Editing Sandra Schmirler (section)

==Personal life==

===Family and education===
Schmirler was born to parents Shirley and Art Schmirler on June 11, 1963.<ref>{{Team Canada|sandra-schmirler}}</ref> She was born with a [[club foot]], which required her to wear a cast for two months. She had two older sisters, Carol and Beverley.<ref>Lefko, p.8</ref> She attended high school in Biggar, and moved to Saskatoon to attend university. She started out towards a degree in [[computer science]], but transferred after her first year to work for a degree in [[physical education]].<ref name="Lefko, p.17"/> She convocated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1985.<ref>Lefko, p.21</ref>

In 1993, teammate Marcia Gudereit introduced Schmirler to Shannon England. On June 22, 1996, they were married.<ref>Lefko, p. 53</ref> In 1997, Schmirler was pregnant with their first child. When this information was revealed to reporters at the Scott Tournament of Hearts, they jokingly dubbed her "Schmirler the Hurler". On September 15, 1997, their daughter Sara Marion was born.<ref>Lefko, pp. 57–58</ref> In April 1999, Sandra's father Art Schmirler died from [[esophageal cancer]].<ref name=regina/> On June 30, 1999, the couple's second daughter, Jenna Shirley, was born.<ref>Lefko, p. 93</ref>

===Illness and death===
After Jenna's birth, Schmirler experienced many health problems. She had suffered from back pain, which was thought to be pregnancy related, and following Jenna's birth, she began to suffer from stomach pains.<ref name=regina/> Tests showed that a cancerous node the size of a fist had developed behind her heart.<ref name="nytobit"/><ref>Lefko, p. 97</ref> As her condition worsened, she underwent surgery on September 6, 1999. During surgery, a dead piece of the tumour broke off and released a blood clot into her lung. Her heart stopped beating, and only emergency heart massage kept her alive.<ref>Lefko, pp. 94–95</ref> Almost a month after being diagnosed with cancer, doctors finally provided a specific diagnosis – [[adenocarcinoma|metastatic adenocarcinoma]], with an unknown primary site.<ref name=regina/> Because no one could pin down where the cancer came from, Sandra referred to it as "the cancer from Mars."<ref name="Lefko, p.101">Lefko, p. 101</ref> In addition to [[chemotherapy]] and radiation, Schmirler explored [[orthomolecular medicine]] through the Canadian Cancer Research Group. This form of [[alternative medicine]] involves large doses of vitamins and nutrients.<ref name="Lefko, p.101"/>

In 2000, Schmirler worked as colour commentator for CBC during [[Canadian Junior Curling Championships|Canada's national junior curling championships]].<ref name="libarchcan"/><ref>Lefko, p. 110</ref> During her illness, Schmirler had been largely removed from the public eye. While in [[Moncton]] for the championships, Schmirler held a press conference to update her situation. In speaking publicly about her ordeal for the first time, Schmirler spared few details about what she had gone through, while also expressing her hope for the future: "There were three goals I had coming out of this thing, and the first one was to look after my family. And the second one...because I curl so much, I've never taken a hot vacation, so I'm going to put my feet in the sand in a warm place. And the last one was to actually be here today, and I thank CBC, I thank Lawrence (Kimber), and Joan Mead."<ref>Lefko, pp. 113–120</ref>

After returning from Moncton, Schmirler felt physically well, but suffered a setback when a CAT scan revealed spots around her lungs. The decision was made not to proceed with further chemotherapy, but she continued with the orthomolecular therapy.<ref>Lefko, p. 128</ref> She had been scheduled to work the [[2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts]], but was unable to do so. She faxed a statement from the hospital, which was read by [[The Sports Network|TSN's]] [[Vic Rauter]]. "I'm still fighting hard and I still hope to make it to the [[Tim Hortons Brier|Brier]], not playing but talking. For Saskatchewan, I was hoping to be in your green shoes (at the Scott). But keep things in perspective. There are other things in life besides curling, which I have found. But I hope to be on the curling trail again next year. And I'll see you all in Sudbury (the next Scott site) in 2001. Your curling friend, Sandra."<ref>Lefko, p. 133</ref> However, the optimism in her statement belied the seriousness of her condition. She had been moved to [[palliative care]].<ref>Lefko, pp. 133–134</ref> She died in her sleep at the [[Pasqua Hospital]] Palliative Care Unit<ref name="nytobit"/> on the morning of March 2, 2000, at age 36.<ref name=regina/><ref name="CBC1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan-mourns-sandra-schmirler-1.228850|title=Saskatchewan mourns Sandra Schmirler|date=March 2, 2000|publisher=CBC|access-date=November 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nytobit"/><ref name="msn"/>

Her death caused reactions not just within Saskatchewan and the curling community, but also across the country. Canadian Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] said in a statement: <blockquote>All Canadians have been touched by the untimely death of Sandra Schmirler. Most of us came to know her through her exploits as a champion curler and as an exemplary sports ambassador for Canada. But what really set her apart was her bright, engaging personality and her incredible zest for life, qualities that were so clearly in evidence as she fought so valiantly against her illness. She will be sorely missed.<ref name="nytobit"/><ref>Lefko, pp. 141–142</ref></blockquote> In honour of Schmirler, flags at provincial office buildings in Saskatchewan were lowered to half-staff.<ref name="nytobit"/>

TSN offered to broadcast her funeral live and to make the signal available to any other stations at no charge. Her husband, Shannon England, agreed to the broadcast on the condition that the family would not be shown during the service. CBC also broadcast the service, marking the first time a [[Canadians|Canadian]] athlete's funeral had been televised live on two networks.<ref name="msn"/><ref>Lefko, p. 143</ref> The [[Tim Hortons Brier|Brier]] was just getting underway and games in the afternoon draw were delayed<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/426622331.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+4%2C+2000&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Brier+draw+pushed+back+for+Schmirler%27s+funeral+%3B+Curlers+and+fans+will+able+to+watch+the+service+on+TV|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419040215/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/426622331.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+4,+2000&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Brier+draw+pushed+back+for+Schmirler's+funeral+;+Curlers+and+fans+will+able+to+watch+the+service+on+TV|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2013|title=Brier draw pushed back for Schmirler's funeral ; Curlers and fans will be able to watch the service on TV|date=March 4, 2000|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=November 27, 2012}}</ref> to allow curlers and fans to watch the funeral, which was broadcast on screens at the rink.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/family-friends-bid-farewell-to-schmirler-1.219794|title=Family, friends bid farewell to Schmirler|date=March 8, 2000|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]|access-date=November 9, 2015}}</ref> Regina's Agridome and Schmirler's home [[Caledonian Curling Club]] also opened to show the funeral.<ref>Lefko, p. 145</ref> Nine hundred people attended the service at the Regina Funeral Home, thousands watched at satellite locations around the province, and hundreds of thousands watched on television.<ref>Lefko, p. 153</ref> The funeral was conducted by the Rev. Don Wells, and Sandra was eulogized by Brian McCusker, teammate Joan McCusker's husband.<ref>Lefko, p. 149</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Debates of the Senate (Hansard), 2nd Session, 36th Parliament, Volume 138, Issue 36|url=https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/Sen/chamber/362/debates/036db_2000-03-21-e#0.2.W54BJ2.7764TO.HILTRF.C |date=March 21, 2000|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=July 22, 2008}}</ref>