The Person I Admire Most: My Sister Karen’s Brave Fight Against Cancer
Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of losing my sister to cancer and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her. Grief doesn’t have a time limit and it hits in waves. This week has been a hard week and I honestly just want to get go sit by the water on the beach and do nothing.Probably will be taking a trip there tomorrow. But here is a post I wrote my dear sister Karen.
Some people leave a mark on your life so deep, so profound, that even years later, their presence still lives in your heart like a warm echo. For me, that person is my sister, Karen.
Karen was more than just my sister—she was my confidant, my role model, and the person who made me laugh when I wanted to cry. She had a fire in her spirit, a tenderness in her heart, and a quiet strength that could move mountains.
She was only 27 years old when we lost her to cancer.
But this post isn’t just about her death. It’s about her life—how she lived, how she fought, and how she continues to inspire me every single day.
A Quiet Strength
Karen never asked for pity. From the moment she was diagnosed, she met cancer with grace, grit, and dignity. There were hard days, painful days, days where her body was tired—but not once did her spirit waver.
Even as she went through treatments, hospital visits, and moments no one her age should ever have to face, she remained hopeful. She still smiled. She still cared more about how I was doing than what she was going through.
That was Karen.
A Legacy of Love
I was pregnant with my oldest daughter when we lost her. It felt like the most bittersweet chapter of my life—mourning the loss of my sister while preparing to bring a new life into the world. There were moments I didn’t know how I’d get through it. But then I’d think of Karen.
Her courage. Her compassion. Her unwavering strength.
She may not have met my daughter in this life, but I see glimpses of her in the way my daughter smiles, in her stubborn determination, and in the way she lights up a room. I tell her about her Aunt Karen often. About the woman who taught me what real bravery looks like.
Why I Admire Her So Deeply
Karen never let cancer define her. She lived fully—even when her days were numbered. She laughed, she loved, she made people feel seen. She didn’t fight because she was afraid to die—she fought because she loved life that much.
She taught me to cherish the small things. To hug tighter. To say “I love you” more. To show up for the people who matter and to be strong even when it feels impossible.
A Promise I Carry Forward
I write this today not just to honor her memory, but to remind myself—and hopefully you—that life is precious. That there’s beauty even in the darkest seasons. And that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it’s found in a soft voice saying, “I’ll keep going.”
Karen kept going. Right up until the end. And even in her passing, she gave me the greatest gift—the reminder that love lives on.
She will always be the person I admire most. Not because of how she died, but because of how she lived.
If you’ve ever loved and lost, or known someone who’s fought a battle bigger than themselves, my heart is with you. I’d love to hear about the people you carry in your heart, too.
With love and remembrance,
Melissa
