We have lost an “amazing” soul. When I say “we”, I mean the world. We lost a loving, caring woman way too young. A woman that chose to dedicate her life to helping others with their own lives. Even while losing her battle to that awful disease she was helping others via phone with their life issues. She had this incredible gift to listen to issues until someone’s thought was finished, so that not only did they feel heard, they felt important.
I came to know Laura through my wonderful girlfriend. You see they were cousins. Laura had been fighting ovarian cancer for some time before I was blessed with an introduction to her while she was traveling to Southern California with her parents Ruth and Ralph. Her parents are incredible individuals who spend most of their waking hours helping other people as well. So I guess it’s not a stretch to understand that Laura would not only do the same but excel at it! I started this story right after Laura passed, I’m adding to it almost nine months later. I’m still searching for the words to describe how incredible this woman still is to all that knew her for more than a minute.
Even under the stress, mental and physical, of fighting this disease, she was still happy to her core. Happy for everyone’s successes, everyone’s good fortune. If those she knew were having challenges in their lives, she would listen, respond with something positive that probably was overlooked and just brighten that person’s life. Gave them hope when it seemed they had lost it.
Laura was a joy to be around. It was always a treat for me to see her and spend time with her. I haven’t always been comfortable talking to someone I knew that had a terminal illness, however Laura could always make me at ease no matter if we were talking about the weather, her illness or some insignificant issue I was having. No matter what was going on for her she put others first and just enjoyed life.
I miss her sometimes right up until I realize that she is always with everyone she touched. She’s in our hearts and in our heads. When I think of some of the talks we had, I can hear her voice. Since Laura’s passing, I have gotten to know her sister and her husband, Erica and Jason. Both also very amazing people who I love dearly too. It would be so hard not to love every member of this family. All so dynamic and wonderful, yet unique individuals each.
I’ll close for now, but I can’t promise this will be my last testimony of how Laura and her family and my girlfriends family, have touched my heart and my soul. Thank you to all. I am so very blessed from my amazing girlfriend, Eileen, to her entire family, even the family I haven’t completely been able to get to know.
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