When someone dies your age

[Robinrs]

I know it's NATURAL to feel empathetic when someone dies your age or your parents' or children's ages... but for some reason this week has shaken me to the core.

I feel good, I feel vibrant, but I am 3 years older than Billy Mayes AND MJ!

All of a sudden my aches and pains and the fact that I fall all the time makes me realize that I'm not going to be here forever. I don't concern myself for me but my child is so young and he ONLY has me. I lost nearly my whole family in the past few years.

Anyone feeling their own mortality?

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

My father was diagnosed with cancer when he was 47 and died when he was 48. I turned 42 in May and, I'll tell ya, every year that goes by gets scarier and scarier!

 

[Pig Pen]

What a week! I used to think it was "cool" to tell my kids I was the same age as Madonna and MJ. Now I don't want to think about it!

Seriously, these thoughts started with me around my 50th birthday. It was the first bd that really bothered me.

 

[DebbieB]

I felt old when I realized I was older than President Obama (8/4/1961)!

I was at the store today and an instant coupon popped out for AARP! Hey, I'm not 50 for another 6 months!

 

[Ohiodislover]

It started for me a few years back when the Doctors started to be younger than me. Now almost all the Docs I work with, and probably 25% of the patients are younger.


It hit me last year, when DH turned 46. He is closer to 50, than 40. I'm not far behind

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

For me, it is ANYTIME someone dies that starts freaking me out. When it is a celebrity and that's all you hear about for days and days after, it gets really depressing.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

My mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2006 (she passed last year), and I've been more than a little freaked out ever since. It seems like everyday someone else I know is diagnosed with cancer. Very scary.

 

[Buckalew11]

Yes, it makes me more aware of it.

I also learned something in sunday school this a.m. that made me say, "hmm..." and feel it even more! What a week!!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

....Anyone feeling their own mortality?

I have my Medicare card, activates next month.

 

[Robinrs]

I have my Medicare card, activates next month.

I'm with you, Dan....

 

[Teacher03]

My mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2006 (she passed last year), and I've been more than a little freaked out ever since. It seems like everyday someone else I know is diagnosed with cancer. Very scary.

I know exactly where you are coming from! I'm truly sorry to hear about your mom. My MIL died at the age of 45 from uterine cancer, my mom died at the age of 65 from pancreatic cancer, and my dad was just diagnosed with lung cancer. I am turning 46 on Wednesday and although I don't think about it everyday, I am so fearful of getting cancer. It's a terrible feeling, especially once you witness someone you love go through it. I have made a decision just recently to exercise more and I am going to try to eat healthier.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Every single day.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

My mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2006 (she passed last year), and I've been more than a little freaked out ever since. It seems like everyday someone else I know is diagnosed with cancer. Very scary.

So sorry for your loss.

DH and I both had friends die recently but from different causes. Both were in their mid-30's. It really shakes you up when someone your age passes away.

 

[Micca]

I know what you mean, but there's not much we can do(other than the common sense things)

My mother outlived everyone one in her family. For years she thought she was a goner. She died at 92. Might as well keep going as best we can.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Yes, it makes me more aware of it.

I also learned something in sunday school this a.m. that made me say, "hmm..." and feel it even more! What a week!!!!

Are you allowed to share the 'hmm' moment or is it against rules??

Anyways, to the OP question, it sends a wakeup call for sure. Someone from my graduating class died last month, that shook alot of us up. 34-35 is still young, but people die at young ages all the time

 

[PaulaSue]

Yep, an ex-boyfriend died 3 years ago right before his 38th b-day. Then a troubling Mammo. Made me change my life for the better...

 

[Disnewbie76]

My dad called me in october of 2003 with news that they had found cancer. By December of that same year, he died...He was 46. I am now 33, but when I turned 30, I thought about his death at such an early age so often, that I ended up having panic attacks and problems for the last 3 years with anxiety over my mortality... I haven't had really any problems with it for the past 6 months or so, but its taken quite a bit of work to get to that point. I understand that we are all human and WILL die, and that just because my dad died young..doesn't mean I will. But to answer the original question...yes, it really does make you think about life when those around you pass away.

 

[Lorix2]

It is hard to believe that you are at an age when diseases are more likely to strike.

I lost my best friend at 43 (I'm 41) just this past Christmas day.

I had not thought much about my own mortality until I realized hours before her death, that this really was happening and could happen to me too.

Getting older is scary, huh?

 

[Ppufi]

I hear you. Having cancer at a young age really emphasizes the whole mortality thing.

 

[imabrat]

I hear you. Having cancer at a young age really emphasizes the whole mortality thing.

I was diagnosed right after my 14th birthday, and the first thing I said was "Am I going to die?". 2 months ago, I watched one of my friends from school die from cancer. She passed 2 weeks after her 16th birthday. When someone your age passes, it really reminds you how precious life is. My goal in life is to do what she never got a chance to do, help other kids with cancer.