“While everyone else thought she was living with cancer, Betsie Ada knew she was dying of cancer.”

Her essence was a radiant flame, a flicker of dreams that danced to the melodies of the universe. Yet, life, in its unfathomable wisdom, bestowed upon her a fate both beautiful and heart-wrenching, but mostly heart-wrenching, if you ask me.

She had just turned sixteen when the heavens unveiled a cruel secret. Betsie was handed a diagnosis that would alter the course of her existence - a rare and relentless cancer had woven its tangled threads around her fragile form. She had never related more to the saying; “you’re a woman, now die” than she did at that moment.

She sat, her expression blank, as the doctors delivered their somber verdicts - her time on this earth was a whisper, fading into the echoes of eternity.

She looked at her mother, who softly held her hand and wiped away a tear. But in that moment, she wasn't sure if she felt anything. She sat there, just watching.

There, within the core of her being, Betsie harbored a fear that consumed her like a relentless firestorm - it was the fear of oblivion. She harbored a profound aversion to the notion of her existence dwindling into the abyss of non-existence. Her soul yearned for more, for her essence to endure beyond the finite bounds of time. She hungered for an avenue to etch her presence into the annals of history, to carve her mark on the tapestry of existence.

One languid afternoon, as she lay on her bed, watching the sun paint golden strokes across her bedroom walls, and pondering the meaning of her life, an idea blossomed within her like a fragile bloom, emerging from the cracks of despair. An idea so simple, yet profoundly powerful - she would start a podcast. Her podcast would be a beacon of light, radiating messages of self love, hope and resilience.

With each episode, Betsie Ada poured her heart and soul into her podcast; ‘Whispering to the Stars’. Her voice, infused with warmth, wisdom and sometimes, woes, reached out to her listeners, weaving tales of courage, sharing secrets of self acceptance, and bestowing upon her listeners, the gift of a new perspective on life. Through her words, she aimed to touch the hearts of those who listened, offering them solace, encouragement and a renewed sense of purpose. Her voice, soft and mellifluous, became a celestial guide, leading her audience through the labyrinthine corridors of their own hearts.

As time, marked by constant hospital visits, treatments and moments of despair, flowed like a river, Betsie’s podcast found resonance, and the number of her followers blossomed into something more beautiful than she could have ever imagined, and the devotion of her followers was more beautiful, even. They, too, had been touched by her vulnerability, her unwavering spirit and her message of love. They were finding strength in her words, and their lives were being irrevocably changed.

As her condition grew increasingly dire, however, and her body grew frailer with the relentless march of her illness, Betsie realized she could no longer sustain the demands of her podcast. Her strength waned, and the specter of her mortality drew even closer. Poor girl.

In the twilight of her journey, she recorded a final episode, one she titled, ‘The Oblivion of Non-Existence.’

With tears like glistening pearls in her eyes, she poured her gratitude into the microphone. We listened as her voice trembled with the beauty of vulnerability, whilst she announced her decision to discontinue the podcast, as her body had become a battleground where she could no longer keep her footing.

Apparently, her physical form could no longer contain the magnitude of her spirit.

Unbeknownst to Betsie, her podcast had found an unexpected audience. Dr. Zayn, an American physician, specializing in the healing power of self love, stumbled upon Whispering to the Stars, during his research. He was captivated by Betsie’s wisdom, courage and the unwavering love which seeped through every syllable of her words.

Dr. Zayn was so moved that he felt compelled to extend an invitation to Betsie, to speak at a prestigious medical conference.

Betsie was euphoric. She believed this was her moment, her chance to be remembered, her time to step into the luminous spotlight she had yearned for. Her reward had come at last.

Her vision painted images of her standing on that grand stage, bathed in the fervent applause of a multitude, sharing her message with the world, and finally, achieving the recognition she so ardently desired. She envisioned a future where her legacy would shine like a beacon, a testament to her resilience and the transformative power of self-love.

As the conference date drew nearer, fate cast another cruel twist in Betsie’s story. Her fragile body, ravaged by the relentless progression of her illness, had become too frail to endure the journey. The cruel hand of reality tore away her envisioned future, leaving her with a heartache etched in silence.

Betsie passed away quietly in her sleep, the day before the conference.

She never stood on that stage; she never saw her face in the spotlight. Yet, her podcast lived on, as did her indomitable spirit. Her messages of self-love, hope, and resilience continued to touch countless lives, inspiring transformation and healing.

Her legacy, like a whisper caught in the wind, refused to fade. Whispering to the Stars continued its celestial journey, touching hearts, kindling spirits, and sowing seeds of transformation.

Betsie Ada, the girl who had feared being forgotten, had in the end, found her reward of immortality, not in the glare of fame but in the quiet, persistent beats of countless hearts, including mine, that resonated with her words. Her message, delivered by the frail voice of her podcast, became a timeless reminder that even in the briefest of lives, the power to ignite the world with love and resilience resides.

God rest her.