Death is a natural part of life, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less when it occurs.
Early on Wednesday morning, my best friend informed me that his sister passed away. She has been battling cancer for about a year and we all thought she was finally on the upswing when tragedy struck.
After she was rushed to the hospital, news traveled fast and we were informed about her sudden passing.
It was not fair.
She was 19 years old and taken from the world way too early.
According to American Child Cancer Organization, 1 in every 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. Every three minutes someone is told that they have cancer.
The scariest part is that there is no cure.
No way to prevent this from happening.
Life throws curve balls and it takes the strongest people to fight through and find the light in the dark tunnel.
Unfortunately, because it is so common, it is most likely that this will affect you or someone you know in some capacity.
Her brother was rightfully devastated but as a friend, I didn't know how to support him. I reminded him how strong he was and reinsured him that everything will be okay.
But he just lost his best friend, and selfishly, I was scared I was going to lose mine.
It is important to not be selfish.
I can’t rush him or even expect him to get over it. The most crucial thing is to be there for your friend. Whenever he is ready I will be right by his side. Whether it is to go out for lunch or watch a basketball game, I will be here through it all.
There is no way to take away his pain but if he is hurting I will at least give him a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on.
Love, right now, is the most powerful thing we have against cancer.
To spread love and induce smiles makes people going through tragedies a little less distressed.
Yes, it is important to give them some space but stay close enough to catch them if they fall. It is critical that you do not try to fix the unfixable. You can not mend the scars or heal a mourning heart but instead, provide distractions and help ease the situation.
Keep in mind that your friend is not the only one hurting.
Someone lost a sister, best friend, daughter and loved one.
Be there for the family and try to visit as much as you can. There is an empty spot in their heart that they are not used to.
Make sure they do not have to go through this unimaginable situation alone.
