Monday 25 September 2017

Losing a sister to cancer.

My sister and I used to laugh when we imagined ourselves as two little old ladies, putting the world to rights. It seems impossible to think that will never be.

In July my lovely sister died of cancer. She was 55-years-old, and an amazing, funny, strong and beautiful person. She was my best friend.

It was terminal cancer, so we’d known for over three years that the day would come when we would have to say goodbye. For me, most of that time was spent in denial. I would tell her I knew what the future held; she would insist I hadn’t really accepted it. She was right. But then I was hoping for a miracle.

Reality hit with an enormous thud earlier this year. Miracles melted away. A painful headache and a seizure found us in A & E. A scan followed, and after several torturous hours we were told the cancer had spread to her brain.

There was a 50% chance that radiation would shrink the tumours and give her longer. But while she was having the radiation, she also had her regular scan on her liver.

The results from that scan revealed there was nothing more they could do.

What followed was an ‘end of life’ talk. That’s when my sister finally crumbled. She’d been so, so brave throughout – but being told what to expect just before death was understandably too much for both of us. My heart seemed to tighten when the news came. I felt hopeless, helpless, angry, sad, desperate – there aren’t enough words to describe the emotions I felt.

But I still thought we had time. More time. Precious time.

We had no idea how soon it would be. We weren’t told. But the doctor was concerned that her skin had started to yellow. My sister began to feel so tired, but the medical staff thought it could be the radiation causing that. So we stayed ever hopeful that we had longer.

But it wasn’t the radiation causing her exhaustion. Her liver was failing.

She moved in with us, and we thought we would have months together, but everything happened so quickly. Six days later she passed away.

I try to tell myself that we shared three happy years after diagnosis. That we were lucky to have had so many happy times together where she did all the things she loved doing. And, of course, I have memories stretching back to when we were children.

But I felt far from lucky. I felt numb, my body ached, I didn’t know what to do with the feelings that made me feel so helpless. I’d never felt pain like it.

Before she died, she promised she would find a way of telling me she was OK. She told me exactly where she would leave a white feather. The day after she died there was a feather in the exact spot she said there would be one. I go from believing she put it there, to thinking I’m being silly, crazy, daft. 

Because when someone you love dies, you do question your own sanity. The whole make up of who you are seems to shift on its axis.

Lately I see white feathers absolutely everywhere. Maybe my sister is getting a bit miffed with me for not believing, and throwing feathers in my path. I can hear her playful voice saying ‘Here you go, have lots, if you don’t believe me.’ But it’s more likely white feathers have always littered the grass verges, and clung to trees, and I’m only noticing them now. But I know what I want to believe.

Grief is numbing, crippling, it made me feel ill, sick, knotted with pain. I didn’t feel like myself at all. Nothing I have ever felt comes close to the agony that consumed me after the loss of my sister, and life will never be the same because there’s a huge hole where she had been by my side for the whole of my life.

I keep hearing her upbeat voice in my head – telling me to carry on, but I have to tell her I’m so, so sorry, but it’s far too hard right now. ‘You’ll get there,’ she tells me. ‘You have to.’

And as the days became weeks, and now the weeks are turning into months, I try to be strong. I do as much as I can to keep busy, as I find it helps. But it’s the triggers that catch me and make me cry when I least expect it, like when I was in Tesco I spotted a jacket with a soft collar I knew she would have loved. I go days sometimes, where thoughts of her give me comfort, and then other times I can’t stop crying. I’m not sure if I will ever get over losing my sister, but I hope, in time, I will learn to live with it.

I debated for a while whether to put up this blog post. It’s very personal, and was written to help me process my thoughts. But I decided to post it today, because through the worst of the pain, I found similar posts from others comforting. My blog doesn’t get many visitors anymore, but if just one person stumbles upon my words, and it helps them a little, it was worth posting.



25 comments:

Sue Blackburn said...

Oh Mandy there are no words. But I am quite, quite sure your words will help and bring comfort to anybody suffering because only somebody who has been through it can really understand. Sending you love and hugs xxxx

Amanda said...

Thank you, Sue xxxx

karen said...

Beautifully written words, Mandy. I love the thought of your sister bombarding you with feathers, and I hope with time there'll be more comforting thoughts than heartbreaking ones xxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh Amanda, that is so sad. You've made me cry and I'm sure your words will resonate with anyone who's been through something similar. Sending you big hugs and well done for posting such a brave and honest post. I'm sure your sister would be proud. Helen x

Amanda said...

