As I celebrate another year of life, I can only be grateful and blessed to be given this gift. Looking back on my life in the last year, it has definitely had different stories, emotions, and journeys. A year of life has passed so quickly that situations and experiences, flash before my eyes.
A year ago, I celebrated a marked year. With family, friends, and loved ones, it was ultimately the best year of my life. I was "upgrading" to a new level/age in life, and getting married in the upcoming months. Life was full of happiness and beautiful memories. A year ago, I would of never imagined the circumstances, the trials, and the hardships I was going to face just months after my wedding.
Within the last year, I got married and traveled all over Italy. I visited such beautiful and historical landmarks and cities, tasted amazing Italian food which I enjoyed. We had it all, the beautiful wedding, the amazing honeymoon, and the beautiful memories. My parents and sister joined the last week of the honeymoon in which we are grateful for. Little did we know that this would be the last big celebration and last big family trip we would have together as one complete family.
As we returned home, I had about two months with my sister before she was rushed to the hospital in November. Back in 2018, she found a small bump on the back left of her head. She went to the doctor to get it checked and at the time, it was benign. She went on with life, preaching and teaching God's word with no plans to stop. In January 2019, the growth began to get larger but due to the diagnosis months before, we were told there was nothing to worry about for in this type of situation, the will bones grow but will eventually stop.
When she went in November, it was the moment where we found out she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, cancer of the bone/brain. We spent Thanksgiving in the hospital, waiting on what would come next for her. In early December, she went for surgery to have the large tumor and bone growth removed from the back left of her head (inside and out). With God's grace and miracles, after 8 hours, she came out, alert, with no complications. She sang, she recited a bible verse, she talked to us. Her brain function had no issue, no seizures, NOTHING.
My sister was on the road to recovery. She had some minor setbacks due to the large area that had no bone on her skull, but nothing would stop us from rejoicing. We spent Christmas and New Years in the hospital since some of the setbacks kept her there for a bit. But once January came around, she moved to rehab close to home.
All of January, we were in rehab, my sister continued her ministry as a pastor, and we had church in the activity room of the hospital. No matter the circumstance she was in, she was determined and driven to continue the work of the Lord, and to continue her purpose in sharing and teaching the words of God.
In February, she was released to go home. She pushed herself with therapy to make sure she could finally come home. We celebrated her birthday, but she began to feel odd. We didn't know that she was experiencing some odd speech issues since the doctors were saying she was fine. My sister fought her way through, she was extremely determined to share her testimony of her miracle with Cancer that nothing would stop her or discourage her to share this story to people.
When March came around, we celebrated my dad's birthday, and the next day we rushed her back to the hospital. My sister's cancer was aggressive and rare, it seemed it came back before we knew it. She shared her miraculous story one last time, and preached until she took her last breathe. The tumors had now grown inside the brain, and she was not facing one, but three large ones. From a 6 month timeline to 1 month, we were given 2.5 weeks left with her. She praised Jesus, sang worshiped, prayed continuously, and believed strongly. She encouraged me and my family until the very end. On March 17, 2020 she took her last breathe with my parents, myself, and my husband all in the room.
Within the months leading to my birthday this year, it has been such a journey. I have celebrated my parents anniversary, mother's day, father's day, and now my birthday without my sister all for the very first time. All moments in which are difficult to face, hard to swallow, and complicated to realize this is reality. To some, siblings already have their own lives and are not even living in the same city, state, or country. But for me, I was blessed and overly thankful to have lived at home all these years. As a family we have celebrate every moment together and I can't express how thankful I am to have those memories and times.
I write this post with a message encouraging everyone to look at life and those around you in the perspective of it may be the last. We are all busy with work and the different things we have going on in life, but life is so short. Even when you think someone is not supposed to pass at 38 years old, they do. Truly try to make it a goal to spend time with family and friends, call them and have a conversation with them, hug them when you have the chance. This last year has been such a season. I have experienced moments of happiness and new chapters in life, and I have experienced moments of sadness when a chapter in life closes and a new one needs to open.
My sister taught me so much about life. In more ways than I ever imagined. I look at her life and I am thankful for today despite the grief I'm going through. She has showed me to find joy in the good and bad, continue on regardless of the circumstances, and push yourself for what is good. Live that purpose in this life, be the light in the dark world, the encouragement to someone's day. Forgive and love those who are difficult to forgive and love. This year, I set forth to begin the new best version of myself. The person who will still find happiness despite the grief I am experiencing, to find life in all things even when it feels like life is pulling me down. To be the story that can hopefully help the ones who don't think they have one.
Today, I write this post, looking at life in many different angles. Live this life that we are still given and live it right. Let us be a piece of harmony this world needs, the inspiration that someone looks for, be the example that the next generation models after. But most of all, let us not take this life for granted, waste it on things that are not helpful and that harm people or ourselves. Let us live this one life like there is no tomorrow and be the very best version of ourselves for ourselves, and for others.
**Coming August 2020, lifestyle blog on marriage, the wedding, honeymoon, and life **
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