By DOUGLAS TODD
Filed under: cystic fibrosis, CBC, B.C. Transplant, 65 Red Roses, Eva Markvoort, Vancouver Film Festival, Bill Markvoort, Janet Brine, Poland
For a young Metro Vancouver woman who often struggled for air, Eva Markvoort breathed an incredible volume of love and life into tens of thousands of people."Love, Love, Love."That was Eva's signature line, which was recited several times in front of more than 2,000 people at a poignant, stylish, music-drenched and laughter-filled memorial service Friday afternoon at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. Eva, who died last month at age 25, suffered virtually all her passionate, colourful and committed life from cystic fibrosis. Her double-lung transplant two years ago became the subject of a gritty and acclaimed documentary film, 65 Red Roses. That's when many began falling in love with Eva.In Friday's memorial service, hosted by CBC broadcaster Gloria Macarenko and live-streamed for the benefit of the hundreds of thousands of people who had logged onto Eva's blog, also titled 65 Red Roses, Eva's friends and family offered eloquent testimonies to her spirit, which they believe lives on.In their tributes to Eva, a trained actress who had often performed on stage at Massey Theatre before studying the craft at the University of Victoria, loved ones spoke, sang, recited poetry, played music, showed photos and videos and even performed theatrical presentations in her honour.They described how, with Eva, "Every time is adventure time." Any time, as Eva used to say, was an excuse for a party, a moment for dancing.Eva, as some said, was "a force."Her father, Bill, read from some of the tens of thousands of letters that had been sent to Eva at the family home in New Westminster, where Eva is evolving into an icon, a legend.One of the most remarkable things about Eva's short life was the phenomenal popularity of her blog, on which she spared no honesty in describing the ecstasty and terror of battling against cystic fibrosis.In the past year, she detailed her body's tragic rejection of her donated lungs. And in the past few months, viewers almost literally watched her die, give her final words to the world. Surrounded by friends and family in her hospital room at Vancouver General Hospital.People logged into 65 Red Roses from around the world. The family registered more than one million page views on her blog. As the comments and letters flooded in, the family realized that people who never met Eva, almost perfect strangers, were making a connection, feeling a bond, being healed. The love that poured into Eva's blog was almost as strong as the love she gave out.Eva's legacy will not only be for the cystic fibrosis community, of which she has been an incredible educator. It is also for countless others captivated by the strength of her, her family and incredibly loyal friends.If Friday's memorial service made anything clear, it is that there was a universal spirit running through Eva. It's not going to die easily.As Eva often said: "My love is fierce."
