Parent. Sister. Friend
Andrea Wilson Woods on loss, love, and advocacy.
Andrea Wilson Woods was just 22 years old when she took custody of her 8-year-old sister, Adrienne. There was never really a question of whether she would do it. She just stepped in and became what Adrienne needed. Early on, Andrea created a framework for their relationship:
Parent. Sister. Friend.
First, she was Adrienne's parent. Then her sister. And hopefully, someday, her friend.
As a parent, that resonated with me. I can’t tell you how many times I told Ethan, “I’m your parent, not your friend,” particularly in the teen years. The thing is, sibling relationships aren’t supposed to become parent-child relationships. But sometimes life has other plans.
Andrea raised Adrienne through childhood, adolescence, and eventually a devastating liver cancer diagnosis. By the time Adrienne died at just 15 years old, Andrea had spent years fighting for her, advocating for her care, and building a life centered around the person she loved most.
In our conversation, we talked about navigating a medical system that doesn’t always get it right, the importance of trusting your instincts, and what it means to keep pushing when others have given up. We discuss lost friendships, listening to your gut, difficult anniversaries, and spending a lifetime keeping someone’s memory alive.
And yes, we talk about Dave Navarro and the extraordinary kindness he showed one of his biggest fans.
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XO,
Heather