Remembering Danie

Two weeks ago, our lives were rocked to the core when my cousin and best friend Danie passed away after a short battle with a very aggressive rare form of cancer.

Danie was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that the doctor didn't even know what to make of called Synovial Sarcoma about 2 years ago. It started with a lump in her leg. When the doctors found that lump, they were hopeful because it was not near any organs. They removed the lump in October 2013 and were pretty confident they removed everything. They did recommend chemotherapy as a preventive measure.

Danie started chemo in January of 2014. After two rounds of chemo they did a scan to ensure that everything was great and instead, they found a huge cancerous mass in her lungs. The cancer that we thought was under control had metastasized in her lungs. The doctors were dumfounded. They didn't know how to proceed.

Danie found a doctor in Austria that was willing to try a different approach to attacking the cancer and in July of 2014 she went to Austria for 6 weeks to fight for her life. By the time she got to Austria, there were about 6 new cancerous cells in her lungs. After the trip to Austria, 4 of them were gone and 2 of them had shrunk. The doctors back in Canada where she lived were really happy with the results and we became hopeful.

Unfortunately, not even 3 months later, the cancerous cells were back in full force. The doctors told us there was nothing else they could really do for Danie. Her cancer was really aggressive and was adapting to all the treatments that were thrown its way.

Danie continued to fight and never faltered until 18 May 2015 when she passed away. I can't even believe that I am writing these words but it's the truth. Danie was a young woman full of life, she was the mother of a 4-year old son. My heart weeps for her husband and that little boy. Though we knew this was coming, it was still so painful when it happened.

 I always want to remember my Danie the way she was, full of life and joy. We've amassed an amazing amount of memories because we did everything together. We went to college together (we graduated the same year), we worked at the same place while we were in college, we traveled the world together, we got married together (we were married the same year and were each others maid of honor), we even had our first sons together. If Danie was still here, I know we were going to grow old together.

Thank you for the amazing memories Danie, I look forward to the day we'll meet again in heaven. I took a trip down memory lane and I want to share a few pics of Danie and I throughout the years.

We traveled to Canada to say goodbye to our sweet Danie.

I have been fortunate to share in so many amazing memories with Danie and for that I will be forever grateful. She left us way too young. God has a plan and though it doesn't make sense today, one day it will be clear as day. Danie made peace with her situation and two weeks before she became an angel, she said "God has healed my spirit and my soul, if he choses not to heal my body then that will be his will." Thanks be to God. I love you Danie, you will forever be in my heart.