Chris Singley

Like everyone hear, I am dealing with the loss of loved ones. I look forward to joining this community and helping one another through the hardest times. We’ve all dealt with the grief and sadness, and what I have learned through it all is that you’re never ever alone.

I'm 28 years old, living in Southern California. In 2000, my dad was diagnosed with terminal renal cell carcinoma. This happened just as I was starting college. It was a transitional time, and learning about his illness was devastating. He was given 6 months to live, and although he lived until 2005, we were never given anything but a 6 month window. By 2002 I could no longer function. I had to drop out of college and start seeing a therapist. In late 2004 I moved from away from Missouri to California, to try to start a normal life. But dad died 2 months after I moved, leaving my mom alone. Needless to say, on top of the grief, I feel very guilty about not being there for my mom. She’s never made me feel bad about it, but as an only child, it’s difficult not to feel as though I have let her down.

February 2010 is the 5 year anniversary of my dad’s death. And recently, I have been dealing with additional death and illness in my family. I felt that now would be a good time to join a community where people are going through similar pain.

I lost my dad in 2005 after a 5 year battle with cancer.