Cancer. The one word you don't ever want to hear. Especially when it involves someone so close to your heart.
My Papaw was my absolute best friend. From the moment I was born, he was wrapped around my tiny fingers. We did everything together. I was at my grandparent's house many nights because both of my parents worked nights at the hospital. As soon as he got home from work he would go straight to his recliner, and I'd be right there with him sitting on the arm of his chair. We would spend our evenings playing Barbies (which I'm sure he was thrilled about) watching Wizard of Oz, coloring, and eating snacks.
My grandpa was diagnosed with malignant melanoma when I was around 6 or 7 years old. I didn't fully understand what was happening then, but I'm sure I had a general idea. He battled cancer for around 2 years and his battle came to an end in April of 2005.
It is one of the most difficult things in the world to watch someone you care about be sick. It is difficult to watch their health decline, and have cancer completely change them because it had spread everywhere. Looking back, I am thankful that I wasn't older when he was going through that because it would have been even more difficult for me.
It's terrible that he can't be here anymore to watch me grow up. He didn't get to see me graduate high school, he won't be here to see me graduate college, and he won't be able to be at my wedding one day. But, I know he is looking down on me and is proud of me. And, it's comforting to know that I have the best guardian angel looking down on me.
So to my forever best friend, I miss you every day. There is not one day that I don't wish you were here, and that I don't think of you. I love you so very much. One day soon, we will be able to be with each other again.