Carla On December 2 Carla has left us. I
already written about his illness (
AML) also published a letter
to raise awareness about bone marrow donation.
Carla was a colleague of mine, a little older than me (and here he was very angry), was married and had two grown daughters.
The news of his illness in September 2008, I was blown away. Of course, not only to me. The aggressiveness of the leukemia and then we had scared them all.
Its history as the ill I have yet to digest. He made the entire journey, including transplant. Passed the fateful 100 days post transplant seemed to be going well. Then in late October-early November exams They found again the presence of his diseased cells and then the return of the disease.
The last time I heard it was in early November. As usual I received his sms me updated on the situation. When I received his message is always a bit 'shaken. My fear of addressing its history always clashed with its simplicity and transparency in the story. I called her and for the first time I felt really scared. The return of the cancer cells, although very probable, seemed to not have to submit. She's always been an intelligent woman and honest with others and with herself, she knew what this meant and why it was very frightened.
I remember that I talked to her late at night, sitting on my new couch. She had just entered the hospital for complications. We talked briefly about what was going on. I do not remember much of our conversations, but I remember his voice trembling, told me about his children, I am of the move and the new house and that one day she would come to see me. Slowly slipped away from conversations about the disease. She was scared, I as well.
speak well of people who leave it too easy and obvious. And try not to. But it will be difficult.
I met Carla in 1995 as senior colleagues (again you get angry ...). Over the years I learned (besides his shrill voice!) His honesty, his intelligence, his attention towards me, I learned from her how to be a witness of my faith in everyday life.
The work of the information you learn a lot by reading manuals sterile. I realized that much of what I have learned reading, I learned from her: how to write, how to listen, how to talk, how to be fair and honest, like living with my colleagues.
Our history has often seen working side by side, her head and I behind. At the beginning of each new work was always a mess, because we both wanted to do, do, do, we had ideas, but she often won and I impermalosivo. I pretended ridiculous scenes of jealousy because I said that he preferred others to me.
With her work was often humorous. From her I learned that the work is the foundation of our life, because it takes a long time, but not all. I learned that at lunch you can also talk about literature and not only to user requirements. I learned to talk about my private life within the walls of the office. I also learned that she praised dessert recipes and we could not help but listen. On pain of excommunication.
All this I realize that made me grow up.
I have many memories of Carla, and maybe some guilt for having lived his last marginally this year. I realize that many of my ideas and words look like what she said or did. Although it was always a struggle (hidden) to those who had the best idea.
Last May we went to visit her at home, prior to transplantation. Finally I knew those walls that I had known for years through his (interminabili!!) Stories. And I saw in his family always talked about, and that maybe helped me to be a husband and father.
I'm glad to have been aware at that time Paul and hold it in his arms.
And I thank God for meeting her.
