Tributes

TERRI KAYE KITCHENS DOME passed from this world into the hands of God on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. She was born April 12, 1962 in San Antonio, Texas to John W. Kitchens and Sandra Kitchens Dush. She and her husband, Steve Dome, lived in Houston, Texas. Terri was a childhood cancer survivor and a five-year heart transplant survivor. She lost her final battle to complications of pneumonia in San Antonio Texas, surrounded by her loving family, doctors and nurses. Terri loved life and lived it to the fullest. She grew up around horses and horse racing and won many trophies as a barrel racer on the youth rodeo circuit. She rode trail bikes and was a water skier in the Hemisfair show in the 1970's. She was a cheerleader at East Central High School from where she graduated in 1980. Terri's zany wit and wonderful sense of humor endeared her to everyone she met. Her sense of style was much appreciated by her husband and recognized by friends and strangers alike, many of whom introduced themselves just to compliment her. She called each of her special friends "Rabbit" and they called her TK or Lil' T. Her generosity was without restraint; she patted every stray dog and gave to every needy stranger. Terri had an endless capacity to create laughter, a never failing intuition, and strong compassion for all. Few people or places were unchanged by Terri's presence. She married her brother's best friend, Steve, in 1987. When Steve's career took him to London, where they lived for several years, Terri worked in the computer gaming industry at Virgin Interactive, and attended school. Her career led her to California where she lived in Sausalito and was the International Sales Director at LucasArts marketing Star Wars games and other releases. She traveled the world, but found nowhere as wonderful as Paris and said that someday she would live there. She made lifelong friends throughout her travels. When her health required that she change focus, she transferred her energy and her humor into a quest for a new heart. In 2009 she received a heart transplant at Texas Heart Institute and with her new heart she regained her energy and passion for living every moment. Even with the ups and downs of her health afterward, she was able to bring joy to the numerous medical professionals she visited. Her life post-transplant brought her to many new friends and her amazing strength was a marvel to them and her doctors. Though her heart remained strong, her little body was not without other setbacks and she lost her long struggle to a severe pneumonia. She is survived by her loving husband Steve Dome of Houston, Texas; mother Sandra Kitchens Dush and stepfather Richard Dush of San Antonio; father John W. Kitchens of Lamar, Texas; brother Wayne Kitchens and wife Diane of Cypress, Texas; nephew Daniel Kitchens and wife Michelle of Leander, Texas; niece Rachel Kitchens of Cypress, Texas; and numerous and caring aunts, uncles, and cousins. Terri is predeceased by grandparents Olia Mae Kitchens and Therman and Margaret Meeks. On behalf of Terri, the family wishes to extend an extraordinary gratitude to the doctors, especially Dr. Roberta Bogaev, who is also a special friend, Dr. O.H. "Bud" Frazier, surgeon Igor Gregoric, the nurses, and the amazing transplant coordinators at Texas Heart Institute in Houston for their expertise, support, and care given to Terri during her heart transplant journey. Additionally, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Roberta Bogaev, again, and Dr. Nora Walker a new friend, along with all the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit nurses at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. Their teamwork, expertise, compassion, and true human connection gave Terri, and our family, as much comfort as we could have possibly expected during her final struggle. From her first days to the very last, Terri was blessed by her relationship with Roland and Norean Cantu, Vicki Cantu Sims, Rikki Cantu, and Nikki Cantu Barefoot; they were family, too. Memorial services will be held in San Antonio and Houston, Texas. The service in San Antonio will take place on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 11a.m.; visitation at 10:15a.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapel, 3401 Cherry Ridge Drive. Reception to follow at The Club at Sonterra, 9801 Sonterra Blvd. A celebration of her life will be held in Houston on Friday, July 11, 2014 from 5-8pm at La Colombe d'Or, 3410 Montrose Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Terri to Texas Heart Institute in Houston, the Humane Society, the children's hospital of your choosing, or the charity of your choice. In addition, please honor Terri by registering as an organ donor so that others like her can continue giving their gifts to the ones they love.

Tributes

Terri K. Dome

April 12, 1962 - July 1, 2014