On July 19, 2012 we lost our dear friend Mayra Andrade to Breast Cancer. She was only 28 years young. That sentence alone is tragic in the most literal definition. Unfortunately I didn't know Mayra on a personal level nearly as well as the hundreds upon hundreds that attended both the wake & the following days funeral ceremony, but I feel I can speak on the subject nonetheless. From what I knew of Mayra in the brief time I knew her, I can tell you she was an amazing person who adored her husband Ivan, her 2 beautiful daughters, her brother , sister, and her parents equally. Her sense of family was strong and only rivaled by her sense of friendship to those who were lucky enough to be able to call themselves friends. Cynthia was devastated by Mayra's passing. They grew up together, were born only days apart , and were essentially sisters from different mothers. Mayra was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and fell to a disease that by all rights in our technologically advanced society should have been cured long ago. Magic Johnson has had AIDS for 20+ years and looks healthier than almost anyone I know personally. The disease of all diseases has yet to cause him to have a simple flu yet a 28 year old woman in her prime with everything to live for is struck down with a randomness only to be found by lottery winners. It's not fair on any level or in any sense of the word "fair". Hearing doctors say " There's nothing more we can do" is the equivalent of giving up on their parts. To me this translates to "We've done all the insurance companies will approve so you're on your own." Yes the last statements were laced with an unwillingness to accept the statement "There's nothing else we can do. " It's a cop out and a snap shot of what the entire medical field has become. Again, I'm just taken aback and confused at such a senseless loss and all I can blame is the
medical profession. Sue me
Mayra deserved better. Her family deserved better. Ivan deserved better, and her daughters deserved better. I'm upset about it and I wasn't even in the inner circle of Mayra's life. I can't fathom what or how her loved one's closest to her must be feeling right now. My heart goes out to them all. I'm as far from a devout catholic as you'll find. Disillusioned fits better, but my prayers , as much as I feel they fall on deaf ears, are with everyone who loved Mayra, and feel the epic loss that is left in the aftermath.
I don't have as many stories as everyone else did for obvious reasons but my personal favorite was from Cynthia's and my wedding. When Cynthia threw the bouquet , poor Mayra was shoulder blocked to the ground by a 50 something year old woman who I still don't know all to get the bouquet. I remember vividly Mayra on her knees, a beaming smile, laughing , trying to figure out what just happened. Every picture she was in showed off her radiant personality with her illuminating smile that all who knew her came to adore.
I didn't count specifically but there were hundreds of people who came out to show their respects, tell stories about Mayra, and console the devastated family and close friends. Cynthia will tell you I'm not a public crier but I had moments even I couldn't hold back tears listening to people speak about this woman who left us way ahead of what we all felt would be her designated time so to speak. It's that kind of outpouring of support and love that make even a jaded, people hater such as myself change their views, if even for a short time. That alone shows how important and essential one person can be. It reminds me of a personal favorite film of mine , "It's a Wonderful Life" where George bailey wishes he had never been born. A Guardian Angel Clarence shows him how everyone he had touched was a lesser person just for him not being there. I feel that now everyone who knew Mayra will really understand how much better off they were just for her being there. One person can touch so many, and from what I witnessed the past few days, she touched most everybody.
I can't express enough my sorrow for her loss and for the sense of loss all who loved her dearly will be dealing with for years to come. She will live on through both of her gorgeous daughters. Ivan has a rough road ahead, but those girls couldn't ask for a better dad to show them the way.
I don't say this often but, God bless Mayra's family.
My heart goes out to you all.
~ Tony
