Catherine Barreca

In July 2024 my world changed forever. My mom, my best friend, lost her battle with ovarian cancer after three years of fighting for her life. She refused to give up, even when doctors told her to. A month later, I left for college, trying to navigate life without her. I wanted to be excited for my first year of college, but the adjustment was harder than I expected. Just as I was beginning to find joy around me, my dad passed away in November from complications related to his Type 1 diabetes. In just four months, I lost both of my parents. At 19, life as I knew it was gone.

Growing up, my mom was always there for me and my three siblings, while my dad worked running his sealcoating business to provide for us. When my mom’s condition worsened in late 2023, I saw my dad more than ever. My dad became her strongest advocate, desperately searching for clinical trials. He rarely spoke about his emotions and carried his grief silently, but I could see his pain. He wanted nothing more than to save his best friend. When I left for college, I worried about him constantly, especially with his diabetes. My worst fear became reality two days into our trip to Florida. He had a low blood sugar reaction, and seconds later, he stopped breathing. Just like that, he was gone, four months after my mom passed.

Losing my parents has taken an immense toll on my mental health. I am six hours from home, trying to push forward while grieving an unimaginable loss. Financially, everything changed. My dad’s business supported us, but without him, stability disappeared. My uncle stepped in to help and does everything to support my family. To help financially, I take on responsibilities by applying for scholarships and looking for part-time work to support myself. While I can’t take away the burden entirely, I can create a stable future for myself.

Before my dad passed, he had started to create a will, but didn’t finish. This is causing a lot of family stress, trying to figure out what’s going to happen with his assets and belongings. My parents also didn’t have life insurance. If they had, things would’ve been different. We wouldn’t have to worry as much about tuition or expenses, and my uncle wouldn’t have to deal with this burden alone. Most people don’t think about life insurance until it’s too late, but experiencing these losses has shown me how essential it is.

I am grateful to still be attending college and I know my parents would be proud of me for choosing to still continuing my education. I plan to use my degree to build a stable future for myself, so I can create the life they always wanted for me. No matter how painful this new reality has been, I refuse to let it hold me back. Instead, I chose to carry on just as my parents taught me.