Just three months back, I was sitting with Caroline Klein in her cozy kitchen nook in Salt Lake City. As the chief communications officer at Smith Entertainment Group, she had decided it was time to share her journey battling Stage 4 proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma.
Her incredible story reached not just me, but many others who would read about her.
Unfortunately, on August 22, a LinkedIn post from Klein was shared by her family to announce her passing.
In her poignant words, “If you’re reading this, it’s because my lungs have taken their final breath, and my soul is on a thoughtful search for its next great adventure,” she expressed.
“Yesterday, we lost an icon in Utah. Caroline Klein’s passing leaves a void that can’t be filled,” expressed Ryan Smith, CEO of Smith Entertainment Group, on social media that morning. “She was truly one of a kind. Every day we’ll remember her. Her last post is a lasting gift that carries her wisdom. Working alongside CK was a true honor. Already miss you, CK,” he added.
Klein had just celebrated her 40th birthday in May, a milestone her doctors weren’t sure she would reach.
In June 2023, after months of suffering from severe back and leg pain, a doctor found a tumor on her sciatic nerve. It was initially thought to have a 95% chance of being benign. Two months later, she had surgery to remove it.
Unfortunately, although her pain subsided following the surgery, it wasn’t long before follow-up tests revealed she had cancer.
By February 2024, she discovered the cancer had metastasized to her lungs and was deemed terminal, with doctors estimating she had between one to nine years left.
Klein responded to her terminal diagnosis with remarkable clarity: “I chose to see it as a license to live rather than a death sentence,” she told me. “Knowing my time is finite helps me embrace each day as if there might not be a tomorrow.”
After our conversation, I was reminded of something Ashley Smith, co-owner of the Utah Jazz, shared about Caroline.
“She had a wonderful way of caring for those around her and shining a light on what makes others special,” Ashley commented.
Leaving her home that day, I felt truly appreciated and valued, despite being a near stranger to her.
As I drove back to the Deseret News office, I contemplated what I could learn from Klein and how I could “live like Caroline.” I soon discovered that Ashley had adopted the saying “What would Caroline do?” as part of her life philosophy.
In the face of adversity, Klein took on new personal mottos: “Why not?” and “Why wait?”
Her lessons are about surrounding myself with joy, exploring new opportunities, enjoying the world, lifting others up, and acting without hesitation to fulfill those aspirations.
I’ve taken my first steps toward this vision by enrolling in a new hobby class and planning a hiking trip to Bryce Canyon, which she passionately loved, especially in national parks.
While I may not yet have braved the hike at Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan like Klein did, I hold hope that I’ll find my path there someday. Regardless, I’m determined to seek the world’s beauty and embrace life to the fullest.
I was drawn to interview Klein because I felt a lot of us, including myself, needed a nudge to remember that our lives are brief and uncertain — making every moment that we have precious.
Initially shy about sharing her experiences, Klein found joy in serving as a gentle reminder to others, which I deeply appreciate.
“I don’t think my story is anything extraordinary,” she humbly stated. “But I genuinely hope people don’t wait for a story like mine to start living joyfully. If something good can emerge from this, that would make me happy.”
Her impactful journey will forever resonate with me, and I will be storytelling about the inspiring woman I had the fortune to meet, who profoundly influenced my outlook on life after just a single discussion.
In Caroline’s memory, let’s all take time to reflect and actionably think about what it means to live like Caroline.
“I want to be remembered for how I lived, not how I died,” she once expressed. “And remember my final request? Continually ask yourself, ‘why not?’ and ‘why wait?’ and chase your dreams with fierce determination. Our time is limited – make the most out of it! Every day can be a license to LIVE rather than just pass it.
