Tragedy in my life

[Nessasita]

I just had a huge tragedy in my life and it makes me realise how unfair life can be. One of my best friends in Belgium Daisy... her little sister (younger than me) always had a passion for animals. She moved a few years ago to Thailand and started working in the zoo with the elephants. She loved it... was sooooo happy.

When she realised that the elephants were treated badly... she and her Thai husband (that she met at the zoo) decided to open their own elephant camp. Where people can vacation and take care of the animals as an adventure. She had a baby a few months ago... lived in a little hut in the jungle... no tv... no newspapers... no luxury things... and she has never been happier in her life.

On March 11 things started to go wrong... after days of rain... everything was under water... puppies they had started dying... they thought they got poisened somehow... and Ari the baby did not sleep for a week... and Dominique (my friend) got overly exhausted... she kinda collapsed and they brought her to the military hospital nearby. In the hospital there you need to pay immediately and people have to bring there own food and have to go get their own medicins... they get a prescription and they have to go get it.

The first day... Dominique was still in good spirits... she said... I am just overly exhausted and she decided to stay another night in the hospital so that she could rest. There were some people from Holland at the camp at that time so they helped out like angels... because doctors and nurses hardly speak English it was very hard for them to try to find out what was wrong. The third day things were started to get bad. Dominique refused oxygen eventhough she needed it. And she looked all yellow and the bloodresults showed that she had a liver problem. They had tied Dominique to the bed because she tried to pull the infuse out of her arm. Things were really bad with her. She passed out in the meantime and had to be transferred to the hospital but they did not have the money so the Dutch people said they would pay for the costs. They bring her to intensive care where after six minutes her heart stops. They tried to reanimate her. Normally they reanimate for 30 minutes but in her case they tried for 55 minutes. At 2 o'clock Dominique was pronounced dead.

I loved her like an own sister and was so proud of her. It hurts and I am still in shock. Why did she have to go? She was younger than me... just had a baby... did not care about materialistic things... she was an angel... now I am stuck here.. I cannot leave the country when my Daisy (her sister) needs me... I feel so helpless

I added her picture... she was an angel... and will always be in my heart.

 

[creecher]

That left a sickening feeling in my stomach, and there is nothing I can say to ease your pain. It is indeed a tough life in Thailand when the amenities arent there when you need them. I can only think how stressfull it would be having no pain killers and only being able to afford the tests and not being able to communicate. I am sure they do their best, but they are overworked and have limited access to the technology we may take for granted.

We all have or will have such incidence in our lives, where it doesnt matter what the technology, nothing can be done to withold the inevitable. What is such a shame is that she possibly could have been helped with the right care. That is part of living in a remote area. That she was doing what she loved and leading a fulfilling life is what might be construed as some type of closure for this unfortunate event.

She will live on in her baby. How sad it is for her newborn, and family back home that didn't have the chance to be at her side.

 

[dr2red]

Nessa, how absolutely heartbreaking.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you,
and her family.
Life is never fair and often takes the
very best of us. Her poor husband
and baby, just makes me want to cry.
Please send my condolences to Daisy
and her family on the loss of her beloved sister.

 

[Winged Shadows]

Shame to think it probably was something that could so easily have been prevented had she been in Belgium. It's even sadder when they go so young.

At least she found some happiness in her life before this happened. Unfortunately her baby won't ever get know its mom. :-(

All you can do Ness is be there for Daisy, i'm sure she feels as torn and helpless as anyone else that knew Dominique. Just don't let it burden you too much, as your life (though missing something) must go on...and if you do leave the country she'll understand and not think badly of you for it.

 

[Lembas Eater]

Ness, I'm so sorry. The thing we have to do when we've lost someone like this is to forever remember the people we've loved and carry them with us always.

Its also a good time to remember that we ourselves are loved and and to think of all the people that are close to you There is no easy way to get through loss but remember that love.

 

[tomandshell]

Truly sorry to hear about this story, Ness! There aren't any words we can offer that will make up for this loss, but know that there are a lot of us here whose thoughts are with everyone involved. I know that you will do what you can given your situation. I'm sure that a big part of you wants to get on a plane and offer some comfort and support in person, and it must be rough to not be able to do that.

It sounds like Dominique spent her life doing something that she loved and that brought happiness to herself and others, and did it with the support and love of friends and family like you. I guess we all have our time to go, and when it comes, it brings a sense of loss to those same loved ones that shared the joy of our life. It would be a tragedy not to remember and celebrate her life--and even just this little thread has added to that experience. Thanks for sharing her life with us and allowing us all to preserve her memory!

