Supporting friends during hard times
Iam a terrible friend to have when something tragic happens. have never been good at finding the words to say to someone who feels like the very ground beneath them has been ripped away and they are free-falling not knowing when the ground will meet them.
Kayla Langley is my oldest friend. We were born four months apart and have been there through some of the best and worst moments of each others' lives. We have miles between us now. She lives in Arkadelphia and I am here in El Dorado and we may not speak daily like we did in high school but we have remained close.
But I’ve seen guys break her heart, seen her graduate college with a bachelor's degree in physiology, lose family members, deal with mean high school girls who acted like a friend to her face and saw her add more and more animals to her ever-growing brood.
I was there through it all, giving her advice or a shoulder when she needed it. However, the latest obstacle is one I wasn’t prepared for.
Kayla’s mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a month ago. When I saw the news, I didn’t know what to say. To be completely honest, I never thought that out of all the people I knew, that Kasey Langley (Kayla’s mom) would have cancer.
She is tough and didn’t take crap from anyone. She has been the backbone of her family for years. She raised Kayla and her older brother without the help of their dad. After the death of her father, she took care of both her and her parent’s households.
If anything, I thought cancer would be too scared of the heck that Kasey
Langley would give it to decide to pick on her. Unfortunately I was wrong; cancer does not discriminate and Kasey has had to enter the ring with it.
What do you say to the girl whose mother has always stubbornly done everything on her own? The girl who knows her mother has been the rock for her family as long as she can remember?
I have taken some time to think and I
have so many things that I want to say to Kayla.
I am terrible with coping with sad or upsetting news so I will simply start with the obvious. Cancer sucks but if any person can come out the other side as strong as ever it is her mother.
I want to remind my friend how much I love her. Remember that I am always here to talk through or listen to what is going on.
I am also sorry I haven't been able to be there more than a couple of texts.
I sometimes wish things were like they were in high school – when I was a text message away and we could go for a ride and figure out all the answers of the world’s problems.
With all that we have been through, we will make it through this with your mom.
Haley Smith can be contacted at 870-8626611 or by hsmith@ eldoradonews. com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter on @hsmithEDNT.