Written by
Isaiah Derkevics
Dania Beach, Florida – When I was in ninth grade, my mom called me into her room and told me something that changed my life forever. She explained carefully that she had stage four cancer and that her time on earth was coming to an end. In that moment, I didn’t know how to feel. I was sad, overwhelmed, and it felt like I was lost. I sat there with her, listening to the details of the situation, trying to get a better understanding. As she went on, my mom began to cry, and that was the point when I felt true sadness. She told me that the doctors said she only had a few months left to live, and even through the pain she stayed strong for me, because that was who she was. We talked about what the future would bring and how this would affect me.
The main thing I remember was her encouraging me to keep my faith in God and not let this get in the way of my life, but instead to keep working hard toward my goals. Her relationship with God was the center of her life, and with that came a sense of peace, knowing where she would be in the end. After her passing, I came to a true realization of her character and how strong she was. To stay positive in a situation like hers was very moving. After our talk, she even made a TikTok account where she built up quite a following, sharing her journey with others as a way to give hope and show that no matter what situation you are in, you can always find the positives. Losing her was the hardest challenge I’ve faced, but even now her
message still guides me and helps me to continue to be strong. She taught me that faith, hard work, and positivity can carry me through anything.
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