Losing A Friend...(Post 25)

 Here I am Monday evening stressing-out over the NYC - Yellow Bus Strike.  Wondering how I am going to take my youngest son to school who is on the Autism Spectrum.  I also have to drop-off my oldest son to school.  When the bus comes at 7 am for my youngest child that gives me an hour to drop-off the oldest one to school.  Now the afternoon pick-up is going to be a hustle as well!

I decided to go on facebook on Tuesday morning to see how my friends and colleagues are going to manage.  When I see a message from my mother's cousin telling me to pray for my friend?!  (It so happens my friend Renee ironically lives on the same block as my cousin.)  So I quickly go to my friend's page to see what is going on.  Lo & behold a message is posted from Renee's brother stating she was in a medically induced coma and to pray fervently?!  After the initial shock wears off I send a message to my cousin, then my friend's brother, and locate her sister who knows me - and send her a message too.  Come to find out my friend Renee went in for surgery on her ovarian cysts.  She is discharge from the hospital, and when she is home becomes unexpectedly ill.  An ambulance was called and takes her to the ER where she is placed in a medically induced coma!  All I could think about is what happened to my own sister 9 years ago...

In the midst of this shock, I recall the last conversation I had with Renee.  It was in November, right after Hurricane Sandy and she wished me a Happy Belated B-day .  I happened to notice her post on fb after the Hurricane, where she is asking for Help.  I immediately call her and she tells me laughingly, the post was for her mother to come get her & the kids.  Her mother did in fact rescue her.  We go on to discuss our kids, life, and how & when we are going to meet up.  I tell her I am planning to relocate in June to FL - indeed we need to *see* each other very soon!  "Maybe I'll see you in December if it is not too cold and my mother can drive me?"  Those were the last words I said to her...

I met Renee my Freshman year in college at FAMU in Tallahassee, FL.  Someone on campus thought we should meet because we were both from Harlem, NYC.  Although we both never graduated from there and left at two different completely times - we never lost touch with one another.  She always called me and looked out for me!

Now a month later to when I was suppose to see her, she is in a coma fighting for her life!  My sister was never the same when she came out of the coma.  In fact she died a few months later.  And left my 9 year old nephew behind to my mother/ his grandmother.  My friend Renee has 5 children, including a set of twins.  I asked the family permission to visit with her and offered my services to help with her children?  (I miss her already and it hurts.)  In the meantime I pray for my dear friend...