The summer of 2025 marked a gradual return to public life for Carla Goyanes, daughter of renowned socialite Cari Lapique. Exactly a year after devastating losses in her family, she reappeared at a social event organized by Uber Eats at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Despite a minor leg injury that, in her own words, left her “limping for several days,” Carla found the strength to attend the evening. Speaking to the press, she admitted that the past year was an emotional roller coaster, but she did her best to maintain a positive outlook and cheerfulness. Her main motivation, as she emphasized, is her children—there are many kids in the family, and they deserve to see their loved ones happy.
The memory of the events of August 2024 is still fresh. Then, within just a few days, Carla lost her two closest family members. Her father, Carlos Goyanes, passed away at the age of 79 at his home in Marbella from a sudden heart attack in his sleep. Shortly afterward, her sister, Caritina, died at just 46. In a tragic coincidence, her heart also stopped suddenly while on vacation. This double tragedy was a true ordeal for the entire family.
Confronted with such an abyss of despair, Carla faced a choice she articulated with absolute clarity: either let her grief consume her, or muster her willpower and move forward. She chose the latter. Reflecting on it, she shared that life still holds so much beauty worth fighting for. Her main support came from her children, as well as her nieces and nephews. She is convinced that the wonderful children in their family should not see their mother give up and surrender under the weight of circumstances.
Coping with such a profound loss is a complex and deeply personal process. Psychology experts emphasize that the goal is not to “get over” grief, but to learn to live with the absence of a loved one by integrating this loss into your life. There is no universal solution, but there are approaches that can bring relief. It is important to allow yourself to feel emotions: to cry, to be angry, to recall fond memories, and even to laugh. Voicing your pain—whether in conversation with a friend or in the pages of a diary—helps organize emotions and prevents isolation. Small rituals, such as lighting a candle or looking through photos, help maintain a connection with the departed. It is also necessary to accept that your emotional state will be unstable, and not to blame yourself for the days when the pain returns with new force. In such moments, tending to basic needs—sleep, nutrition, walks—becomes especially important.
Experts warn about the risk of developing so-called ‘complicated grief,’ which can manifest even years later. To prevent this, it is important from the outset to allow pain a healthy outlet. A year ago, Karla found such an outlet in touching messages she published on social media. Addressing her father, she wrote about the unimaginable emptiness he left behind, and what a wonderful father and grandfather he had been. She thanked him for everything and noted that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. In her words to her sister, the confusion and pain of the sudden loss were evident. Karla reflected on all the plans they had made together and could not believe that their conversations and embraces were now in the past. In that same message, she promised her sister to stay strong and to care for her children as her own.
Professional support can be key to healing. Karla herself confirmed that over the past year, therapy has helped her greatly, and she followed its recommendations with close attention. Psychologists note that their goal is not to erase suffering, but to create a safe space where a person can express everything they feel without fear of judgment. After all, grieving is not an attempt to forget. It’s a long journey to transform the relationship with someone who’s no longer there, and going through it alone can be incredibly difficult.
