Gabi’s Story
In November 2022, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and had a life-altering stroke. She passed away in May 2024, and my world shattered.
My dad had already passed away from Multiple Myeloma in 2016, so after losing both parents to cancer by the time I was 29, life didn’t feel worth living anymore.
At first, I was scared that I would feel this way forever. My mom was my rock, my best friend and my world. She was my inspiration and everything I wanted to be. She was beautiful, fun, lively, funny, smart and successful.
She was an amazing mother who always put her three daughters first. She gave us the space to make mistakes and grow on our own. She took us all over the world, and taught us the importance of learning about other cultures and seeing how other people live. She was an entrepreneur, who owned and built a successful security company with over 500 employees. She had a heart of gold. She always wanted to help the people around her, and saw the best in people.
At first, I didn't know how to carry on without her, but I knew I had her strength. Her perseverance. Her ability to overcome anything. And then one day.. I finally had the capacity to do more than lie in bed and cry.
I began a journey of rediscovering myself. Who am I without my mom, what is my purpose, and what brings me joy?
I learned to sit with my grief without being consumed by it, to reimagined my future without guilt, to bring small joys back into my life, and took small steps forward.
I turned to social media in the hopes that I could connect with others who were also navigating life after loss, and began sharing my grief journey on TikTok.
The response was overwhelmingly positive, and I started receiving so many messages from people telling me that my content was making them feel less alone. This gave me a sense of purpose and connection for the first time since my mom passed.
I did a Life Coach certification program and started working privately with a few young adults navigating life after loss. I finally felt like my life had purpose again.
Your life will always be touched by loss, but it can also have meaning.
Initially after experiencing a loss, survival is the only goal. However, there comes a point in time where we need to change our narrative, take control of our lives back, and move forward.
If you’re tired of surviving and ready to begin rebuilding, check out my website and get in contact with me to see if my support may benefit you.
