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Khanh Nguyen Budnick

Sent in by: missysamantha

Dear Aunt Khanh,

You fought till the very end. Even when it pained you too much to speak, you still managed to whisper to me that you loved me. I'm blessed enough to have those as your last words to me. I wanted so badly to go to your funeral; but it was held in Connecticut, and I, as you know, live in California. I wore all white to school the day of your funeral.

I never got to properly mourn for you. To properly let you go. Last year, I walked at Relay for Life for you, and I got one of those Luminaria bags with your name on it. When I saw they finally started putting them out, I went searching for yours, among hundreds, like a madwoman. When I finally found it, it was like losing you all over again. Needless to say, I fell in front of your bag, and cried in front of it for two and a half hours. It was 9 PM on October 10, 2009. And it was around 45 degrees. I was so cold; but I couldn't stop yet. Did you see me? Could you see me from heaven? I hope you did.

God, can't believe I'm crying still, three years later. Did you know that I got diagnosed too? Last year. I really wish you were still here, so you could've helped me through everything. All the treatments. All the sickness. I needed you. I miss you everyday, and I love you.