Sunday brought the loss of a family friend, a part of the fabric of our lives. Our families had the opportunity to watch our daughters create a lifelong friendship; we watched the girls play tennis, attended weddings of our children, had grandchildren, played poker games, and all too soon, the change came. Saying goodbye will forever alter the dynamics, we will forever think of his chair empty at family gatherings, our sadness is for his family and their enormous loss.

My mind became focused on the ways in which we cope with the overwhelming challenges of watching loved ones suffer and, in some cases, succumb, the tools we must have at the ready if necessary. Fortunately, however, many challenges will have positive outcomes, and I see that each day. All I need do is think of my Ostomy Support Groups and a smile comes to my face. There are positives all around, survivors and thrivers.

In perhaps a most timely manner, I saw a story on CNN this week that I want to share, because although it is not about surviving or thriving, it is about looking the monster in the eyes and using indomitable strength to do what needs to be done, whatever one can do. In fact, my hero in this story is a mom who wrote an incredibly compelling book to inspire her son, a most worthy protagonist, to use all his strength to fight his brain cancer. Blake was only two years old when he died, but he will remain our David in the fight against the Goliath of pediatric brain cancer.

Rene Marsh is a CNN journalist and she reported to the interviewers that she would read to Blake constantly while he was hospitalized, even when he was comatose from time to time. All the books fell short in her estimation, there were none who spoke to the monster that was ravishing her son. So, she created her hero to fight like David against the monster. The book is entitled THE MIRACLE WORKERS: BOY VERSUS BEAST and the proceeds of the book will go to Pediatric Brain Cancer Research. Blake loved the book, loved the idea of fighting the monster, like the “little train that could” his uphill battle took all his energy, all his resources, all his determination. According to his mom, he never gave up or gave in, he just gave what he could each time a treatment was introduced. Rene will keep Blake alive each time the book is read, and with her donations to Pediatric Brain Cancer Research, she hopes other families will have a better outcome.

What is the common theme this week presented? Watching anyone suffer that we love is untenable. Every loss is excruciating. I have no words to make anything better for anyone in that situation. Saying goodbye is the hardest task we have in our lives. But I need to say the words…Farewell, Artie, farewell, Blake, both having succumbed to a similarly huge monster. You did all you could, and in your memories, let’s hope that monster, whether its name is lymphoma or brain cancer, meets his own farewell.

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