I’ll start this post by saying that it’s been a real hard two years, with the last two weeks being pretty awful, and the last 6 days best summed up as heart breaking. On August 22nd my childhood friend and college roomie, Amanda Rees, lost her battle to cancer.
Amanda was an amazing friend to many, a devoted wife to her one and only, and an inspirational mother to her three beautiful children. Losing my friend at the age of 31 is devastating. She bravely fought her cancer (a very rare high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma) for over two years with what some would argue was the most positive outlook ever . Amanda taught me so much about strength and love and courage, even when the hand she’d been dealt seemed to be the most unfair of all.
I spent the last couple of days in Indiana saying goodbye. It was good to be surrounded by family and friends to grieve. As tragic as it is for 3 young children to lose their momma in such an unfair way, it makes my heart happy to see Amanda live on in each of them. If they have half as much fun as we did, well then I know Amanda will be smiling smirking.
I want to thank you for your support after this post I shared two years ago. I felt that I owed it to you all to let you know of Amanda’s passing. I will be forever grateful for the emails of support, prayers, and resources that were shared.
I feel comfort knowing that you are now free of pain, Amanda. Rest in peace.
Thank you Meredith. I’m so sorry for your loss as well, absolutely tragic. Prayers your way. xoxo
Thank you Gabrielle.
Thank you Allison.
Thank you Jen. The love does indeed march on. Thank for sharing your story – I will pray for you too. xo
Thank you Darcy.
Thank you Carey.
Thanks Kimberly.
Thank you Lone.
Thank you Shannon. I’m sorry to hear about your friend. How incredibly traggic. I will send prayers your way too. xo
Thank you Kristen.
Thank you Michelle.
Thanks Meghan. Hugs.
Thank you Albertina. I will pray for your friend’s family as well.
Thank you Andrea.
Thank you Ashley.
Thanks Morgan. How wonderful of you to start the team in her honor. I will pray for them too.
Thanks Gaby. So heartbreaking.
Thank you Emily.
Thanks Liz. She did :)
Thanks Gray.
Thank you Krista. Means a lot.
Thank you Char.
Thank you Ashley.
Thank you Lauren.
Thank you Anne.
Thank you Katherine.
Thank you Katie.
Thank you Gret.
Thank you Karena.
Thank you Melanie.
Thank you Katie.
Thank you Jordin.
Thank you Julia.
Thank you Paula.
Thank you Christine.
Thank you Eileen.
Thank you Christine.
Thank you Leah.
Thank you Sarah.
Thank you Joanna.
Thank you Becky.
Thank you Alex.
Thank you Erin.
Thank you Suzi.
Thank you Caycee.
I am so sorry to hear of your heartbreaking loss and also of another beautiful young woman, wife and mother lost to cancer at such a young age. Last year a friend of mine faced a similar road and also left this world too soon. The similarities to your friends’ story are far too many and I hope that their beautiful memories will live on forever. I know it stays with me daily as a reminder to keep sight of what is truly most important. Thank you for sharing her story… she is in my prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear of your friend’s passing Chass :( Sending some love and positive thoughts your way my dear!.
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your good friend. Chassity, my heart goes out to you. I am keeping Amanda’s family and you, too, in my thoughts and prayers. Life is so so precious.
September 11th 2010. That is when my mother lost her battle with cancer. I HATE CANCER.
I am happy that you had a friend who took up such a large place in your heart and still does.
I was thinking the other day about if it would have been better if my mom was not my best friend. Would it be easier now that she is gone.
Would it be better for you if you did not have this pain?
Well of course not. The love you have marches on.
xoxo from san francisco
jen
My heart is breaking reading this post today :( My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Big hugs, Darcy
My heart is breaking reading this post today :( My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Big hugs, Darcy
So very sorry for your loss. What a heartbreaking story. Praying for peace for you and her family.
Such sad news, My heart goes out to you. Sending love your way!
I’m so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to the family
hey chassity, so sorry for your loss. my childhood best friend was killed in a car crash 5 yrs ago and i think about her daily and remember the wonderful times we spent together growing up. you have a wonderful angel looking out for you now. sending prayers your way. xo- Shannon
so very sorry for your loss, chassity
i am so sorry for you loss! my heart goes out to you, her family and friends.
I’ve been thinking of you a lot the past few days. Sending warm hugs.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your sweet friend. WHat a tragedy. Life is really so unfair. We just went through the same thing with my daughter’s friend’s mother. My heart goes out to you, her family especially the children and husband and parents.
