Sarah J. Hashemi

"Sarah Sarah from Santa Clara" spent her early years living with her family in a friendly cul-de-sac in San Jose, CA. When she was five she moved with her mom and brothers to Littleton, CO. She went to Stony Creek Elementary School, Deer Creek Middle School and Chatfield High School. Sarah was in such a hurry to grow up that in her junior year she made an appointment to take her GED test, passed with a very high grade and told her surprised mother she was finished with school.

Once free of the daily school grind, Sarah joined the working world. She held a variety of jobs, from office work to retail. She was a receptionist then HR assistant in a car dealership, where she met the future father of her daughter Andra. She followed that with working first as a sales associate then assistant manager of a cell phone store. After her daughter was born, Sarah went to work in the records department of a Denver law firm. From there she moved to another law firm where she worked as a junior legal secretary.

The greatest joy of Sarah’s life, her daughter Andra Justine Hashemi, was born on June 18, 2007. From the beginning, Sarah and Andra were inseparable. Motherhood was the most natural thing in the world to her, and Andi became her life’s inspiration.

Over time, Sarah started to display symptoms that baffled her. After an initial diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, she was diagnosed with Lupus in July of 2010. She grew sicker quickly, which required her to leave the job she loved as secretary at a law firm.

The last year of Sarah’s life was spent mostly in various hospitals. But she never gave up. Her love of life, her family and especially of her daughter Andra helped Sarah fight her debilitating condition, unspeakable trauma to her body and horrific pain that never let up. Sarah’s courage and struggle against the illness that overwhelmed her was phenomenal. She was a true inspiration to everyone who knew her and who witnessed her bravery and enormous love for her daughter.

Sarah passed away at 9:35 on the morning of April 9, 2012 surrounded by her family. She was surrounded by love, and will forever be alive in our hearts.

Memorial contributions may be made in Sarah's name to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., PO Box 418629, Boston, MA 02241-8629, Phone: 202-349-1155, www.lupus.org or to Bonfils Blood Center, 717 Yosemite Street, Denver, CO 80230, Phone: 303-341-4000, www.bonfils.org, or to the Sarah J. Hashemi Memorial Fund at any 1st Bank Location.