Heavy Heart

Today I have a heavy heart. Today my beautiful and brave friend, Cora passed away after her battle with cancer.  I am devastated because we had planned to visit with her this week, but the chemo side effects got the better of me with this new drug and so our visit was delayed.

I hope I had told her everything I wanted to before she passed. I am so grateful for knowing her and I was always inspired by her achievements in her life. She was a successful sales manager, had travelled the world, had overcome brain surgery, had bought and paid off her own house in her 20's and she was loved and adored by all who knew her. I never heard a bad word spoken about anyone from Cora, her gentle spirit touched us deeply.

Cora and I met at AAPT and with Peter we have all been friends for around 18 years. Cora was a beautiful person both inside and out and we shared a healthy interest in food and fashion. We shared many happy times together with her thoughtful, ever charming partner, Peter.  They were my surrogate family when I moved to Melbourne and took me under their wing.

Andres Christening

In the earlier days, before marriage, kids and moving to the northern suburbs, many a weekend was filled with hanging out with Cora, Peter and Grafton, the cat. They embraced me in their lives, they were happy times filled with laughter. We shared sad times too, like taking turns in rolling over Grafton in his dying days. Cora was my first choice to be my bridesmaid who had been there for me when I needed her.

Our busy lives And geographical distance now meant we couldn't just drop in on each other and our catch ups were squeezed in between me having babies and feeding times or when Cora was in town :) although when we did catch up it was like we saw each other yesterday and picked up where we left off like all good friendships.

Engagement Dinner

Engagement Dinner with my special friends

Visit with newborn Andres

When last seeing my friend, we shared some memories while I painted her toe nails and massaged her legs. A tradition I started when last she was in hospital for brain surgery. I hope I added to her life as much as she had mine. When I left that day, Cora was struggling, but we still managed to laugh about things. She told me she was dying and told me that she loved me. I was always hopeful that it was just a hump, that she would get through this.  When she had been moved to the palliative hospital I spoke to Peter and he was positive about long term care plans etc, it seemed hopeful, while not the outcome we wanted.

I will never forget her smile, her grace and her contagious laugh. I can hear it now and it makes me smile. I can't believe that I won't see or hear her again. My heart breaks for Peter, her mum Letitzia

Her Dad and her brother., Marco.

Sleep well my beautiful friend.