I realize this thread is for birds, but I lost a dear friend and wanted to share...



One of the best friends I ever had passed away early Saturday morning, she was a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and the best friend I ever had.

She was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2005 and was quickly in remission........ she aggressively fought to adopt a little special needs girl from China and was finally granted approval for her and her husband, they named her Miriam Xhoumei Rich.

She went for a typical check up and was no longer in remission just before her trip to China..... she fought through the chemo and managed a very rough two week trip to China to get her new daughter.

Once back home, she was low on energy but high in spirit and fought every day to give that little girl a good american dream life. She did a great job of loving that little girl and letting her know that life wasnt going to be bad the way it had been for so many months before.

She went back into the hospital for chemo to get her ready for a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, two weeks into her stay she developed an infection friday afternoon and quietly passed away early this saturday morning.

She fought until the very very end of her short life. She was a fighter, she was the kindest and most loving person I have ever met and I am a better person for having known her.

Good bye Opi ( nickname we had, inside joke )

I will mourn you for the rest of my life, but I promise you that I will watch over John and Miriam and make sure to take her shopping and teach her all the girly things you wanted her to know.

I promise you that I will watch over your flock, your family and keep your memory alive and carry you with me in all that I do. You are my guardian angel now.....

I love you Monica

Monica Rich passed away on August 4th 2007






I love you and miss you so much already!

I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope you can find some comfort here and feel you are with friends.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was a truly wonderful person.

Thanks everyone....

I am having a very hard time dealing with this for so many reasons...... she called me friday morning, well she called the house but I wasnt home. By the time I got home late that night I knew it was too late to call her.... I never got to make that call. She didnt leave a message as she always does, I didnt think much of it then, but now I know she didnt because she didnt want to tell me she was dying.

I have one message on my machine from her, it is a comfort to still hear her voice........

My husband tells me on a regular basis that when it comes to people I am cold hearted. I guess being an army brat my entire young life can do that to you in some ways..... but when I do love, I love with my entire being.....

He realized over this weekend that I am not as cold hearted as I let on to be, I have crumbled with the death of my friend, my "soul" sister.

You all cannot even imagine how much she and I laughed, we loved 80's music and got the biggest laugh over any song that prince made..... part of our inside joke.

I dont know, I am having a hard time figuring all this out.......

but thank you for all your kind thoughts and words, they help so much more than you know

I'm so sorry. Sometimes the loss of a true friend seems even harder than the loss of a family member. Try to focus on the memories of all those good times, and know that they will grow even more special as time goes by. Prayers and condolences to you, John, and Miriam.

Sorry to hear of your loss, prayers and condolences to you, John, and Miriam.

Sorry for you loss, sending many prayers to you and the family.

i'm very sorry for your loss

I'm very sorry for your loss. At least she may be in a better place away from her pains.