a heavy heart

My mind and heart are feeling a bit heavy right now. It's mainly about my best friend's family. We will see how well I can put this all into words...



A few months ago Neala's step-dad died fairly suddenly. He was so healthy up until about a week before he passed away. He was so much more then just a "step-dad" really and that title doesn't do justice for the role he played in her life. I can't remember off hand how long her mom, Leah, and Joe were married but I want to say it was over 20 years.

You see, thankfully Neala's mom and dad met, got married and had children or Neala wouldn't be here today. But, reality is that Joe was really her mom's soul mate. They were a team, fit together like the perfect puzzle. They were best friends, life mates.

And now, he's gone. She's here. She's not alone by any means, she has children and grandchildren, family and friends. But, she doesn't have Joe. I can't fathom how that must feel.

Quite some time ago Neala's grandmother, Leah's mom, was diagnosed with cancer. She was given a short time to live and has surpassed that amount of time many times over. Eight months ago she was given two months to live, and again, she is still here.

Sadly though, she is coming to the end of her fight. Her body is full of cancer now and although her mind is fully functioning her body is not. It is failing her.

So now Leah, who lost her soul mate just a few months ago, will be soon losing her mom. Her mom.

If you look up the meaning of "mom" you will basically find that it is the informal word for "mother". If you look up "mother" you will discover that it is a person who has borne children or who has children through adoption, step-mother, or mother-in-law. Really, you won't find a true meaning. Because, fact be known, there are just no words to really explain this word. Can you grasp what I am trying to say?

In just a few months this wonderful person has lost her husband and will soon lose her mom.

Her husband.

Her mom.

How does someone deal with such loss? I just can't grasp this, and today my heart is heavy with sadness for Leah.

Yes, I am sad for Neala because she is my best friend and her loss and soon to be loss is just terrible. Yet, it is her mom that my heart is just so heavy for today.