I am heartbroken

I have just lost a dear dear friend, one of the greatest ladies I have ever met. I met her on line in a support forum for stage IV disease and as it turns out she lived about 2 blocks from me. We were good friends.

I have had stage IV disease now almost 5 years. Through this process, I have realized that people without illness really can't understand some of the things we face on a daily basis. So it seemed natural to make friends with other ladies in the same boat. I have met some fantastic women, courageous, funny, inspiring. But I am losing so many friends and it hurts so much. This time it is the worst of all.

How do you get close enough to really share and be helpful to each other and yet not have a part of you die each time some of your friends go?

I am so heartbroken now, it feels like this time my heart will never heal.

Anyone?