I don't know any other way to say this, but my best friend has passed away tonight. She was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 2 years ago and developed heart complications along with other complications. She'd been on the mend and recovering very nicely and life was just about back to normal for her and her husband and 2 kids. She passed away at Bible study. Just like that. I am in total shock. I don't know what to do. She and I were like sisters. We shared hearing loss problems, complained about our tinnitis together and we had so much in common. We totally "got" each other. Now, I have no one to share all that with. I actually envy her and we'd talked about when she dies, she's the lucky one who gets to sit on Jesus' lap. We laughed about it, too. She must feel so wonderful right now! No more suffering, no more doctor's appointments, no more worries. Hakuna matata!

Please pray for her husband and 2 kids. They are going to need many prayers and support through this very rough time.


Man, this sure makes me look at my life. Maria was only 30. Here's a pic I took of her just last month.



Excuse me while I go cry buckets now. I'm REALLY gonna miss her and her wise advice. With her battle with cancer and such, it ONLY made her even more stronger in her faith. I don't know how I'm gonna make it over the next while. :cry:

:hug:
I don't know what to say. Praying for you...

I will pray for those that love her..

Lena, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Thanks you guys. I think this all gonna hit real hard once I see her again in the funeral home and hear about how she passed away. Right now, I'm just shocked.

I'm very sorry for your loss but happy that she is now wth Jesus.

Lena, I'm praying that Maria's family will find comfort in God's love and strength during this time. I also pray that you will lean on our Father, He is holding you and wants you to cry out to Him.

Remember, you will never get over your grief, but you WILL get through it....

Please PM me or IM me anytime if you need an ear....:hug:

Lena, did her death happen a lot sooner than expected? Was her husband prepared for a death or were they expecting a full recovery?

Was she receiving treatment?

Lena, I am so sorry for your loss and will pray for you, Maria's family and all those involved. Maria looks so beautiful and peaceful in the photo you posted and she is truly at peace with Jesus now.

May you all know and experience the comfort of our loving Father in the days ahead. He is well acquainted with our grief, understanding all our sorrows and he will comfort you.

Bless you all. You know where to find me. :pray:

Hope

Yes, she had just been through chemo for the past year or so. She spent up to 6 weeks in the hospital and she had some very low times in there. I remember last Easter weekend she'd been in the hospital, they'd put her on meds and sent her home. So that Saturday we went to visit her at home and she was not good at all. That night, she was rushed back to the hospital and that's when she was there for a good 6 weeks. I mean, we were all expecting her to go sometime during that time, right? Nope, she pulled through. She's always had high blood pressure. So with all the meds she was taking plus the chemo...she developed heart conditions. She finished her chemo in December...I think it was. Or was it November? Anyhoo...it's been a couple months since she was done chemo. Her heart was never the same and if it didn't improve on it's own, she would've needed a heart transplant. When she was first diagnosed with everything, the doctors gave her a 40% chance survival rate. Not good. But she did everything and she did great! She surprised us all more than once.

We were not expecting her death now. They'd just bought a 50 acre farm and they had all kinds of plans and dreams for it. Their future looked promising. New home, new life. She was back in the kitchen where you could always find her. I'd talked to her on Tuesday, asking if she'd like to babysit on Friday, but then she had a doctor's appointment and couldn't babysit. That was the last time I talked to her. She was on a roll with being a deacon couple helper...preparing meals for others and visiting others and such. She had such a heart of gold. IMO...she may have overdone her heart. She was never one to sit still. Probably was in too much of a hurry again. I dunno...we'll find out more details later. Her husband called this morning to see if we'd heard the news and he is so totally drained. He could barely talk. This afternoon there's singston (pronounced zing-schton) at church. Then tomorrow will be visiting in the funeral parlour.

I want to thank ALL of you for your support. Thanks for the prayers and words of comfort. It means alot to me.:hug: I barely slept last night and just tossed and turned and used alot of tissues. For the first time, I was HAPPY to hear hubby snoring so loud. I curled up to his back and finally fell asleep, listening to his snoring, knowing all is well.

Lena....I heard this on the radio this morning & thought of you....it's a country song, you might've heard it....and for all you ANTI-country music people....it's a good CHRISTIAN country song....so read on....

When I Get Where I'm Going
Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton
When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly

I'm gonna land beside a lion
And run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain

(Chorus:)
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah when I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here

I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy
And he'll match me step for step
And I'll tell him how I missed him
Every minute since he left
Then I'll hug his neck

(Chorus)

So much pain and so much darkness
In this world we stumble through
All these questions I can't answer
So much work to do

But when I get where I'm going
And I see my maker's face
I'll stand forever in the light
Of his amazing grace
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
Hallelujah
I will love and have no fear
When I get where I'm going
Yeah when I get where I'm going

Oh Lena, I'm so sorry for your loss. :hug:

I know heaven rejoyced when our sister Maria was called home. Know also that God will sustain her husband and children. You are all in my prayers.

That's a very nice song, Deb. :hug: Thanks.

The funeral is Tuesday (Valentine's Day) at 2. We'll be visiting this evening.

Why is it that when words of comfort are being administered to a child, that those words hit so much better than a big long speech? Our pastor was referring to the story of Lazarus. When we weep, Jesus weeps with us as he did when his good friend Lazarus died. We also sang alot of songs which were very comforting and then we stayed for communion. I was long overdue for a communion service already. Last night I slept much better and this time disturbed Abe with MY snoring! :D

I forgot to add...the night she passed away, they'd gone to Bible study earlier and were helping out with carrying wood indoors and Maria had been watching the kids and doing only a little bit of work. She was doing what she loved to do when she suddenly stopped and dropped. Her husband performed CPR on her and someone called 911. Paramedics tried for a half hour to revive her. We think her heart failed. We'll hear more once autopsy results come in.

praying for you and her family.

:(

Geez... what a way to ruin Valentine's Day for the husband and kids FOREVER. :nono:

She's gone...she's at peace now. What a day. I need a hot bath and bed.

Thanks for all your prayers. I felt calm and reassured. Thanks again.

I think it's a fitting day to lay your loved one to rest.


Sleep tight Lena. :hug: