Cheryl Lynn Vetter was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on October 16, 1957, and passed away on December 11, 2011 at the age of 54 at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Hospital after a 12 ½ year battle with interstitial cystitis , a relatively unknown inflammatory bladder disease , which resulted in severe, progressive intractable pain. The disease, and complications from treatment of the disease led to her untimely death. She fought bravely, but ultimately it was too much.
Cheryl lived in Louisiana, New Jersey, Connecticut, London England, Boston Massachusetts and Houston, Texas. She graduated from Staples High School in Westport CT in 1975 and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with a BA degree in social welfare/psychology at the College of Wooster in Ohio in 1980. She later admirably studied and struggled for her Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Houston while disabled, and was able to complete 85 percent of the coursework before having to bow out due to her ongoing progressive illness. Among her several employments, she was Director of Patient Relations at Memorial City Hospital and worked in the mental health field at The Lindemann Mental Health Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA.
Cheryl is survived by her father and mother, Frank and Carolyn Vetter, and her sister Dr. Sally Vetter. In addition she is survived by her uncle and aunt Richard and Margaret Vetter, cousins Brad (Kristie) and Michael Vetter , Amy (Scot) Johnson and her beloved cat, Chelsea.
A special thank you to her pain doctors Dr. Allen Burton , Dr. Richard Patt and the Pain Management Team at MD Anderson, who demonstrated extraordinary skill, compassion and perseverance in their efforts to help her; Dr. Adam Kawley and the many physicians who treated her at Memorial City, as well as the other nationwide interstitial cystitis physician specialists who helped provide further expertise. We would also like to thank Encore Caregivers who provided support at home, and the pulmonary critical care and palliative care teams at St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital who guided and ensured her comfort through her final days.
There will be a memorial service for Cheryl at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home at 13001 Katy Freeway on Saturday December 17th at 12:30 pm. Reception to follow after the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Cheryl to the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) at 100 Park Avenue, Suite 108A, Rockville, MD, 20850, or to the ASPCA, one of Cheryl’s favorite charities, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, Houston, TX.
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