Jorge’s story
Hi, my name is Jorge. I’m 28. I lost my Dad when I was 27 to Epithelioid Sarcoma in March 2024.
Epithelioid Sarcoma (ES) is a rare soft tissue and bone cancer. There are an average of 19 cases of epithelioid sarcoma diagnosed every year in England. ES makes up just under 0.5% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and about 0.01% of all cancers.
My Dad was diagnosed in late 2021. Having surgery before Christmas the same year to remove his primary tumour. Unfortunately, although his surgery was successful in removing the primary tumour the cancer had spread throughout his body and he was diagnosed terminal in early 2022.
Our family has made it our mission to continue raising money and supporting Sarcoma UK in his memory.
Losing a parent at the age of 27 changed my whole perspective on life. Things you used to enjoy you may no longer find happiness in, but that is okay. Your life may be different now but that doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness in new things. They would want you to carry on living for them, and keep their memory alive.
The things people don’t tell you about losing a parent at a young age are the fact you may be jealous towards those who still have their parent/s. Having to watch your widowed parent without their soulmate and much more. These are some of the hardest parts about grief but you should remember, your feelings are valid. No one knows your grief journey except you.
Don’t be afraid to feel every emotion, bottling them up or pushing them to one side to “carry on” can be detrimental to your mental health.
Your grief journey can take as long as it needs to, grief does not have a time limit. So remember that it can be 10 days, or 10 years after losing someone, all of those feelings are valid.
My advice to guys going through their own grief journey is quite simple. Talk about it! We are renowned for not being open about how we feel. But I found that it made it far worse for me bottling my emotions up.
Find that family member, friend or even a charity like It’s Time. I know sharing my feelings and experiences with others has lifted a big weight off of my shoulders.