Life is precious…

I had to learn that the hard way this past week. I think many of us seem to forget just how vulnerable we are in this world and while it is true that no one lives forever many of us tend to forget that.

A close family friend passed away this week as a result of a car accident, she was only 23 years old. She was studying in medical school at the University of Louisville. She had her whole life ahead of her, but that wasn’t her fate. While she was driving on the highway she encountered a bike that someone must have dropped and swerved to avoid it, but as she swerved she lost control of her car and crashed into the guardrail on the side. She was transported to UK hospital but the damage was already done. She never made it out of surgery.

Many of us had to deal not only with the sadness of losing someone we care about, but also with such a tragic story. Death can have a silver lining though. It can bring people together who never thought they would speak again, it can bring a community together to grieve regardless of race, religion or color, and help the family by comforting and supporting them, it truly can remind us of how precious family, friends and life really is. And it can change us for the better, when we realize just how fragile human life is.

I’ve learned that if I get angry with someone I care about, to not a hold a grudge. You never know when the last time you see each other will be. I’ve learned that there is nothing greater or more satisfying than giving. Whether it is a smile to someone who was having a bad day, a hug to show someone you care, or an ultimate act of giving like giving blood.

When our friend was in surgery she was given 26 pints of blood, which is basically the amount that a human body has. Because our friend was set on being a doctor so she could help others and save lives, a few friends found a way to give back in her honor by giving back blood. A blood drive was set up on Facebook and hundreds responded. The blood centers were booked and the workers would tell us how many came to give blood, it truly was beautiful and was a bittersweet kind of happiness that some good came out of this tragedy.

I think death comes along sometimes in our lives to kind of recoup us and to refocus our attention on what is important in life. Because sometimes we tend to forget just how precious life can be.