Carly Simon, a founding member of the National League of American Songwriters, is on her way to becoming a nurse

Carly Simon’s sisters die one day apart after battles with cancer

Published October 11. 2013 12:01AM

Carly Simon’s sister Krista (left) and her niece Carly (right) in Paris in 2002. Simon was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22 and she passed away five years later.Courtesy of Carly Simon

Carly Simon’s sister Krista and her niece Carly in 2005 aboard the liner Queen Mary in London. Simon was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22 and she passed away five years later.Courtesy of Krista Simon

Carly Simon, pictured in 2004, was diagnosed at the age of 22 and she passed away five years later.Courtesy of Carly Simon

Photo: Carolyn Walker/The New York Times

Krista Simon and Carly Simon. Krista was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22 and Carly was diagnosed at the age of 30.Courtesy of Krista Simon

Carly Simon, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22 and later found herself at a crossroads, is on her way to becoming a nurse (at 41 years old). She is preparing for her own high-stakes battle — her sister Krista is fighting a battle of her own.

Simon, who wrote, produced, performed and starred in Broadway’s “Les Misérables” in 2000, is a native of Connecticut. She and Krista were friends for 15 years before Krista was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.

“I was devastated,” Simon said. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through. I remember being in my car and crying, thinking, ‘How am I going to do this? I’m going to be a nurse. How am I going to survive this?’ The first thing I felt was anger. Anger at being told of my sister’s diagnosis, anger at being told I would not live long. It all just got me down.”

Simon, a founding member of the National League of American Songwriters, has made her way back from the brink.

“I’m a huge believer that we all have a choice of whether we make the best of it or not,” she said. “I just said, `I’m going to be as strong as I can be. I’m going to make the best of what life gives me. I’m going to be kind to myself and to others.'”

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