My Coldplay.com

After a courageous, 11-month battle for her life, Toronto Sun writer Sherri Wood died last night of brain cancer. The Etobicoke native was two weeks shy of her 29th birthday.

The last story Sherri wrote for the Sun was on April 15 of last year, a review of a Kool Haus concert by Brooklyn indie-rock troupe Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Within hours of filing, she collapsed suddenly and was rushed to hospital, right out of the blue. Her brain was hemorrhaging — she’d unknowingly had tumours for years — and was fast dying. She was given last rites but, unsurprisingly to all who know her, she hung on. Within weeks, Sherri was on her feet, vowing to make a complete recovery. Yesterday, she lost that battle.

Anastasia Saradoc (EMI Music Canada):

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about Sherri passing away. My heartfelt condolences go to her family, friends and co-workers. This fabulous girl will be so greatly missed! Sherri was so wonderful to work with — she had a great energy and enthusiasm that not all journalists have. I will especially fondly remember our many Coldplay conversations and what a thrill it was for her when she interviewed Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland from the band in May 2005. Her genuine interest/respect for the band and her exceptional sense of humour easily made this interview one of the highlights for the guys during that intense promo visit to Toronto.

More on this story (and read the aforementioned Coldplay interview) here.