In Loving memory of my cousin Oscar Arreguin
This story that I'm going to tell today isn't about me, but about someone who has inspired me and touched/changed my life in so many ways.
I had a cousin name Oscar, he was about 14 years older than me. Age never really mattered when it was about the relationships that Oscar had with anyone. You can be 5 years old and he can be 20 and you would still find a way to love him and confide in him as much as you would if you were his age. My cousin Oscar was diagnosed with cancer ,shortly about 2 months after he had came back from his station in IRAQ. After high school, his brother and him decided to join the army, which they both graduated from Whitney Young. For him, he had felt that his duty for helping others was always something important in his life that he had to do. It was his calling. He was stationed in Iraq for 2 years right when the war had started. When he had cam back he was concerned with a bump that he had under his arm and
they had then diagnosed him with cancer. He was so young. Around his 20's, never did even that stop him from living his life. He stayed with such a positive attitude towards it that you didn't even think he had cancer when you seen him.Ever since I can remember, I always had such a great relationship with him. All my cousins and the adults did. Every time I would see him, he would ask me how I was doing and we would just talk, about anything. He was really close to me and I knew if I ever felt upset or had something that bothered me, I was able to talk to him about it and figure things out. He was always there for others when they needed something, but never once showed a tear or fear against his fight for cancer. I never heard him complain or even say that he wasn't feeling so well. Everyone would always ask him how he was feeling and he would smile and say he was fine, when he really not looking so fine. Oscar was a true warrior, he fought till his death, not once did he show fear
in front of others, but lived his life to the fullest. He was always so happy. One thing for sure, was that Oscar was a die hard Sox fan, he would always take me and all my cousins to the baseball games and buy us T-shirts and stuff. I remember one time he even picked me up one day and took me with him and my two other cousins who were visiting from Arizona, ice skating, although he didn't skate, he stood there and watched us and laughed with us and it was just an amazing memory I have with him.The doctor had given my cousin a year to live, and well he really didn't sit down and show how afraid he was because of his positive attitude God gave him 2 years more to live. That didn't stop him from living his life, up to the last days my cousin did everything. Traveled, threw parties, and got married. My cousin had a girlfriend, and she insisted him so much to get married with him and they did, I remember how pale and sick he had looked on his wedding day but that didn't stopped him. He
did it for his wife, for his family, and for his friends. He knew that was the good thing to do to see a smile on everyone's face. He wanted to leave a good memory. Shortly after his wedding, he passed away 2 years ago from this day. It's been 2 years since my cousin hasn't been with us. I remember how badly I wanted to go see him on his really worst days, but he honestly didn't want any of us to go and visit him. I think the reason for that was because he wanted us to remember him how he was. Again, thinking about us and not himself. It's been 2 years since my cousin has passed, and sometimes I still feel that he's here. That when I go to my aunt's house he is going to show up and say hi. The realization hasn't really kicked in, maybe because of how much I loved him I still cant believe he is gone. The thing about my cousin's life story is that he was so positive about everything! Someone who knew that he was going to die, was so positive. He inspires me because he never put himself first, despite his illness. He always put everyone else before his own life, by serving our country, fighting cancer, and always putting his people first was has inspired me the most. His open mindedness, was the best, through his worst days you would be able to find my cousin traveling and exploring. Nothing stopped him. He was a true warrior, a true hero. With these tears of memories that have made me feel so much better, I write to you my cousin's inspiring life story. I wish the world can have more of these type of people because if we had more people who thought about others before themselves, maybe we would live more happy. We need to thank God and live our life to the fullest while we can, my cousin passed young and he had cancer, but nothing stopped him. Then, what should stop us from living our lives to the fullest if we don't have anything in our way to stop us. We should never take our lives for granted and make the best of our lives every day because we can't let anything from stopping us live our dreams. We have the world in our hands, and all we need is a positive mind and heart to do so.P.s I love you Oscar, and I miss you. I hope wherever you are, you are guiding me and helping me through my life and theres not one day that I don't think about you. I love you.