Melanie Bala Remembers Her Brother 16 Years After His Passing

Melanie Bala Remembers Her Brother 16 Years After His Passing. Grief is without a doubt the hardest thing to get over. No matter how many years have passed since the death of a loved one, every memory brings back all the pain. One person who knows that pain very well is Melanie Bala.

The veteran media personality lost her brother 16 years ago, but still mourns him to this day. Melanie’s big brother starting off developing some swelling around his neck, which they though could be mumps. After the swelling became worrisome, he was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. That is where he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Sadly it was in the last stages.

To honor his death anniversary, Melanie took to Instagram to share how his death has affected her. Firstly it has changed her perspective about death, and also how to deal with someone going through grief. As Melanie’s brother passed away at only 35 years, this has also taught her to live in the moment.

“Today is 16 years since my brother died. A few weeks ago someone sent me this pic, out of the blue ?His passing fundamentally shifted how I viewed grief, and the world. Before that, I’d dealt with death before but embarrassingly to say, almost on a superficial level. Never before having experienced a loss that close, I didn’t truly understand how it affects you. Blame it on youth and ignorance. Since his passing, two things have happened:
1. I’m incredibly mindful when dealing with someone who is going through their own grief journey. It can be hard & uncomfortable to sit with someone who is dealing with grief but it must be done. To see them, to hear them, to let them be in their sadness and anger and silence and rage. To let them talk about it and the person they’ve lost. Grief and loss can fundamentally change how you view the world – in either a good way or a bad way. The choice is yours. I want to let you know that if you’ve lost someone and it feels like there is no way through – there is. There absolutely is. Be gentle with yourself.
2. My brother was only 35 when he passed. Too young. I thought we had a lifetime together still. Since his passing I live every moment, in the moment. Appreciating where I am, who I’m with, what we’re doing, the feeling and energy in that moment. I’m slow to anger and quick to forgive. I have a deep seated awareness of the fragility of this thing we call life, and gratitude for all of it.

That has been one of the greatest gifts.
I miss you bro. Today, tomorrow, always ❤️??,” Melanie said.