The next decade....what's in store?
Musings of a yamfooted traveller still trying to shake off those last 20 pounds as she treks across the Caribbean
(SEE UPDATES IN COMMENTS). And a new post is below.
You just never know what this life is going to throw at you.
One of my friends who was to have been at my birthday fete this Saturday, passed away last night suddenly. I believe it was while undergoing emergency surgery. I would guess she was about 34 or 35.
She was bubbly, even as she battled that dreaded disease Lupus. Everytime we spoke, she was always upbeat and positive.
I first met her when she was about 6 or 7, on the netball courts. Our mothers both played netball for Jamaica. Her mother had by then retired and was living in the country. They came in for something that was happening at the stadium.
I didn't have any contact with her again until she came to work at the hotel in Kingston where I was working, after doing similar studies like I did in Nassau.
She hated the job.
Her real passion was to work with kids, and after a couple of years, she got a scholarship to do her Masters in Chicago. I believe it was in Early Childhood Education.
Then she was happy. This is what she wrote in one of her emails to me last year February...
Other than that (she had updated me on her health), school is going great. I have 4 and 5 year olds in Kindergarten and I just love it. We have a lot of fun and the work load is so much easier.
By then, she had been diagnosed. Her body took a beating, with the different medications she was on. We always kept in contact. She would write me from Chicago, that was before email was around. She went to visit her brother (who she knew I had a bit of a crush on since she would tell me when he was coming for her at work, so that I would bake pineapple upside down cake for him, which he loved) and gave me reports.
While I was in England studying, she would pop up on Messenger ever so often and we would chat. She would update me on her health. Once, when I hadn't heard from her in a while, she emailed to say that while in Europe (she married an Italian), she took ill and had to have emergency surgery in Germany I believe it was.
But she was always positive. When I would moan while in Nottingham, that I was putting on back weight because I couldn't afford the university's gym, she encouraged me to exercise in my room. She used to exercise to Tae Bo videos and do sit ups and such the like and I was inspired.
I went out and bought a step. I would marvel that despite everything that she endured, she would be like the birds you hear in the morning at first light. Very chirpy. Whenever I thought I was having struggles, I would remember that hers were much much much greater than anything I have ever endured. Her kidneys had been attacked and she did dialysis twice per week. When she replied to my invitation on Evite.com 6 days ago, she said...
I'll see if (her brother) will be up that weekend - and then it depends on how I feel after dialysis that day... ;K!
My memories of the last two times I saw her was first at the Quad one Wednesday night (Dr D, you were there) and at a fete called Good Times, which plays 70's / 80's music.
I know she will be there in spirit, and I know she would want the party to go on.
Rest in peace dear bright bubbly positive friend. Gone Too Soon
Posted by yamfoot at October 25, 2006 07:39 PMSo sorry to hear about your friend its always so sad, she sounds like a gem of a person keep your head up.
Posted by: Amelia at October 19, 2006 10:16 PMOh, that's just so sad.
Posted by: Gela at October 20, 2006 08:54 AMSorry to hear about your friend Michelle. We all need to try to be inspirations to those who we meet in the time we are here and to draw from each other. I will pray for you and her family at this time.
Posted by: g at October 20, 2006 09:34 AMSorry to hear your sad news. It seems like you (and others) have lots of good memories of her so she will live in you forever
Posted by: Kingston Girl at October 20, 2006 10:03 AMI too had the absolute pleasure of having had Neli as a part of my life. She was everything Michelle said and possibly more. She will definitely be missed. Plenty prayers for her family as this must be exceedingly hard for them.
Rest in peace Nelisa.
Sorry to hear. So Sad.
Posted by: Marc at October 20, 2006 03:23 PMThank you for sharing that with us. It was very moving and helped to put some perspective on life. wow...don't know what else to say... May her soul rest in peace
Posted by: Kelly at October 20, 2006 04:51 PMSorry to hear about your friend. Definately gone too soon. life is so fragile and unpredictable.
Posted by: Stunner at October 21, 2006 08:03 PMI knew a girl who died from the same thing. She was the girlfriend of one of Natty's cousins bredrins and we used to all go to the country together for weekends and so on. She was irie. That disease is really shi__y. Sorry to hear about your friend. You are right, she would want the party to go on. Don't feel no way to enjoy your special night never the less.
Posted by: Mad Bull at October 21, 2006 09:52 PMHappy Birthday! There is much in life to celebrate...
So sorry to learn about the loss of your dear friend.
Posted by: PP at October 22, 2006 06:49 AMHappy Birthday! I hope that the coming years bring you good health, great prosperity and much love.
Posted by: weightloss115 at October 22, 2006 10:17 AMOh sorry to hear about your friend. I was off-line for a bit and thought that I had missed your B-day. The passing of your friend is just a reminder of how fragile life is and if you never lose those last few lbs, just be so proud of your life and the accomplishments you have made this far.
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Posted by: Campfyah at October 23, 2006 11:41 AMI know Nelly from High School. Great Girl. I also had a crush on her brother, the doctor one. My condolences to you and all her family and friends.
Happy Birthday. Here's to 40 more!!
Island Spice, all three are doctors - two medical and one dental.
UPDATE
I understand that she had finished dialysis and was in recovery when her heart stopped. They tried to resuscitate her but no luck. Spoke with her Mum last Friday, and she said that Nelisa had told her recently that she was just tired, tired of everything. So maybe it was just time.
She was 35. When I had emailed everybody earlier this year to tell them what my year was going to be like and to expect 40th b'day celebration, she responded and said "Fabulous!!!! I've just turned 35 and look like 16!"
Some friends from work in Jamaica were reminding me on Monday that she entered Miss Jamaica a few years ago and came in the top 10. When she was asked a question, she first said to the emcee "I'm so nervous, you wouldn't believe how nervous I am". But that was Nelisa, said what was on her mind.
At the fete, I did a little remembrance of her and there was a video person there so he will pull that out separately and I will give it to her family. She did not want a funeral so there will be a celebration at a family member's house in Kingston then something at hte family home in the country. She will be cremated and her ashes sprinkled somewhere in the country, can't recall. She had written everything down and her family knows that they have to do as she wanted.
I hope she is in a better place. I think so. Yes.
Chin up, Yammie, definitely a better place. Hopefully, U enjoyed your day in a manner that woulda put a smile on her face.
Posted by: Melody Piggy at October 25, 2006 08:19 PMmy condolences
Posted by: jdid at October 26, 2006 06:44 AMI too knew (in the General sense) Nelisa. I was in the same class with her sister Fiona. She was in Junior School, while we were in high school. My heart goes out to the family and to you. May her soul rest in peace.
Posted by: Charlene Gordon at January 20, 2007 04:53 AMNeli's spirit must have led me to your blog today. This week marks a year since she left us and a few of us remembered her by participating in a Walk For Lupus in Florida last Sunday. I really hope that people take the time to learn more about Lupus as there is no cure as yet and we need as many people to rally around this cause.
To learn more about Lupus they can visit: www.lupus.org
To visit the page I created for Neli (it's kinda long): www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=243877&lis=1&kntae243877=00168DA4E2C04F549277662E153A2A6D&supId=188578700
Thank you for sharing your wondeful memories of our true angel.
Posted by: Simone at October 20, 2007 04:56 PM