Friend lost a battle with leukaemia

[Peckhaminn]

Hi all. I had a very very close friend back when I was at college who I would spend a lot of time with and he's been battling leukaemia for the past 5 years. We haven't been in touch for the last 4 or so years and I've just found out he passed away a few days ago at the age of 26 and I'm devastated to say the least, although I hadn't seen or heard from him in a few years. Is it normal to be so upset over someone I haven't been in contact with for so long? I'm a mess and trying to work. Far too young to be taken.

You can feel whatever you wish and don’t feel guilty about it. As I read once, grief is the price we pay for love/caring

My cousin died of leukaemia as a teenager over 30 years ago and he’s never far from my thoughts.

How terribly sad, so sorry to hear this. Definitely completely normal to feel floored by this OP, and to grieve him however you need to. Grief is very complex.

As someone who has recently been bereaved and has struggled I can recommend Cruse bereavement who you can call just to have a chat if you need. They're very good, very supportive and have all been there. Sometimes it helps to make sense of how you feel and just to hear that it's normal, that you are doing well, that you are allowed to grieve as fully as you need and that over time it will feel differently to how it does now.

They helped me with a short term weekly set of sessions with a counsellor - who pulled me back from the brink to be honest and my goodness it must be hard to be on the phone to someone expressing so much hurt and bolster them. They are amazing. You can also call the hotline just to speak as a one off too, and they will listen with no judgement and very willingly.

0808 808 1677 - Phone number for Cruse should anyone (OP or otherwise) be in need of this.