An Old Friend

I heard from an old friend this weekend. She and I grew up together. She had just lost the love of her life. Her name is Caryn and she and Angela were together for 15 years.

Caryn had a tough life growing up. Her mother was horrible to her, made her clean the entire house every weekend even when she was a small child. Her brothers didn't have to do anything, nor did her mom. She did the tasks and never complained but it took a toll on her. She was hurt by many people when she was young and had finally found a wonderful life with Angela.

That all changed on Mother's Day of this year. When Angela got up that day, her skin had a yellowish tone to it. It didn't get any better. Sometime in the next few days, Caryn finally got her to go to the doctor. After many tests it was determined that she had a tumor on her liver. It was cancer. In the next few months she went downhill. Caryn was her primary caregiver. She stayed with her night and day, never leaving her side. She took her back and forth to Louisville to see the doctors there. Finally, they sent her home and gave her 2-4 months.

She passed away October 29th, 18 years to the day that Caryn's father passed away. I wish that I had known what was going on. We had no idea that Angela was sick. I feel like I could have helped in some way, if nothing else by just being there for my friend. Caryn is moving to an apartment in Lone Oak next week because she can't stay at the house where she and Angela shared their life. She will be looking for a job and trying to get her life together. I wanted to reach out on the phone last night and hug her. All I could do was talk to her and try to find the right words to comfort her pain.

It just goes to show you that you never ever know what is going to happen. Angela was just fine until she woke up that Sunday morning and was gone within 6 months. It kind of puts things into the right spots, don't you think?