ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A parent's worst nightmare turned into a reality for Paula Rymer.

"My daughter's name was Allison and she was 19-years old when she passed away on January 1, 2004 and at that time she had been suffering from depressing and she took her life," she said.

Seven years later, not a day goes by that Rymer doesn't think of her daughter.

"Sometimes when I look back on it, it's just unbelievable that you could hurt that bad and live through it," said Rymer. "The first year your mind buffers and it's like shock, but your second and third year reality hits that that child is never going to walk through that door again and they're not going to drive back in the driveway again."

One thing that makes her loss a little more bearable is knowing she's not the only one.

"The commonality that knowing that someone else has lost a child and they can kind of understand where your coming from and what's happening is a comforting thing," said Rymer.

Sunday night she felt that comfort from all over the world. This year marks the 14th annual Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. At exactly 7 p.m., families and friends across the globe lit a candle to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause.

"It seems like just yesterday that she left us, but it seems like forever since I've held her," said Rymer.

For Rymer, time has taken on a whole different meaning, but through her loss, friendships have been created as she helps others make it through such a tough time.