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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> broken heart (not CH)
        
(Message started by: chronic_chic on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:14pm)

Title: broken heart (not CH)
Post by chronic_chic on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:14pm

Today I had to go to a funeral for a 9 year old boy, named Jared, who passed away from a long battle with cancer on Monday. :'( At Penn State, we have something called THON (Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon) which is an event where the dancers have to stay on their feet for 48 hours to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer at Hershey Medical Center. My fraternity has been connected with one family for the past few years, and Jared had gone into remission, but the cancer came back this past fall. He was such an amazingly strong kid...the day before he died, he told the docs that he would let them do an autopsy to further cancer research.

This morning at the calling hours, they had the casket open...it was so sad. He had a Penn State hat on and lots of stuffed animals, drawings, and flowers in the casket with him. His mom was absolutely bawling.

The service was very special, and although nothing ever makes losing a child any easier, Jared is now at peace and not in any more pain. One THON mother who lost her child to heaven said that up in heaven there is a special room all blue and white (PSU colors) just for four diamonds children to play together and everyone is happy because there is no more cancer. Jared was afraid because he had never known anyone who died before. Bless his little heart...

I'm very sad today. Sorry to go on about this, but it is just weighing heavily on my mind and I'm home now after being surrounded by other special people all day. Everyone I called is not home, and I just needed to talk about it.

Hugz,
Lizzie

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by broomhilda on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:19pm

Hey Lizzie, I am so sad to hear about your day and sorry to hear about Jared. What a strong and wonderful little boy whom touched many hearts and souls, may forever his footprint be left on peoples hearts. To loose children is heartbreaking but to know how many lives he touched and will touch is trult invaluable! My heart goes out to you and his family. :'( Please know I am here thinking about you and little Jared, and his family :-[ Take care, hugs.......

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Renee on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:22pm

CC,

I'm so sorry for your loss and hope you find peace as time passes. Like you said, Jared is in a better place now. I reckon by now he's out playing baseball with the other kids and showing off his Penn State cap.

My heart aches for the loss but he made the ultimate sacrifice, in giving his body for science to help others still suffering.

Just remember, every time you find a penny on the ground, it is a penny Jared has left for you. have you ever read the poem Pennies from Heaven?

Renee :'(

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by cootie on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:57pm

Ahhhhhhhhhhh that is SO sad......I am so sorry to hear the news. Scarey world Pam

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by catlind on Feb 7^th, 2004, 8:01pm

It's not right. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children. :'(

*hugs* to you CC

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by brad267 on Feb 7^th, 2004, 9:43pm

I'm so sorry for you Lizzie... Life is not fair sometimes!! >:(

-Brad

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Elaine on Feb 7^th, 2004, 10:54pm

Sometimes I think a broken heart is the worst pain in the world. I know the lost been there. My little cancer friends name was Garrett. His picture is here by my computer. He is still here with me and his family today.
He lives in my heart. Knowing he doesn't hurt helps me get by.
God Bless you Lizzie, your friend will live on in your heart and others!
Talk all you want! Email if you like!

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Cerberus on Feb 7^th, 2004, 10:56pm

grieving the death of a child is never easy,

Sometimes I wonder if I have still gotten over my Father's premature death from cancer. I'm so sorry you have had to experience such an awful thing such as the death of a child even if not your own. :'( :'( :'(

Ramon

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Ree on Feb 7^th, 2004, 11:08pm

God Bless your sweet heart Lizzie. I am so sorry for your loss it is never easy to lose a child. I am sure that he is in great loving hands in Heaven. Love to you Ree

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by M.R. on Feb 7^th, 2004, 11:23pm

Lizzie

I know how you feel. I picked a good friend up from the hospital today to take him to the golf show.They found another spot behind his bladder. When I dropped him off, he was crying, telling me to take care of his kids (he has two girls). It would have to be worse with a child.

Cancer sucks.

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Callico_Kid on Feb 7^th, 2004, 11:57pm

I know of no worse pain than the loss of a child. Two years ago we spent 9 days in the Pediatric unit with our duaghter. She is fine now, but some of the others in that unit are now gone. I sure puts a perspective on my little pain.

Praying for God's peace to you and to the family. Thank you for what you are doing with Four Diamonds.

Jerry

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by TxBasslady on Feb 8^th, 2004, 12:30am

:'(

Hard to respond to this post......Sorry Lizzie about Jared.

Jean

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by Woobie on Feb 8^th, 2004, 9:56am

Jean's right - it's hard to respond - I'm not good at words.

:'( :'(

Just know Im thinkin of you.. and I"m sorry...... :-/

tina

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by BobG on Feb 8^th, 2004, 10:07am

I hate strings like this.

But, they sometimes are necessary to make us realize how fragile we all are.

On this board we complain about the pain of headaches.

But, the pain of losing a child is probably the worst pain imaginable.

Jared is beside God now. He is happy. He is whole.

Thanks for sharing Lizzie.

But, I still hate strings like this.

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by AlienSpaceBabe on Feb 8^th, 2004, 4:16pm

Oh Lizzie.... I'm so sorry for your loss! It must be so hard on his mom and dad... please let them know they're in my thoughts and prayers!

Lizzie aka ASB

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by stevegeebe on Feb 8^th, 2004, 4:27pm

Sad.

We are here.

Steve G

Title: Re: broken heart (not CH)
Post by chronic_chic on Feb 8^th, 2004, 4:28pm

Thank you all so much for the loving words and thoughts. It all has helped make today a little easier to deal with. I'm also sorry to hear of those of you who have lost close friends and family to cancer. I have watched many a family member and friend fight cancer, and some have won and some have lost. Even if cancer beats the body, it can never beat the spirit. Those who have lost the physical fight have always won in the spirit.

I found out that Nan's Christopher was right down the hall from Jared, and I may get to meet him in a couple weeks when we have THON up here again. It would be wonderful to meet another young fighter. Christopher has been through so much, and I'm sure he is another amazing strong kid...they all seem to be!

Lisa, Jared's mom, said to me yesterday that I am their surrogate dancer who could never dance because of such bad headaches. She asked how my headaches were, and I hated to answer because it all seems so inconsequential compared to what they have been dealing with.

Two months after I turned 16, I had a tumor the size of a golf ball carved out of my face. (I read once how funny it is that tumors are compared to fruit and sports balls in size! Guess it makes it more tangable for all of us!) My tumor turned out to be benign, but my doctor didn't think it would. He told me that he thought he was going to have to send me to Sloan Kettering in NYC to have my nose cut off....talk about a way to give a 16 year old girl a lot of nightmares! It turned out we got it just in time because it was the type of tumor that explodes when the pressure inside it builds, which would have had deadly consequences.

After that, I decided I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist to help other kids who had to go through an even worse experience than mine. I felt that I was given a second chance at life, and I knew I wanted to use it to help other kids in a whole heck of a lot of pain.

Over time I decided that I wanted to go into neurology, but these kids I see and support through Penn State sometimes still make me want to work in the pediatric oncology field. Though it would be terribly heartbreaking, it would also be wonderful to see the strength of such small ones. And the joy of the ones who make it through and become cancer-free.

Jared has forever changed my life for the better. I will never ever forget my experiences with him and all of the THON children.

Thanks again for the messages.

Hugz, Lizzie