Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A special request

I definitely don't feel like writing tonight, but I feel I must.

I just found out that a dear friend of mine, someone who is more like brother to me, someone I grew up with, someone who currently lives down the street from me, received some horrible news. His 8-year old son, who is one of MY son's best friends, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. A tumor has wrapped itself around his brain stem. Doctors will treat it vigorously with radiation, but the prognosis is not good. About a year.

I'm so confused right now. This boy is like a nephew to me. I've coached him on two T-ball teams. He's in all our family photos. He and my son are supposed to go through school together. It's not supposed to end at 2nd grade. This is not supposed to happen, not to a healthy, smart, charming 8-year old boy. The incident has left me questioning.

When my own son was severely burned, I was devastated, but I knew he eventually would be okay. When I went through my ordeal with my knee operations and infections, it was overwhelming, but I knew I would be okay. When my father was diagnosed early with prostate cancer, I was speechless, but I somehow knew that he would overcome it, and he has. This news is something that I would like to believe will all my faith and effort will turn out the same way, but currently, based on doctor's opinion, is a tough view to take right now.

Never before has something so immensely grave hit so close to home. I am shaken and disoriented. I don't even know how to react to the family. They need support, but they need their space. I want to do anything and everything I can, but I don't want to do anything too soon or too . . . whatever. I can't wave my wand and change the circumstances. I can only pray so often and so convincingly. I'll hug until my arms fall off, but otherwise feel helpless. I can't imagine the helplessness they feel.

In lieu of commenting, please pray for my friend and his family.
Thank you.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My mom's friend's husband was dianosed with terminal cancer a few years ago and was given 6 months to live. He has cancer of the everything and I mean eeeeverything. That was 2 and a half years ago. He's gone through 3 remissions but is still going strong today. With prayer and support miracles can happen.

Anonymous said...

www.icouldbeyourchild.org

Anonymous said...

there will be daily prayers for hunter and his family!

Thomas Korpi said...

Every single time I've thought about this or somebody has asked me about it, I cry. Every time. I live in a different city, not down the road, and I can't deal with it, so I can't even imagine the rest of the family. I have called and e-mailed but specifically asked them not to respond, because I figure the last thing they want to do is relive it with yet another telling. I wanted so badly to go see them right away but was cautioned not to, so we stayed in Austin, but our hearts and thoughts are there.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. Hunter's first Radiation treatment went well. He cried a little, he was just scared. I would be too. I'm his dad and I don't even know what to do, so just knowing that we have so many great friends and a wonderful family is help.
And keep praying.