by Lauren Senese

My sister and I are 17 months apart in age. While it’s great now, growing up only one year apart in school was tough. There was a lot of competition in everything we did. We fought all the time and added more than a few grey hairs to our parent’s hairlines. However, now in our 30s, we have become great friends.

When I found out I was pregnant with my son, I told her long before anyone else (excluding my husband, of course). When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I told her first again. Little did we know…she was pregnant, too! And it came as quite a surprise.

My sister is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed 2 weeks before she turned 31. She wasn’t married. She had no children. And now she was facing the toughest battle of her life. Fortunately for all of us, it all turned out okay. Today she is cancer-free, married, and expecting…twins! It’s funny how things have a way of working out.

I am expecting my second child in early June; she expecting twins in early July. With the likelihood of an early birth with twins, we expect to give birth around the same time. Having become great friends over the years, we are both excited for each other. The only problem is that we won’t really be able to be there for each other, at least not physically. My sister was in the delivery room when my son was born. It seems most likely that she may not be able to be there this time, nor I for her. However, we will always be there for each other in every way that we possibly can…circumstances being what they are.

It’s comforting to believe that my son will soon have a sibling that one day he will be best friends with, that my sister’s children will have each other, and that all of our children will have each other as we do. Although it was tough growing up so close in age, it seems that it was all worth it.

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