Phil Friedman

6 years ago · 1 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Farewell Sweet Girl

Farewell Sweet Girl

Farewell Sweet Gil

MY HEART ACHES TODAY...


My heart aches today, for my niece died last evening.

After a three-year battle with cancer.

It was a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma that generally has an eighty-five percent chance of being cured or driven into remission.

But her's did not respond to the common treatment regimen.

Nor did it respond to the more aggressive treatment regimens. 

It eventually appeared to respond to an, as yet, leading edge, "experimental" drug treatment, which appeared to drive the scourge into complete remission.

But the cancer was only hiding, and it returned after a brief respite.

My heart aches today, for my niece died last evening.

Like my wife and I, her parents are "older".

They are devastated, for no parent ever contemplates having a child die before them.

Knowing what's coming never really eases the pain when time and life run out.

And their hearts are breaking, never, I am certain, to be repaired.

My heart aches today, for my niece died last evening.

She was so brave, it made you cry.

She never asked why her, and always accepted, with few complaints, the discomforts and pain of the disease's progression and of the treatments themselves.

She struggled valiantly to maintain a semblance of normal life, while she picked away at her bucket list.

In the later stages, she doggedly refused to enter hospital, insisting instead to stay at home with her family and dogs.

Even sat with them all to watch and cheer the last Superbowl game.

Until time and strength finally ran out.

My heart aches today, for my niece died last evening.

She was nineteen.



Postscript: Please, take a few minutes today to donate a dollar or two to Cancer Research... so that sometime in future fewer hearts will ache and fewer tears shed.  Thank you.

― Phil Friedman



"
#Farewell Sweet Girl #niece #evening #heart #today
Comments

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #27

Dear Phil Friedman, I want them to discover even more advanced therapies. Why we are poor at science? If there is no dignity for us -fading horses, youth deserves nothing less... Fractals forever, my friend.

Joel Anderson

6 years ago #26

My sincere and heartfelt condolences to you and the entire family.

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #25

Condolences Phil Friedman Our lot to grieve, but cruelest when the older generation have to mourn the passing of the young.

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #24

Condolences Phil Friedman Our lot to grieve, but cruelest when the the older generation have to mourn the passing of the young.

🐝 Fatima G. Williams

6 years ago #23

My heartfelt condolences Phil Friedman I'm praying for her family and friends and I see an angel smiling down at us in peace. May her soul R.I.P

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #22

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your expressions of sympathy and support. You are all very kind, and I am better for being part of this community. Now, there is nothing for it, but the passage of time. My best to all of you.

Franci 🐝Eugenia Hoffman

6 years ago #21

My deepest condolences, Phil. I am sending prayers and blessings to you and your family.

Martin Wright

6 years ago #20

Please accept my condolences.

Neil Smith

6 years ago #19

So sorry to hear this Phil. No-one should have to bury their child. It's what keeps parents awake at night. Wish you and your family all the best at this terribly sad time.

Lisa Gallagher

6 years ago #18

I'm very sorry for your loss and the loss her parents are feeling, I can't begin to imagine. Sending good thoughts and prayers to all of you.

David B. Grinberg

6 years ago #17

May she rest in peace in a better place, Phil, looking down on you with blessings from heaven.

Paul Walters

6 years ago #16

Phil Friedman Oh Phil, o sorry. Life is often cruel and a 19 year old gone far , far too soon !

Jim Murray

6 years ago #15

So sorry Phil. My sincere condolences.

don kerr

6 years ago #14

Phil Friedman From the Kerr family to the Friedman family - our love, support, encouragement and wishes for peace. Bless you.

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #13

Please, take a few minutes today to donate a dollar or two to Cancer Research... so that sometime in future fewer hearts will ache and fewer tears shed. Thank you. ― Phil Friedman

Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

6 years ago #12

Phil Friedman this is very very sad . My condolences. Thanks for sharing your sorrow.... I have no words ... nobody can understand why this kind of things happen to us...... wishing you and your family all the best.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #11

Dear Phil Friedman, I am so saddened to read your post. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time. Wishing you all much strength. I have done as you asked in your postscript.

CityVP Manjit

6 years ago #10

Phil, I was just mentioning on Ali Anani's post that I have been to one too many funerals of young people between the ages of 17 and 25 and sadly here is another earth-angel passing and man is this devastating most of all to a mother and father. I would classify the loss of a child has the most crushing experience because that is the last thing in the world we could conceive happening. I know how deeply this affects the timeline of a family because I was a second born, with my own mother losing her first child and that she was petrified to experience that trauma again, I was completely sheltered as a child. I recognize fully your grief, it is an awful thing to experience and for all the love and support and kindness of words or sympathies, this is horrible news and that makes my condolences far more difficult. It comes at the same time as your good friend says goodbye to essentially a core part of his life, in the passing of Bob Twidle. It makes it much more personal when one writes about their family - so I am closer to the situation and it registers, and has Jim takes care of his sister Sharon, to experience another loss in the same time becomes that much more overwhelming. Your photograph of the candle is a very sensitive and touching tribute - because your niece represents that flame and "farewell sweet girl" expresses so much in its black background of simplicity. I am so sorry to hear this Phil - it is the passing of another young life, something I wish I don't get to see - but it is real, it is a heavy loss and I pass my deepest regards to you and your family and most of all the mother and father of your niece. I can only offer them my thoughts and deepest condolences at this tragic moment and yes, this kind of news cuts into me because I value the future and that future is made of people like your niece. My sincerest regards Manjit

Kevin Pashuk

6 years ago #9

Cancer is insidious and no respecter of age or position. We are all touched by its deadly impact and should give to those seeking a cure. What a beautiful tribute Phil. So sorry for your family's loss. She sounds like an amazing young person.

Harvey Lloyd

6 years ago #8

If i only had words to say. My heart breaks for you and the parents today. She sounds like she made quite an impact even in her illness. Condolences. Heavenly Father, We reach to you for understanding in this tragic loss. A young lady whose life has been taken from the ones that love her, grant them peace and understanding as they seek each other as a family. Amen

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #7

Phil Friedman Dear Phil. I am deeply sorry to hear about this tragic loss of a young life. My sincere condolences in this time of heartbreak. Your friend, Gert.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #6

Phil Friedman Dear Phil. I am deeply sorry to hear about this tragic loss of a young life. My sincerest condolences during this time of heartbreak. Your friend, Gert.

Julio Angel 🐝Lopez Lopez

6 years ago #5

I am so sorry Phil Friedman

Mohammed Abdul Jawad

6 years ago #4

Phil Friedman Sorry to hear the painful, sad demise of your niece. May the Almighty Lord bless you and the loved ones with patience, calm and comfort for this loss.

Laurent Boscherini

6 years ago #3

Dear Phil Friedman , I am very sorry for the loss of your Loved Niece, my deepest condolences. Keep shining for her insightful lessons of courage and humility.

Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

6 years ago #2

I am so, so sorry foe your loss. Far too young to be taken. Your grief is beautifully represented.

Pascal Derrien

6 years ago #1

this is a heartbreaking note , Phil I am so sorry for your loss.....

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