LIFE-only happens once

Saturday, I went to see my cousin Tiffanie. She is 25 years old, single mom of two spunky boys; she is dying. She was diagnosed a month ago with a rare cancer- Small Cell Ovarian Cancer. 2% of the US population is diagnosed with this. Because it is so rare, by the time that anyone is able to test and try to help, the patient passes. This cancer is so aggressive and painful. Well, I was able to see a tribute to her at her church...I have been waiting and waiting to see her, excited to hug her and tell her that I love her. I did not recognize her at all. Her face had no color or facial expressions; her eyes were glazed over and she was not able to look straight at me. Her tumor made her look 6 months pregnant and her legs and feet were really swollen. In only 2 weeks, she had drastically changed for the worse. I balled my eyes out the minute that I realized that it was her.
She stated that one fear that she had, was that her boys will not remember her, they are 5 and 3. I am sad to know that she will not be here to raise her boys, and celebrate Christmas with the family...and so on. She will not be there for their first girlfriend, the graduations or weddings. It is so scary how life is so precious and fragile. You only get one shot at life, we need to take it and live it. Enjoy family, friends, and forgive the hurt. Stop resenting others and just be glad that they want to be there for you and you for them.
I can never imagine what it would be like to know that I had only one month to live. I did promise Clarissa that when she graduated, that I would take her to Hawaii, and if anything were to happen like it did for for Tiffanie, you would find me on the beaches of Hawaii...watching Clarissa enjoy the surf.