Anna

Last fall, while I was still working at UA we hired a young lady named Anna. Anna had been diagnosed with leukemia during college and had already faced a second trial with it. If my memory serves me correctly, in December she received results from follow-up tests that confirmed it was back for a third trial.

I was able to visit Anna during our Christmas break. She had a wonderful room at UAB overlooking the city. Her room was full of her personality - lights strung up, Christmas cards and various notes hanging, a small Christmas tree, Alabama memorabilia, you name it. She had even come to the point in her stay in hospitals that she even brought room fragrance to change it from the "hospital smell".

Sunday morning, Anna was fighting for it. She had a virus, pneumonia and a blood infection, which her father said all three were deadly in their own right. At that point, they said she could pass within 48 hours.

And she did. Anna passed away last night just after 10:00 pm CST. She was definitely a fighter to the end.

At her request, her parents along with UA President Dr. Witt have established a memorial scholarship - the Anna E. Gordon Memorial Endowed Scholarship, honoring her life and legacy.

Anna will be missed by many.