Today I had to go to Columbia for another one of Biggby's Big Old Waste of Times's (translations: boss's meeting about budget that didn't require me driving an hour and a half for NOTHING). After we finished up at NOON (didn't get there until 10 - like I said - Waste of Time), I decided to stop by my old office to see my friend Sandra.
A little background: I've know Sandra since the mid-90s. She is from Menden, "Weesiana" complete with the sweet little Southern accent that makes any negative thing - including 'Eff You' sound like poetry. Sandra is my friend who called the FNP when I was crying all day for no good reason and helped me to find out I was allergic to my birth control pills at the time (and not crazy, as I was sure I was). She is a CRAZY DRIVER that will make you dig your fingernails into armrests until you come to a complete stop. Speaking of fingernails, she would always keep a tube of crazy glue in her purse to reposition one of her Press-on nails when it came off. At least one nail was always needing re-attachment.
So today I stopped in to see her...when I asked for her, her boss told me she wouldn't be back until October - and I knew something was wrong. Her boss says, "you know her son died, right?" And I had no idea. About 5 years ago, Sandra's son Kenny had a kidney replacement at MUSC in Charleston. I let her stay in a vacant apartment downstairs from me during the operation and post-op. When I talked to her last, Kenny was going to have further procedures done due to the transplant. I told her I would be highly upset if she didn't call me because she and her family always had a place to stay, with us.
In July, her son was killed in a car accident. After a whole life of kidney disease, dialysis and a successful transplant, Kenny lost his life in a car accident that may or may not have been caused by his condition. My heart breaks for her.
Marie, her boss, went on to tell me that Sandra recently found a lump in her neck that turned out to be malignant. She undergoes surgery next week. Second punch....
I'm not sure why I was so determined to stop by her office today to see her, but I'm glad I did. I don't know that I'd ever know what she was going through if I hadn't.
I've lived here in the Lowcountry for 8 years now. Doesn't seem that long. I've slowly lost regular touch with some of my best friends in Columbia. Strange how time does that.... Things like this really makes you think how crazy it is that you lost touch in the first place. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Sandra. Happy Hour is on me at Baileys when you are feeling up to it again. Love you...
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