Yeah, it pretty much stumped me as well. I hate it when you want to show you care (or, you know, more frequently, just validate how they feel) and then you can't find anything to say. It's even harder over the Internet as there is absolutely no way of expressing your sympathy without words.
This is unrelated to AoD's situation (and I'm sorry to hear that, man), but tough as it is, sometimes you don't need to try and say something. One of my best friends went through about three rather bad serious/dramatic life events last February and came home crying every night as things kept getting worse. There wasn't really anything I
could say, considering that 'everything's going to be all right' would have been a bald-faced lie and we both knew it. But the fact that I was there for her was enough. Sometimes showing you're there for someone is all they need.
e- On a personal 'things wot made me sad' note, I've been essaying nonstop for over a week and it looks like I still have another week and a half of essaying ahead. I say 'non-stop' fairly literally, as I just finished one, saved it, then opened a new file and started making notes for the next one immediately. Finished two last week, and I've got one due tomorrow, Tuesday, Friday, and the Monday after the weekend. Then a bit of a break to do exams then another two due in the post-exam season. There is not enough coffee in the
world to get me through this happily. WOOHOO.