Oh, Chassity. I’m so sorry for your loss. I will certainly say a prayer for you and your friend’s family.
I am so beyond sorry to hear about the loss of this beautiful person Chassity. Sending endless thoughts, prayers and love to her family and friends during this difficult time. xx
Oh Chassity, I am so so very sorry to hear about your loss of a dear friend. What a terrible thing to lose a life so young, and for children to lose a mother at such very young ages. Deaths like that never seem fair…and it’s so hard to figure out the plan behind it all. I truly believe God had amazing things in store for her precious family left behind…and faith is the only thing that can truly get anyone through tragedies such as this. A month ago, a girl in Tanner’s 1st grade class last year, lost her mother to a battle with breast cancer…a battle fought for two years. I’ve started a Race for the Cure team in her honor. She left two young children and her husband behind. My prayers are with you, and her family in hopes for steady healing. This is always a reminder of how precious and fragile life truly is. Hug your loved ones tight. Everyday. xoxo
Oh my Goodness Chass, I’m so so so sorry. Breaks my heart knowing those little kids don’t have their momma anymore.
Oh Chassity, I am so sorry for your loss.
Chassity, I am so sorry for the loss of your close friend. I remember meeting Amanda in Bloomington at your apartment. She had a smile that would like up a room. Keeping you and all who were close to Amanda in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Liz
Love you Chass. My heart is breaking for you and for her family.
Ugh. I am so sorry to hear this news. I remember your original post about Amanda. We will keep everyone in our thoughts and prayers, especially those three little babies. The only comfort is knowing that she is no longer in pain– and take it from a girl who has lost her Momma.. I can vouch that she IS watching over them. Sending lots of love.
chassity, i am so sorry to hear this heartbreaking news. i will keep you and most certainly her family and children in my thoughts and prayers. thinking of you, sweet friend. my deepest sympathy. xoxo
i’m so sorry for your loss. my heart goes out to you… losing someone you love is a special kind of pain.
Really sorry for your loss. Nothing can make it better – hug your little ones a little tighter when you get back from Indiana. Thinking of you.
What a lovely tribute to your friend… so sorry for your loss.
I am so very sorry for your loss. You and Amanda’s family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
So very sorry for the loss of your friend. My all your wonderful memories keep her spirit alive. Saying prayers for her family.
So sorry for your loss – her family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Chassity I am so very sorry. I am keeping her family and yours in my heart and prayers. It breaks my heart and I know you were the best friend in the world to her.
xoxo
Karena
I am so, so sorry for your loss. How heartbreaking not only for you and all her friends, but her family…her husband and little children. Just devastating.
So very, very sorry for the loss of your beautiful friend. Praying for her family and yours.
I am so sorry Chassity. Cancer is such a terrible thing! I will be praying for her family and you too!
My heart literally hurts as I read this. Those children. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this must be for her husband and everyone involved. I’ll be saying big prayers for you and her sweet little family.
Chassity, I am so, so sorry for your loss! My thoughts and prayers are with you. I wish there was more I could do at times like this! Take care of yourself!
I’m so incredibly sorry to hear about your friend’s passing- so incredibly sad for her children, family and friends. Sending hugs and so much love to you and her loved ones. xoxoxo
Thinking of you and her precious family. What a comfort she is in no pain now. sending so much love.
This is so incredibly heartbreaking, I’m sorry for your loss. Sending lots of love your way!
my heart goes out to you and her family. hoping her family and friends find some peace eventually in this tragedy. much love!
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Please know I am keeping Amanda’s family and yours in my prayers.
I am so incredibly sad for this young woman. I will pray for her husband and her 3 beautiful children. I am so sorry for your loss. Truly heartbreaking.
I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of her family + you today.
-Becky
The Pumpkin Spot
I’m so so sorry for your loss Chassity. What a heart breaking thing to happen. Thinking you and your friends’ family.
I am SO sorry to hear of your loss. You, her children and husband will be in my prayers. What a tragedy.
Chassity, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is times like these, when the world seems like such an unfair place, that there really are no words to appropriately express how you, and all those who loved her, must feel. I hope you all find some strength and peace in the people praying for you and her family. Myself included.
Chassity I am so very sorry. This is so heartbreaking. I am and will continuing praying for her beautiful family. Sending big hugs and kisses to you today!