In January of 2012 my grandma was diagnosed with cancer. When a family member, friend, or other loved one is diagnosed with an illness that is killing them, one might not exactly know what to say or do.

I thought avoiding the problem was the answer to the situation at hand. I went through a phase of denial, and then realization, which hit me hard. Even then I couldn't bring myself to have a normal conversation with her. I couldn't think of what to say or do that would make her feel better.

Months went by and I was still struggling with the news. I thought I was helping by keeping more to myself. We would all go to my grandparents house every Sunday to have a big family dinner and cook for them. I would just go through the motions, walk in, say hello, eat, say goodbye, and leave. I would go home frustrated over things I could've and should've done or said but didn't. I was aggravated at the thought of how incapable I was of helping.

When she would be in the hospital, I never wanted to go, I thought, if she was going to die then I didn't want to remember her that way, lying in a hospital bed with all sorts of wires attached to her. The real reason I didn't want to go, behind every excuse I made, was the fact that I was scared to say goodbye. I thought my presence would be unhelpful, considering I wasn't going to walk in with a bright smile on my face, but I was wrong.

I believe that anyone can help a person they know who is extremely

sick. I believe just being there for that person alone helps them feel that much better. A person's mood helps how they feel physically and mentally, just being there for them lets them know how much they are loved and what they have, to overcome this disease and live. Being there gives them that much more to live for. It gives them hope and courage. I believe positivity is the key to their happiness. Staying positive keeps them looking for the brighter side of all their darkest moments. I believe anyone can be what keeps their the loved one breathing. The second you lose faith is the second their light fades out. Just simply sitting next to them, a simple smile, a simple "how are you", shows them you care. Anyone can do what we as humans know best, and that is to be there for someone, through thick and thin. I believe in being there for that person is helping in more ways than anyone could possibly imagine.

If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with a personal matter please don't give up on them. Sometimes it takes one person for one to realize that they are doing everything they possibly can. Love is the greatest thing anyone could ever ask for. By showing love you are helping, it doesn't have to be physical and I wish I had realized this sooner. You are stronger than you think and you can and will get through with whatever struggles you have come across. This I believe.