It has been an exceptionally difficult week here in Nepal as we learned that our good friend’s mother has been diagnosed with cancer.  She was coming to Nepal for a visit and went in for a routine check-up, they noticed something and decided to do some test.  It has spread quickly to liver, lungs and lymph.  This is the first moment that Nepal has felt very far away.   Below is some quick thoughts I jotted down after the difficult news.  She is incredibly brave to be facing such news from so very far away.

The grief was so strong that it got stuck in her throat, a low gasp followed by a quick staccato inhalation.

It was worse than she thought, worse than she could imagine actually.

And I watched quietly as she cried, small rivers of tears flooding down her cheeks, grief so strong it ached to watch.

There was nothing I could do to help.  Nothing I could say to change the results, make the distance less distant, or dull the pain.

Please, sleep in my bed.  Lie down and rest your heart.

I will rest my heart too – it hurts for you but it also hurts for me, reminded that life is so fragile and nothing can prepare you for this.

It will be okay.  But it’s not okay.  But you will be okay.  But you are not okay.

My friend, I am so so sorry.