Life is short

A couple of years ago, when I was pregnant with Annabelle, I went with Mel to his golf presentation night and sat next to a girl called Lisa. She was very attractive, young (perhaps mid 30s) and full of bubbly conversation. Apparently she was an ex-elite tennis player so she was very fit and healthy.

Lisa went on a trip overseas and when she came back she felt bloated and sick. She went to the doctor thinking she might have gall stones and found out she had cancer. Her liver was so riddled with it they couldn't believe she was up walking around. She started intensive treatment immediately. At some point prior to her diagnosis, she and Mel were partners in a golf tournament and they made it through to the state final which was at a resort in Port Stephens. We made a weekend of it and had a great time.It was just after her first round of chemo that we had our trip. She was wearing scarves during the day and wigs for dinner but apart from that, you would never have known she was sick. She was so positive and full of life. By then, Annabelle was five months old.

Since then, we've moved to Adelaide and Mel has stayed in touch with Lisa while she continues to get treatment. Whenever in Sydney, he goes to visit her and he's seen her health gradually decline to the point of her being unrecognisable and having difficulty talking.

Last night, Mel got a phone call to say Lisa died yesterday.

Life really can be devastatingly short. I've been moping around all week bemoaning all sorts of things that are minor inconveniences in the big scheme of things and it's given me a bit of a reality check about what's important in life.

RIP Lisa.