Day 11: Walking Through Loss and Learning to Move Forward — Family, Faith & Cancer Awareness is something that weights heavy on my heart as my grandmother had 10 sisters and brothers. Yesterday we buried my cousin Larry who passed away from Pancretic Cancer, and this makes me worry either my brother my sister or I will end up with Cancer.
Please keep Lisa Marie Bird and her family in your Prayers as we bury my cousin Larry her husband. — One of my mom’s best friends and a man who fought hard, loved deeply, and left this world far too soon because of pancreatic cancer.
Loss has a way of stopping time and speeding it up at once. One minute you’re remembering childhood stories, the next you’re helping someone find their shoes so you can get out the door. Grief doesn’t pause the chaos; it sits inside it.
Supporting Lisa and Joseph– Today isn’t just goodbye. It’s standing beside Lisa, who has carried more than most people will ever know, and being present for Joseph her son, who’s grieving in his own way. Remember support doesn’t need perfect words — just steady presence.
Cancer Has Taken Someone Else We Love – Once again CANCER — or as we call it, C or the big C and no, I do not mean Charlie — has taken someone else we love. This time it was pancreatic cancer, one of the hardest kinds because it hides until it’s too late. Larry didn’t deserve that. No one does. So please: get checked. If something feels off, don’t wait. If your body whispers, listen before it has to shout.
Family Voices– David said, “We’ll get through today together.” C asked if he could wear something nice “because Larry deserves that.” Bear and Pheobie stayed close. Gerald reminded us, “We show up for our people.”
Moving Forward Doesn’t Mean Forgetting– It means carrying someone with you in a new way — telling their stories, remembering their laugh, honoring their life by living yours fully.
Porch‑Truth Moment– Grief doesn’t need to be poetic to be real. Sometimes it’s just showing up, holding on, and taking the next right step.
Call to Action– Have you walked through a loss like this? What helped you move forward? Share your thoughts — your words may comfort someone who needs them today
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
