🌿Losing my friend to cancer taught me that every day is a gift

July 16, 2025

She was a fiery redhead, a smidge taller than me at just over five feet. She was the queen of online bargains, an extraordinary mom to four beautiful girls, and an incredibly dear friend of mine.

She died at 53 years old. And today, as I write this, it would have been her 54th birthday.

She will never get to see her oldest daughter graduate college or watch her youngest walk across a high school stage. And the weight of that reality has never left me.

When she passed, I started questioning everything: Why does it even matter? We follow the rules, do all the “right” things—and still, life can be so painfully unfair.

And then I thought about the way she lived.

She didn’t just exist—she lit up every space she walked into. Her love was steady, her strength quiet but powerful. As a mom, a woman, and a friend, she showed us how to live with heart.

That’s when it hit me: it matters way more than we think.

Every single day is a gift—not a guarantee. So, I choose to live fully, loudly, and with the same fierce love she gave to everyone around her.

Because she can’t anymore. But I still can.

And for her—for all the moments she won’t get—I will keep showing up, living fully, and loving fiercely.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, my beautiful friend. RIP 🩷

Lisa White Burns

Founder of Her Path, LLC

Financial Wellness for Women

💚 If you’re grieving, please know you do not have to carry it alone.

💚 Support is out there—whether through organizations like The Compassionate Friends (for bereaved parents) or Griefline, or through local grief groups, community centers, or faith communities.

💚 Mental health professionals—therapists, counselors, and grief specialists—can also offer meaningful guidance and support as you navigate loss. The right support can make all the difference—and you deserve that care.

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