Lulu ♡.

Today is a very sad day for me. I am heartbroken because one of my fellow warriors passed away. Her name was Lucinda Rivera, but I called her "Lulu." Lulu and I initially met at Beth Isreal, a hospital on the Lower East Side, the very first time I realized I would be having surgery to remove pieces of the abnormalties I had growing inside of my breast. I was twenty. Lulu was five. Lulu had already become accustomed to going under the knife, due to the fact that she had Leukemia.  By then I'd already survived numerous surgeries, due to being born with Cerebral Palsy, yet and still, I was afraid because this was the first time a knife would be cutting me above my waist. I remember Lulu turning to me as I was filling out some papers and saying " Don't worry, everything will be just great. I do this all the time it's not that hard, see..." When I looked up from my forms, Lulu had taken off her hat, which revealed a head full surgery scars, some more recent than others. I knew from that  exact moment,  whatever I faced, from here on out I had be brave about it. If she could do it, so could I. I saw Lulu several more times after that day, it turns out we ended up being referred to the same place. The Cancer Center, which is  also located on the Lower East Side. Every time Lulu saw me, even after my surgery she would say "Don't be a Chicken ZeeZee, Even if it hurts you have to be a big girl, like me" And because of that, I was. She gave me the strength to be brave. The last time I saw Lulu, was a couple months ago, long after I got the news that my masses had grown back, and that even though they wouldn't be killing me anytime soon, I would be in pain for the rest of my life.  I was getting my blood pressure checked and scolded by my doctor to easy up on the stress. It was just before my twenty second birthday. Lulu had come in for a routine checkup. She was wearing a pink tutu with white polka dots, carrying a butterfly shaped wand. She ran up to me and gave me a hug, but she squeezed too tight. The pain shot through my breast like I had gotten stung by a bee, and when she realized she hurt me she  waved her wand and said "There I poofed the pain away" I don't know what Lulu did, but the stinging did indeed, subside. Shortly after that, I turned twenty-two, had crazy summer adventures and come September, moved into my new home. Even though I hadn't seen her in a while, I never stopped thinking about Lulu.  Her doctor and my doctor were friends, so my doctor was kind enough to check up on her progress and let me know she was hanging in there. Until today.  Today, the angel that was Lucinda Rivera, received her wings. Lulu was strong, Lulu was beautiful and positive, every chance she got. It hurts me to my core that life her was so short, but I know, by the way she affected me, and countless others, it was more than meaningful. Rest in peace Lulu, ZeeZee loves you. Always.