Ode to my friend Brook, may she rest in peace.

[frozenpancakesm]

Today, I went to my friend Brook's funeral to say a final goodbye.  All day, I thought about her and how she had touched people's lives, including my own.

Brook was a bit younger than me and we were going through somewhat different stages in our lives when we met (I was a working mom struggling to make the whole career, marriage, motherhood balance work, and she was still a newlywed just starting out her career), but I always liked her tremendously and enjoyed her company whenever we got together.  She was beautiful and had a great sense of humor.  Brook did the best dead-on impressions of people we knew.  She brought a lot of joy into everyone's lives. 

Brook and I were working at the same law firm in downtown Los Angeles a few years back when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at the tender age of 29.  The cancer had metastasized to her liver and her prognosis left little to hope for.  After bravely battling the disease for four years, she finally succumbed to it a few nights ago.  By her side, as always, was her family, including, of course, the person whom I believed loved her more than anyone else in this world, her mother. 

The thing that struck me most deeply about Brook's battle with cancer was not the incredible will with which she fought it (though that in itself was nothing short of inspirational), but the constant source of love and support she received from her mother.  Though Brook was married at that time, it was her mother and not her husband, who unwaveringly took care of Brook's every need.  Her mother fed her, bathed her, clothed her, chaffeured her ... whatever Brook needed, her mother was there to provide it, day in and day out.  I had never seen one person so completely dedicated to another's well-being.

Today at the funeral, my heart broke every time I heard Brook's mother wail in pain.  I could see that she was barely able to hold herself together during the service.  I knew as everyone else did that seeing her child laying in a casket was more than she could bear.  Every time I imagined her pain, I too would break down.  What could be worse than outliving your own child?  No mother should ever have to endure that.  How could anyone be expected endure that -- to have a child taken away and your heart ripped out of you?  How could life be so cruel to someone so undeserving of it?  Some things I will never understand ...

Alas, to my friend Brook:  Good-bye.  I hope you rest well.  May you find peace wherever your spirit now dwells.  And may you look after your mom from where you are and give her the peace and comfort she's always wanted for you. 

[GaMomx3]

Jul. 26, 2008 at 6:34 PM

I am so sorry to hear about your friend passing away. I will keep everyone in my thoughts.

[Snowmama413]

Jul. 27, 2008 at 9:47 PM

My prayers go out to your friend Brooke's family but most of all to her mother! 

[almemoore]

Jul. 30, 2008 at 4:11 PM

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Your journal post about her was wonderful, but heartbreaking.  As a mother I cannot even fathom out living my children!  Thank you for sharing her story with everyone.