 

[BDboystoys]

oh my god, Im so sorry Nes. wow, I dont know how to help so I'll just say to remember were always here for you, when ever you need us. You and Dominique and you family and friends are in my thoughts.



Rest in Peace Dominique.

 

[Agent23]

Nessa, so sorry to read this news. All I can say is my thoughts and prayers are with you and with Dominique and her family.

If you need to talk, you know where to find me.

 

[Firefly Flanatic]

What a horrible and sad thing to happen. She sounds like she was a wonderful person who gave so much back to this world. My thoughts and prayers are with you and her family.

 

[GrueSam]

I'm so very sorry for you, Nessa.

 

[lcummins]

Ness, I don't really know how you must feel, but I can guess. Nothing any of us can say will really do much good other than let you know we are your friends and our thoughts are with you and her family.

 

[dunedain]

I'm so very sorry for you, Nessa.
She was an angel and angels shouldn't have to go.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you, and her family.

 

[revilal]

So sorry to hear about your friend.

She has gone to a better place but its still heartbreaking to know that her baby wont know firsthand what a wonderful mother she had.
Please give my condolensces to her big sister and the rest of her family and I sincerely hope their baby lives a fulfilled life and will be together again soon.

 

[gtb]

Nessa, so sorry to hear this... and i hope it helps that sharing your story here will help to lessen your pain somehow..

 

[thamesvalidude]

An awful tragedy, but think of the good she did and the joy she brought into so many lives. Her time was well spent and she will live on in her daughter. As for you, remember her well and speak her name with pride, for you were fortunate to know her and she you.
Her sister may just need time away from Belgium at this sad time, once the formalities are over. Try and persuade her to spend time with you and then both of you can celebrate Dominique's life.

Take care Nessy

 

[Nessasita]

Thank you my dear dear friends for all your nice words... it really warms my heart. I am still in shock... it hurts so bad... all these murderers and bad people that live forever and all the good ones that go so soon. My brother lost his two best friends really young... one in a car crash because he was driving with a friend that was driving so fast that he missed the curve... and Danny never even drank but broke his foot... and then Mario he was 32 and full of cancer... so he lost his battle... both such great guys...

It makes you realise to live life to the fullest... I was happy to have my mom and uncle here with me when I heard about it but they are leaving today and I was supposed to have today off to spend it with my family and because my boss is sick they are making me go to work today. I am furious... They do not care about anything but themselves... for the one time a year my family is here... and part of the deal when they made me come back from Miami one week earlier was that I did not have to work these three weekends. I even worked a whole month for free and did not even get a thank you. Life sucks.

 

[Mithrandier]

I am very sorry about your loss and about your job right now. Sadly enough I too know what it is like to lose a friend for really no reason. The age I am now would be a lot easier and wouldnt necessarily have to have it explained to me, rather than when I was 9.

Sounds like your bosses need to own up to their part of the bargains.

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

Dominique was a brave young woman. She went to a foreign country, devoting her life to animals. How often do we meet determined people like her? How often do we meet people that have accomplished something like her? Loosing her hurts, but the memory of her stays with you. My thoughts are with you and her family.

 

[Dusty]

Dominique sounds like a wonderful person, who lived a full and exciting life doing what she loved. That's all one can really ask for, and I'm sure her memory will inspire all of those people that were lucky enough to know her.

It totally sucks that you have to work, when your boss promised you the days off, but you are a strong, independent woman who will survive all the $#!& life throws at you - your friend is super lucky to have you to help her through this tough time, whether it's phone calls or an actual visit.

 

[Nessasita]

Update...

I got a few more emails from Dominique's dad and uncle... and everybody is just crushed. My best friend Daisy and her husband went to Thailand to find out more about what happened to her sister. She was put in a Thai Temple for the last few days so that people could go see her and pay last respects... and today is the day that she will be cremated according to Thai tradition. I do not know anything more about the tradition or what is going to happen next. So I really do not know if she will stay in Thailand or will be going back to Belgium. I do know that somehow her husband has found the strenght to keep the elephant camp going and the memory of his lovely wife. I just hope the baby is ok too. There will be a memorial service in Belgium in a few weeks that I will not be able to attend . Tomorrow Daisy and Paul will be flying back to Belgium hopefully with some answers.