Remembering friends

Today marks the 21st anniversary of my best friend's death from non-hodgkin's lymphoma aged just 18.  I shed a few tears remembering how she suffered, but battled through with amazing courage and spirit.  It's only when you have cancer yourself do you truly appreciate what living with cancer is really like.  I stood on the sidelines and watched a teenager cruelly taken away from us when she should have been enjoying some of the best years of her life.  She wore a smile and made us laugh even when she was really sick.  I will never forget that friendship.
Cancer never goes away from you.  As I sit here thinking about what her life might have been like, I think how fortunate I am to be given another chance with mine.  This is partly why I want to make a difference.  Cancer has weakened me in many ways physically and mentally, but it has given me and new strength and direction in life.  I wear my scars proudly, a battle won.  I hope like Margaret was inspirational for me, I can inspire someone else in their dark places that cancer takes them.

My challenges to celebrate my 2 major landmarks are almost at the end.  This week I visited our local cubs and scouts to talk to them a little bit about my cancer and the charity that has helped me throughout.  They will be embarking on their sponsored swim in little over a week's time, hopefully generating a little more money for the charity, but also gaining a better understanding about how a local charity works near them.
The support I've had as be amazing throughout the last few months.  It really will have made a difference to people's lives with cancer.
Margaret I hope is looking down on me proud of what has been achieved.  She will always hold a piece of my heart.

https://www.justgiving.com/Louisevernon4040/