She's Gone...

September 28th, 2010 will be a day I will never, EVER forget. It's the day we lost our beautiful, wonderful friend, Sierra to cancer.
It all began back in January when I received a call that she was in the hospital getting an MRI to find out why she was having vision issues. That progressed to finding out that brain cancer was the cause. She stayed in the hospital...fighting to regain her strength and then headed home to continue the fight. After a few ups and downs, in August (when I last saw her)...the tumors were shrinking. The chemo and radiation were working.
All was well, until I received a call on 9/24...that she was back in the hospital and wasn't doing well. As I received updates throughout the weekend, the prognosis looked worse and worse as her tumors had quadrupled.
After several seizures on Monday...she succumbed to the cancer overnight and lost her battle at just 31 years old...just 18 days before she was to be married. Such a tragic loss for everyone who knew her. Now, instead of celebrating her wedding, we're going to be having her memorial.
She was our rock...and it's hard to know what to do without her, now that she's gone. I know that she'll keep us all together...in whatever way she can. She's going to be the sassiest little Angel looking down over us.

If anything, I think this whole experience helped me appreciate the people in my life. The fact that all family is healthy and that we have such amazing friends that support us through times like this. It's made the "small stuff", just that. It's times like this that make you re-prioritize the things in your life. Makes you thankful and appreciate all that you have.

Please keep Sierra's family and friends in your thoughts...as we journey to find out what our lives are going to be without our loving friend.

Rest in Peace, my sweet Sierra-Boo! I love you! 7/13/79 - 9/28/10