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Some love stories begin long before we’re even born.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Kalea to talk about her mom, Amy—a woman whose life, love story, and impact shaped everything around her.

From a middle school romance that turned into a lifelong partnership, to building a family rooted in closeness, connection, and showing up for each other… Amy created a life that felt like something out of a movie.

But this story, like so many, takes a turn.

What began as a stage two breast cancer diagnosis quickly became something much more complicated. And over the next two years, Kalea’s life shifted in ways she never could have prepared for—balancing college, caregiving, and the quiet pressure to hold everything together.

This conversation isn’t just about losing a mom.

It’s about what happens after.

Kalea shares what it’s like to:

• Step into roles you were never ready for
• Try to hold traditions together when everything has changed
• Navigate grief in your 20s while the world keeps moving around you
• And slowly learn that healing doesn’t mean “going back”—it means moving forward differently

One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is what Kalea is learning now—two years into her grief.

That sometimes the hardest part isn’t the moment of loss…
It’s learning how to live without the person who shaped you.

And when asked what her mom would say to her today, her answer is simple:

This episode is about love, identity, and the kind of loss that changes you forever.

But it’s also about growth.
About perspective.
And about finding your way forward—even when you don’t feel ready.

For more information about the scholarships in Amy's honor, visit the following links:

The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Fund for George Mason - Supporting the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) and Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC)

https://www.cfnova.org/donate/amy-takayama-perez-memorial-fund?fbclid=IwAR1IXAf4Tm9DUYCOXbGUpZb_IT82baFTMlwWU3BMcbZuv_STLkmalfi8l3E

The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award

https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-03/alumni-association-launches-book-scholarship-honor-esteemed-colleague-and-alumna

Keywords

grief, cancer, family dynamics, legacy, personal growth, coping mechanisms, mother-daughter relationship, loss, storytelling, emotional healing, breast cancer

Watch the video:

https://youtu.be/zuj1hfmi4EQ

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.