| Cancer claims Web writer By Emil Guillermo Record Staff Writer Published Friday, July 4, 2003 La Vona Lynne Schamber, who lived an anonymous life in Stockton until her writings on her dogs and her life won friends and a worldwide audience on the Internet, died in her sleep early Wednesday. Schamber, 40, had been seriously ill with a chronic cough since 2001 but was not diagnosed with lung cancer until this year. By then the cancer had spread to her brain. Doctors stopped aggressive treatment of her cancer in April. "Wednesday morning she just stopped breathing and went to sleep," said Kenny Schamber, her husband. "We're relieved she's no longer in pain, devastated that she's gone and madder then hell at the doctors who dragged their feet entirely too long." The family said they are considering action against the hospital. La Vona Schamber said she often seemed "invisible" in life, not getting attention or respect. She grew up in French Camp and went to Stagg High School. She worked odd jobs in Stockton. But her life changed when she enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College and began using the Internet. She posted her stories and observations about Gussie, her 120-pound boxer, on the Motley Fool Web site at fool.com. On the pet lovers community board, she was known only by her screen name, DingBat Annie. But her homespun wit and wisdom from Gussie's point of view found a worldwide audience. "The way she'd write through her dogs drew you in," said Deannda Neufer, 40, of Elmira Heights, N.Y., one of thousands who knew Schamber only through her Internet musings. People from all over the world -- Germany, Australia, England, Japan -- responded to her posts. And when Schamber began writing of her cancer, people responded with letters and money. "About $10,000 was raised for her through eBay sites in just two months," said Neufer, who said the money was used in an 11th-hour effort to battle Schamber's cancer. The Motley Fool readers who adopted Schamber as one of their own showered her with love after her diagnosis. In April, Schamber said her dying wish was to visit Scotland, her family's ancestral home. That prompted Judi Daunell, whose screen name is BirdMom, to drive from Kern County and arrange for a bagpiper to serenade Schamber. The visit boosted Schamber's spirits enough that she was able to get out of the house for a visit to the Asparagus Festival. Her goal then was to make it to her 40th birthday, June 14. "She was ecstatic that day and seemed like the happiest person," Kenny Schamber said. The family threw a party in Stockton, and many of her online friends from California were in attendance. A contingent back East held its own DingBat Annie bash in Massachusetts. "When people you never met face to face tell you they love you and you know they mean it, that tiny piece of doubt that says, 'I don't deserve it,' goes away," La Vona Schamber told the Record in April. "They make me believe I deserve that love. And I return it with all my heart. It's a great feeling." Her pieces can still be read at fool.com. * To reach reporter Emil Guillermo, phone (209) 546-8294 or e-mail eguiller@recordnet.com |
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