Yesterday, breast cancer took the life of my friend.
We met online in a Facebook support group for Triple Negative
Breast Cancer survivors. I immediately took to her and to her story and she to
mine as were diagnosed with TNBC at the same time, January 2017. She lived in
the Syracuse, NY area where my wife is from.
We followed each other’s journey, offering advice and
support when we needed it, and generally staying in touch. I felt I had a
partner through all this, someone who truly understood what I was going through
and how I was feeling. She was a nurse
and had a nurse’s caregiving and nurturing side to her that made me feel heard
and supported when we talked. She also liked MMA fighting and Las Vegas, where
she and her fiancé managed to visit a few weeks ago. She was a well-round
person for sure.
By all accounts she was kind, she was caring, she was brave,
she was strong, and she was determined to live. She was 38 years old.
Last fall, we struggled through the “extra credit” chemo,
Xeloda, together as neither of us were pCR (Pathological Complete Response) to
the initial rounds of chemo. She struggled more than I with the side effects
and decided to end her treatment a few weeks early. I understood, and she was
at peace with her decision. She was ready to get on with living.
We met in person only once. I met her for coffee when Liz
and I were in Syracuse visiting family in November 2017. We talked about our cancer
journeys, but most importantly we talked about our lives. Our loves. And our
hopes for the future.
She and I stayed in touch over the coming months. She was
excited about plans to travel to Las Vegas in July with her fiancé. She loved
spending time with her family, her dogs and her cats. She was organizing a
fundraising drive for ovarian cancer. She was returning to her life.
June 19, she told me she was Stage IV. Her cancer had returned
to her lungs, to her liver, to her bones. I couldn’t breathe. I was shocked. I
was pissed. And I was scared. I reached out immediately to tell her to I was here
for her. I’d be here for her. Anything she needed. She told me she was going to
fight. I believed her.
She spoke of her pain. Her shoulder was excruciating. Her
liver was insufferable at times. She and her fiancé were planning that trip to
Las Vegas and she was bound and determined to go before her life-long treatment
– more chemo – would begin.
She went on that trip to Vegas in early July, and from what
I saw, while still in pain - particularly her liver - she thoroughly enjoyed herself.
She somehow pushed aside the terror of metastatic
breast cancer for a few days and just lived. It makes me happy to know she had
that time, in that place, with her love.
July 12, she had her medical port put back in. It was the
signal that her treatment would soon begin. A signal she was prepared to fight
for her life. A signal she was ready.
July 15, she posted for the last time. It says it all.
July 21, I sent her a message that I was thinking about her.
That she need not respond. Just know I am here and with her. I had received many messages like this when
going through chemo from friends and family. There was no pressure to respond,
just to know. They gave me comfort that the strength of someone else just having
me in their thoughts would carry me forward. I wanted that for her that day. She
saw the message, but never responded.
August 1, she passed away. The details of her final weeks
are not clear to me. And I’m not sure they matter that much. Each of us have a common,
yet separate journey with cancer. The disease affects us all similarly, yet a
bit differently. What is important is she fought for her life. She wanted to
live. She DID live. She was a good person while on this planet. She left an
ever-lasting impression on me.
I am heartbroken for her family and her fiancé. I am angry
and scared for myself and others with cancer. The disease never truly leaves
you. The impact it has on you is life-changing. Somehow, we struggle and find a
way to remain positive and brave, and live with cancer.
A wise woman said to me this morning in response to my telling her I was
at a loss for what to do now, in the face of my friend’s passing. She said, “Be
her voice.” I intend to do just that. Rest in Power and in Peace, my sweet friend.
Fuck Cancer.
It's always sad to lose a friend, but this is bitter sweet. Reminds me that I'm on borrowed time.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry ... Sorry for all of us in this battle.
ReplyDeleteWe are fighters. And we fight for everyday we can get. I'm also triple negative and went through horrendous chemo and radiation. I'm almost 7 years cancer free, but I know it can come back at any time. So, everyday I live its my last. And enjoy it to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We needed to hear that!!!
DeleteSo sorry. RIP. No more pain for her.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about your friend! Sounds like she was a strong, positive fighter! I did not realize there is a group for us triple neg survivors! Just joined! Cancer does suck and I think about it every day!!!
ReplyDeleteCrystal was my friend. She married my husband and I. Thank you for writing this. As someone who has only known people with cancer, I don’t know the struggles. I saw my friend fighting for her life. Fighting to smile. I’m glad she doesn’t have to fight anymore however the world lost the most beautiful soul I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. My thoughts and positive energy are going your way. Please don’t let cancer win. Fight with everything you have.
ReplyDeleteCrystal was, and still is, my beautiful, intelligent, and brave warrior cousin. Energy like hers doesn’t die ~ it is everlasting. I shall carry her with me in my thoughts, prayers, and in my heart. While I planted a Pink Diamond Hydrangea in my garden just hours after August 1st became her Heaven Day, a butterfly fluttered by me and perched itself on the flowers....a sign that she is with us, and that she is now at peace. Our last conversation was in writing, and she insisted that I become a motivational speaker and write a book about persevering after losing a child, to help people. I hope she knows what a true inspiration she has been in my life and the lives of so many others.
ReplyDeleteI was a hospice nurse for a long time, and the butterfly is the symbol of hospice nursing and care. How amazingly beautiful and perfect that this happened for you. I believe wholeheartedly that she sent that butterfly to you to say she was ok and that she was near. You’re right, Crystal was incredibly wise and shes right: write that book. Good luck to you. And much love.
DeleteI thought I knew the worst emotional pain possible when my grandmother died of metastatic breast cancer. She was 87, and I thought what a terrible injustice to have passed at this age in pain and suffering. My mother was diagnosed with the same cancer and so far, is in remission. I thought ok, we’ve got this.
ReplyDeleteMy dear, sweet friend and colleague crystal’s death hit me harder than I’ve felt in a long time, if ever. I can’t wrap my head around it. This was an incredibly beautiful tribute to her and I thank you for sharing it on her page. Continue to fight, girl. I promised myself with crystal’s death that I would do my best to fundraise and to be vocal. Her struggle and pain will NOT be forgotten. Good luck to you, you are in my prayers. You’ve got this. Even me, as a perfect stranger, has your back, even if only in prayer. Fuck cancer. Fucking fuck cancer.