Mick, I feel for you so much, and I know nothing can take away your pain. I understand, too, your feelings for your daughter's friend - we have an 'adopted' daughter too who we care for as much as our own.

It may not help now, but perhaps in the future, a slightly adapted version of a song which has helped us through in the past:

        THE LEAF

As I was a-walking one morning at ease,
A-viewing the leaves as they fell from the trees,
All in full motion appearing to be:
Those that had withered, they fell from the tree.

        What's the life of a man any more than a leaf?
        A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
        Although through this life we appear fine and gay,
        Like a leaf we must wither and soon fade away.

If you had seen the leaves just a few days ago,
How beautiful and bright they did all seem to grow;
A frost came upon them and withered them all;
A storm came along them and down they did fall.

When age or affliction upon us do call,
Like a leaf we must wither and down we must fall;
Some taken early, so soon to depart,
But as we remember, they live in our hearts.

You're very much in my thoughts.

Love,
Barbara