When you are the sole survivor of your family

[Dom Tuk]

A freind of mine is terribly down because he is the only sibling left. His parents died a while ago and his only surviving brother died last month. He is in his 50s and is very sad as he has lost his family. He has his own family and so does his brother...but is it very sad to lose your family that you knew as a child? We all move away and set up our own families and in most cases become closer to our siblings after our own kids have moved away. Do we remember much of our childhood with our parents and siblings after our own have flown the nest. Does it get very sad??. I do feel for him as he is a close mate and very very helpful. I have all my siblings and parents alive but dotted around the world.

[Imp y Celyn]

yes it is very sad. but the only certainty in life is death so you have to make the most of every day and live your life.

[4getmenot]

My mate is 28 years old, when we were at school her mum died of cancer, when she left to go to college we lost touch then one day I saw in the local paper her younger sister had been run down and killed, she was left with her dad that she didnt get on with. Well last year I got in contact with her and she said that her dad died 2 years ago and her grandmother died the year before so she is the only surviving member of her family. I dont really understand what you are trying to ask but my mate is still very happy and not lonely or sad, she has a boyfriend and I'm sure she can make a new family.

[kipchik]

If he's that down he could really need someone to talk to,a visit to the doctor cant do him any harm can it??

[claireyfairy]

My Gran died last week and althou his dad and all his brothers and sisters are still alive it has hit my dad really hard and he's having trouble dealing with it. The same things happened with my step-dad when my step-grandad died last year. He still isn't really over it and I doubt he ever will be although he is getting on with his life. When we loose someone we love, whether it is a good friend or a family member, our life is changed forever and it can take a good while for things to return to some sort of normality. However, things are never the same. All you can do is be a shoulder to cry on if your friend needs one.

[noxlumos]

My friend's mother lost her daughter first at a young age with pregnancy complications, then her husband and finally my friend was killed with he was a little short of 21. I've never known such a lovely, unbitter lady in my life but she is still unbelievably sad nearly 25 years after her son died. I think it's probably something that hits you unbelievably hard, that you were once part of this vibrant strong family unit and then suddenly there is just this empty space in you where all the people you love used to be.She has a very full life, comes to see us and lots of other peole but she's still terribly sad and I don't think anything can ever really make up for what she's lost no matter how hard she tries, so I really do sympathise with your friend.

[WendyS]

Yes, losing the last member of your blood family is very sad as our parents and brothers and sisters are the only relatives and friends who have known us all our lives. When they die, part of our memories die with them as they are the only ones with whom we can share them. Sadly as we all grow older this happens as a natural progression. All one can do is to try and live a well-rounded life with as many friends as possible so that we have others with whom we can share parts of our life.