Bad news during the holiday season just sucks.
There, I said it.
On Wednesday, December 21, 2011 I got a ton of bad news. All in one day. To say that this tested my strength and spirit is an understatement.
On that one day, I found out that a high school classmate of mine lost her short fight with cancer, a friend of the family was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, and a friend I had lost touch with had actually passed away on 3/6/2010.
Whew…hard to get in the holiday spirit with so much bad news and grief.
First, my high school friend: We had only reconnected in the last year (some 20 years after graduating.) All I can say is thank goodness for Facebook! :)
Anyway, we had just reconnected and this past summer, they found skin cancer in her cheek, then that was cleared and November 12, they found a cancerous cell in her arm. She turned 41 on December 12 and died December 21. I had no idea the prognosis was that bad (I had never heard of anyone dying from skin cancer), otherwise I would have visited her in the hospital. Nonetheless, she passed away after much suffering and a valiant fight. She leaves behind a husband and 3 sons. My heart is heavy. I was unable to attend the services this week because I’ve been sick.
Our friend of the family had some “stomach” pains that got so bad she had to go to the hospital. There, they did scans and immediately did surgery just to confirm the diagnosis. Now, the true fight begins for her and her family.
And lastly, my friend who had passed away last year and I had no idea. The only way I found out is that I got a Christmas card from her husband. The card had a picture of him and the kids ONLY. So I Googled her name and found her obituary.
I don’t deal with bad news “well” on a normal basis, but during the holidays just drained me. It was very difficult to be happy with so much sorrow around me.
My only saving grace was my children, who in their wonderful innocence were excited about Santa. Thank God for them, because otherwise I could have been consumed with sorrow.
My sorrow in no way compares to those whose family members are actually experiencing this difficult time. However, it has done my soul good to find the blessings of the season, and remember my friends in better times.
Plus, it has made me VERY grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life.
