Last night I found out that one of my very first twitter friends @Beautiful1Amy (@cute1amy before she changed it) had passed away. She had been in the hospital for awhile now, but I still spoke to her fairly regularly and never saw this coming. To say I was shocked and devastated would really be an understatement. I spoke with her at least a few times a week. She was always there for me in good times and bad. She always had a kind word, a saucy comment, a book recommendation or a word of advice and I can’t imagine what it will be like without her. She was on 23 years old. Far, far too young to be gone. My life, like my twitter stream, will never be the same without her. I can only take solace in the fact that at least her pain and suffering have been relieved now. Goodbye, dear Amy, thank you for being such a wonderful friend.
For all that I get riled up when people (*cough* Dr. Phil!) say that lupus is no big deal, isn’t dangerous, isn’t real I sometimes find myself playing it down. Ok so some of that is probably a coping response to the stress. Still, I occasionally miss a med time or knowingly overdo it and I say “oops” as if it’s no big deal. Sometimes when you’re sick all the time it’s easy to forget how dangerous that illness can be, and how important it is to be careful. Or, even if you’re careful, how threatening the illness can be on a whim of it’s own. I find myself chastised and resolved to be ever more diligent against monster that is lupus.
In loving memory of Amy. RIP.