Donna reflects on the friendship that’s had the biggest impact on her life.
How many people can say they’re still best friends with someone they met as a child?
As we marked National Best Friends Day earlier this week in the UK (8 June), it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the friendships that shape who we are and the ones that stay with us for a lifetime.
For me, that story began when I was just nine years old. Karen and I first met at summer camp, sharing the same tent. Safe to say, it didn’t get off to the best start, as we both ended up calling home and asking to be picked up the very next morning! Not exactly the beginning you’d expect from a lifelong friendship. But life had other plans.
We met again at senior school and this time something clicked instantly. From that moment on, we became inseparable. The kind of friendship that feels effortless, where no matter how much time passes, you pick up exactly where you left off.
As we grew older, life took us in different directions, but we were always there for each other through every milestone. When Karen became pregnant with twins, I had the privilege of being there during one of the most important moments of her life. Following an emergency c-section, I saw the girls in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) before Karen even had the chance to. A moment that has stayed with me ever since.
In those early days, I moved in to help support her and the girls. That’s what friendship looked like for us – showing up without hesitation, exactly when it mattered most.
Karen faced more challenges than most. She struggled with her health for many years, particularly with her lungs, enduring multiple operations before later being diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Eventually, she underwent a double lung transplant at Papworth Hospital – a turning point that brought hope of a brighter, healthier future.
For a while, things were looking up. But in late 2024, after contracting pneumonia, Karen experienced organ rejection and was given six months to live. In true Karen fashion, she refused to let that define her. She made the most of every single day, determined to keep going. Her strength and resilience carried her through. She held on for another year because she was adamant that she would be there to celebrate her daughters’ birthday.
That was who she was. Strong, selfless and endlessly determined. Although Karen is no longer here to continue our story, her impact will never fade. This National Best Friends Day, I wanted to honour her. Not just as my best friend, but as someone who showed incredible courage, love and strength in everything she faced.
Friendship isn’t just about the good times. It’s about standing beside someone through everything life brings. The laughter, the challenges and the moments that shape who we are. I was one of the lucky ones. I found a best friend for life.
At Rambutan, we know that strong relationships, whether in life or in work, are what truly matter. This National Best Friends Day, it’s a reminder to appreciate the people who stand by us, every step of the way.
What relationship or friendship has had the biggest impact on you?