Passing Away

From August 2000 to April 24, 2001 we had 4 deaths in the family. First was our sister-in-law in August, followed by our father in September 12, lost our sister to cancer in November 4, then our mother in April 24 of 2001.

On April 11, 2009, almost exactly 8 years after, my brother passed away with complications from kidney failure that led to cardiac arrest. He is the husband of my sister-in-law who passed away in August of 2000. Though he would be 70 on September of this year, it was difficult to accept that he succumbed to an unlikely disease, uncommon in our family, just like the sister we lost to cancer.

Death is a reality that will happen to us all and must be accepted. But acceptance becomes difficult if the cause is not natural or it was untimely. It was a lot easier to accept the passing of our father and mother as they were 88 and 85 years of age then respectively. It was really about time for them to rest because 5 years before their demise, life was quite difficult for them to get along with. They both passed away quietly without pain. Our sister and brother faced the fact that their time was about to come for months. It was as difficult for them as it was for us. Their quality of life was way below normal during the months after they were diagnosed. The treatments and hospitalizations were more of an agony for them as it was for us seeing them in that state.