Never forever a goodbye

This is a repost of a sad moment in 2022, the passing away of my brother Johan Sjoers.
The original post was published on July 22nd 2022.

Never forever a goodbye,

Never forever a goodbye.

Today it’s July 22nd. Your birthday.

We’ll celebrate this day, the day of your 53rd birthday.

You’re no longer with us. A few weeks ago we had to let you go. In the morning I’ll eat sunray.

I want to make the most of the day.

Giving, without wanting anything in return.

To live, because I’m not afraid.

“I have taken it, accepted it and made the most out of it.”

The disease

June 5th, 2022

We did visit you the day before in the afternoon. I helped you to get back in bed, upstairs, even though there was a bed in the living room.

You were fighting yourself, keeping control of everything. As always.

3 years ago you were diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Boom….. The world is upside down for you and us.

Accordingly, surgery, chemotherapy, and a series of radiation treatments follow.

After a while, all seemed ok. Finally, recovery and picking up life again and the joy.

But no, fate decreed otherwise.

You felt it coming from afar. Something wasn’t right.

Again, visiting the hospitals, looking for solutions.

Surgery on the liver. Unfortunately, the disease had already spread too far.

No more options, other than chemotherapy and or radiation treatments.

You decided to go for quality instead of being sick of a treatment.

For another year and a half, You were with us.

You did everything that was possible, together with your family, children, grandchildren and friends.

Always stayed positive.

We have also learned a lot from that attitude ourselves.

Amazing how strong you have been.

It’s Sunday evening, the 5th of June when the phone rings.

We were getting ready for bed in our caravan.

It was 21.40 hrs.

The end

You died peacefully, surrounded by your dear girlfriend, your children, Twirre the dog, Tibbe and Jeske, the cats.

Due to your disease, you have been so tired the last few weeks.

As your big brother, and when I hugged you for the first time ever, you told me.

Your big brother who was always so far away.

Over the past year and a half, we have caught up with time.

Always too little time but intense moments when we were together.

Finally, you were able to let go.

It’s all right, little big man.

L’ultimo re lives on and will always have you in his heart.

You’ll not be forgotten. Never, forever, a goodbye.

I love you. I always have and always will.

Never forever a goodbye.

I’ll see you on the other side.

⚔️

Here is a link where you can find a story about my brother doing one of his greatest passions.