I received an email late last night from someone that I have been corresponding with that has cancer. She was friends with another girl I have been talking with Julie.
Julie’s brother lived here in Arizona and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer like I was early last year. We would email and share stories for support. I never had the chance to speak or meet her brother, but I felt like I knew him through his sister.
Anyway, I found out that he passed away last week. I don’t know the details of what happened. Last time I heard from Julie was in the fall of last year. I know that her brother Tom married his girlfriend and was traveling all over. It seemed like he was doing great. After I heard the news I cried. It is just so sad that he passed away just as he was starting a new life with his wife.
He was 32 years old like me, I believe. It makes everything seem so real. In the past year I have made several friends that have passed. It doesn’t get any easier and I count my blessings for the time that I have.
Tom’s obituary was on Azcentral.com: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-michael-mclaughlin&pid=139547026