My heart has been heavy over the last few days, as I reflect on the life and loss of someone very dear to me known as Mama Luiza, she would call me the daughter she never had.   I met Mama Luiza several years ago when I was a volunteer at the Hyaat Cancer survivors support group. I was immediately touched by her sweet kindness. She graciously faced breast cancer and its many side effects for over 10 years, but you wouldn’t know it. She always had a smile on her face and time and love to share to help others. Mama Luiza died on Saturday after being unconscious in Amal Hospital for the last 3 weeks.
Mama Luiza was one of the bravest, strongest hard-working people I know. No matter how much pain and discomfort she was in, she would show up to work every day, to her company that she built over the last 20 years, she didn’t want to let her employees down. She took care of her family no matter how she was feeling; the most precious thing to her was her three sons.
As I write this, a few tears fall down my eyes. Mama Luiza brought inspiration, love and kindness to every person she met. She may have left this world, but the impact she left in our hearts will not. She taught me that no matter how challenging your situation is, it doesn’t have to affect your character and how you treat others.
I remember all of Mama Luiza’s stories, about when she first moved to Qatar and how she embraced Qatari culture. She was so happy and appreciative of how her in laws accepted her.
I had the honour of watching her speak at many breast cancer awareness events. Over the years of chemotherapy, there were times when the cancer stopped spreading. I remember her saying “I’m so happy I could cry; God always saves me.” She was never shy about showing her emotions which is what I loved the most about her.
Tonight, I was thinking maybe this would be the last story I write about Mama Luiza…but then I realised it doesn’t have to be the last. I promise to write about my sweet friend and tell her story for many years to come. You will always be remembered Mama Luiza, and we are all so lucky we had the chance to get to know you. 
I know she is at peace now and free of the pain she was feeling. It’s so tragic that this disease (it was the breast cancer that came back in the end) kills so many women each year and that over the past 30 years although the ‘awareness’ and ‘pinkness’ has increased exponentially; the death rate has basically stayed steady. I pray for advances in medicine and that we really, really might actually be able to find a cure to this awful disease so that no more children have to lose their mothers.


* The author is a consultant and coach. Instagram handle: @miss_shefa,  Website: missshefa.com