Shanera McKay
Mrs Bradshaw
English and Grammar
February 29th 2013

My most precious moment

"When you hear a song or see a bird I loved pleased don’t let the thought of me be sad , for I am loving you just as I always have ," said Steph. Life growing up was good, we all had great parent who taught us right from wrong, to share, take responsibility and not to answer back our elders. My best friend at that time was the only one I could confined in and trust in moreover it was my sister Steph; she was the second eldest, others would say too she was the most beautiful of the seven girl, the one that had that Colgate smile.”Charlie, Cecilia I hope that you have that shot gun near, this little would make a father kill." Steph was the one I would go to when feeling down and she would give me advice or we would just talk and have random conversation. Steph understood me you know being the baby girl, life is not always easy and I could still remember her telling me, "indeed Shan you are beautiful no matter what everyone thinks God made you to love others and to love yourself so to hell with what others want to say," and my reply would be, "thanks Steph, by you saying those words make me feel so special". From then on I kept remembering her words that she said to me.

On October 7th 2006,tragedy struck or family like a category five hurricane hitting Belize .Steph was diagnosed with stage one cancer she went to Mexico on October 29 of that same year to see the doctor for her stage one cervical cancer where she had to undergo surgery where she had to took out her womb as I was told by my other sibling but never from her . That entire month my heart was in agony it felt like I could not breathe, I felt that my heart would stop beating at any minute any second any time my mind was never focus I kept on cry as the thought of her flows thru my mind .On February 14 2008, When she return back home for awhile everything was going ok, she was going back to work and everything seems normal. She had Britney and Sheena. I would normally use to babysit Britney and I still do up to this day, she is now 8 years old; Sheena 22 years old and one grandson Jayden Castillo who is such a darling whom I also take care of. Life was ok! On March 3rd, Steph got sick and was taken to see a gynecologist name Doctor Sosa where she then found out she had already advance to stage four cervical cancer and was told nothing else could be done expect for her to take radiation and chemo therapy treatment. She spends six months in Los Angles, then she came back on August 15th and died September 15th at 10 on that night, exactly 6 months after being diagnose. During that one month, I took care of Steph I fed her; bathe her and whatever I could to make her happy as that was all we could have done at the time. Some days I would ask Steph what she would want me to cook for her and her main course would be neck and back soup, escabeche or some homemade macaroni and cheese and I would say "anything you want Steph, anything you want I would make just for you. Every day I would prepare what she wanted, even waking up as early as 4:30 to go and take care of her until Sheena or someone else came to relief me. For the day we would sit and talk jokes to one another just to pass the time as she was bed ridden after awhile or I would play her favorite CDs for her to hear. We would play songs such as " God give me strength to face another day” from Morgan heritage. That was her favorite song .

Then suddenly things turned for the worst and as the days go by my heart was heavy with sorrow having to watch my loving Steph drift away from this earth, it hurt so bad to have to sit down and watch. By the grace of God I endured it, on Tuesday 15th September 2009 at 10pm, Steph close her eyes, took her last gasp of breath and went with her undying faith to be with our master and creator and to another fly white dove." an angle has left was more again.” I said to her baby girl as I hell her in my arms and watch her crying a river .She will have No more pain or discomfort just to be at peace. I did not cry, I just said to myself she was out of all pain and suffering. On December 5 of that same year that morning when I wake up I had just realize that Steph was gone and she’s not coming back. That Was day of her earth strong . When that hit me I cried like a baby yearning for the comfort of their mother. But deep down in my heart I try to comfort myself. I now know that she is safe where she is and she knows that her two daughters are safe and she can now rest in peace. So what can I say, life with Steph for me was fun, ecstatic, vibrant, wholesome and the list goes on. Not a day goes by that she is forgotten but sadly missed. Sleep on my beautiful sister sleep on with the angels. I will forever now and always love you until we meet one day. "My precious moment,” I quietly said to myself me and my sister Steph.