Thank you, Karen and Helen
xxxx

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Dear Amanda - death is difficult to adjust to its coming ... it does seem that the two of you had a lovely three years together ... and it's those memories that you will have and the fact she was able to be with you at the end. The white feathers are a fascinating thought - I've read about them on occasions.

Blogging has taught me so much ... and I've followed people who share their grief or thoughts ... you help us all by sharing here. I am so sorry for your loss - but as Helen says your sister would be proud of you.

Take care - and with many thoughts - Hilary

Amanda said...

Thank you, Hilary xx

Jo said...

What a beautiful piece of writing. Your sister would be so proud of you. I'm sure she is ensuring you see those white feathers and take comfort from them. Grief is a hideous process. I've been through it many times, having lost too many precious people close to me. Try to be kind to yourself and allow yourself lots of time. Take comfort in the love of close friends and other family members and from good books. Sending virtual hugs.

Amanda said...

Thank you, Jo x

Wendy's Writing said...

I cried when ai ted this, Mandy. I am so very, very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing with your readers and I'm sending lots of love to you and your family xx

Amanda said...

Thank you, Wendy xx

DAB said...

Such beautiful words,so sorry for your lost Ms Allsorts. Take care TFxx

Amanda said...

Thank you, TF. I hope you're okay. XX

Patsy said...

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your sister.

Amanda said...

Thank you, Patsy x

crissy said...

I’m grieving a loss to come the pain I feel now is crippling me I can’t imagine how worse it will be when I loose her your blog is beautiful and thankyou for putting my thoughts into words as I feel your pain xxxx

Amanda said...

I’m so sorry, Crissy, I feel your pain too. It’s such a dreadful, impossible time, and I’m sure you must feel as I do, that life can be so unfair at times. Do make the most of the time you still have together, I know it’s so very hard. My sister has been gone for almost ten months, and although I’m not exactly coping I'm learning to live with her loss, although some days it’s still so hard. It’s true what they say, that grief comes in waves, and it sometimes it hits afresh I won't see her again. I still cling to the white feathers I see, believing she’s still there somewhere, looking out for me, and I imagine her telling me I have to be strong – as she always did. Thinking of you at this very difficult time. XX

JanCooke said...

My beautiful sister died at 54 years old just a month ago, February 1 2019. I live and work in Spain and was on the way to see her in the UK as I knew she had only a few days left. I was hours too late and beat myself up so much about that, but I had spent 3 weeks over the Xmas and New Year period seeing her every single day and went with her to the oncologist appointment before I returned to Spain. We messaged daily several times and I still go to send her a message now until I realise that
she has gone. Her death was rapid with such an aggressive cancer that no treatment was given other than palliative and it was a shock to all the family. I miss her so much as her big sister.

Amanda said...

I’m so sorry to hear your sad news about your sister. It is incredibly painful to lose a sister that you are close to. Please don’t add guilt that you couldn’t get home in time to your grief. Your sister knew how much you loved her, and you did everything you could. It’s such early days, and you will be struggling – don’t be afraid to cry when you need to, and take care of yourself. Remembering happy times will come with time, and those memories will be your way of keeping her alive. With time, you will learn to cope with her loss, but be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions. Even now, I never go a day without thinking of my sister. Thinking of you. X




With love, Soozeeq said...

Thank you xxx

Amanda said...

You're very welcome, Soozeeq. XXX

Bophaangkor said...

Thank you so much for posting this. I just lost my sister who is 32 two days ago and I find this story to be so comforting. Sadness strikes and it strikes terribly. Been just chilling in my house can't make myself go anymore. We shared a house so everything she has is here and it such an empty feeling that she is no longer here. They say time heals all wounds as if right now I can't see that happening.

Amanda said...

I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister, Bophaangkor. Things will feel impossible right now. Unbearable. You will wonder how you’ll ever survive this impossible grief. But you will. Time doesn’t heel, in my opinion, but you will learn to live with her loss. I still miss my sister terribly, and never a day goes by when I don’t think of her, and there are days when it hits me afresh, and I still can’t believe she’s gone – but I’ve learnt to keep her memory inside me, and live around her loss. Things do get better, but you’ll be grieving terribly right now, and you must give yourself time for that. Take care of yourself xxx

Unknown said...

Thank you for posting, I lost my sister today and I'm trying to get through it.

Amanda said...

I'm so sorry to hear you have lost your sister. My thoughts are with you at this heartbreaking time. xx