissa in her illness. If you had the privilege of witnessing their love, you have changed, “Sarah wrote on a GoFundMe page.
“He carefully and carefully took care of her for all the needs, and noticed the small details, knowing how she wanted/liked things.”
Sarah said it didn't matter at what time of the day it was, Doug was always on the Karissa side – even because of the most difficult times.
“He rolled up his sleeves and served her loyalty with vulnerable medical procedures. He cooked, he cleaned, he shoped, he organized their lives.
“He played with her, pleased in her, celebrated her, encouraged her and stayed together by every turn of their story.”
Before she passed, Karissa Sarah and her other friends were worried about Doug after she was gone.
'Doug was the safe place of Karissa. In her last days she would often share that her greatest concern was Doug. Would he be cared for? Would people come next to him? “Sarah wrote.
'Yes, love. We are here. We are all there. '
Karissa survived the terrifying shooting in 1999 when Eric Hanes and Dylan Klebold open fire in the cafeteria of Colorado High School
Greg, who was Karissa's high school, was tragically killed on December 11 that year by an enemy attack in Fallujah, Iraq. (Shown: Karissa and Greg)
From Sunday afternoon, more than $ 4,200 was picked up to help Doug during this difficult time.
Buck said that the donation page is also a way to shed light on the great person who was Karissa.
Karissa was no stranger to cancer when her mother died tragically when she was only the 11-year-old a few years before the shooting at school.
She also had an extraordinary career and worked as a speechwriter and public affairs specialist for the Department of Energy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, according to her death advertisement.
After the cancer took over, Karissa retired medically from her work and decided to follow another career path by starting a “non-profit ministry to help, inspire and Doula.”
She became a doula on the end of life, who helped others in the hospital, Buck explained.
“She was so sick when she started to strive for this, but was so passionate about walking life with other people, even while she walked her own end of life,” Buck told KDVR.
Kellie Miller, who met Karissa through their church, also confirmed how supporting Doug was.
Karissa often spoke about and placed her experience as a victim of the shooting at school. In 2019 she posted a photo of her in the school's gymnasium on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy
Hanes and Klebold (photo) killed 12 and were injured more than 20 before they killed themselves in the upper floor that day
'Doug is just a beautiful person. He remained positive, but also as worthy of her in making her medical decisions, “Kellie said the outlet.
“I never liked to do anything she didn't want to do.”
A visitors were held for Karissa on Thursday, followed by her funeral on Friday.
Karissa often spoke about and placed her experience as a victim of the shooting at school. In 2019 she posted a photo of her in the school's gymnasium on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.
'20 years ago today I ran for my life at Columbine High School. Since then I have not considered a day for granted. Also do not accept yours as a matter of course. You are here for a reason, “she wrote.
The news about the death of Karissa comes almost a month after another columbine survivor died.
Anne Marie Hochhalter died of natural causes on 16 February in her house at the age of 43, confirmed former Columbine director Frank Deangelis.
Hochhalter was shot twice in the back and breast in 1999 during the shooting. She was left paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair -bound.
After the cancer had taken it over, Karissa withdrew medically from her work and decided to go on another career path by starting a 'non-profit ministry to help, inspire and Doula'
Since her life -changing injury, Hochhalter has spent a lot of her life with pleading for other victims of mass shootings.
“She was a pillar of power for me and so many others. She was never an inspiration and illustrated to never give up, “he told the Denver Gazette.
When the shooting broke out, Hochhalter enjoyed lunch with her friends. When she heard the first bullets, she thought that students photographed Paintball weapons.
But that changed when someone brought her back, so she was unable to use her legs to run away. A friend had to drag her away, but she would be hit again.
The couple managed to come out, where Hochhalter would struggle for 45 minutes to breathe while she was lying on the floor.
Once they were found by the first responds, she was transported to the hospital and, according to the Gazette, went into an operation of four hours.
Hochhalter struggled for years with trauma of the tragedy, but attended the 25th anniversary of the shooting.
