Throughout this whole grieving process for me, in the back of my mind there has been a looming dread for one of my dearest friends.
You see, a couple of months before my life suddenly changed, I got an e-mail from my buddy Tom informing us that his seven year old son had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor. Hubby and I were aghast, but we followed the news on their CaringBridge site, and on Tom's personal blog, and we were so impressed with their strength, their maturity and faith.
I never got to meet their Ian, and that I regret. I prayed for them and waited with them as they tried an experimental treatment that bought them some time and some hope... and in recent months I've grieved for them as the news came that the tumor was growing again, aggressively, and Ian's time was growing short.
Last night I got a text from Tom that Ian has gone home to be with the Lord.
I don't know how many of my tears today are purely for them, and how many are mixed with my lingering personal grief. I don't think it necessarily matters. All in all, when it comes down to it, this sucks for both of us.
There's a song I don't much like, but still I've quoted here before (and I never thought I'd quote it once, ha!) - the relevant lyric today is "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
Time will tell what new beginning comes from this.
I'll leave this post with a song (a common theme of mine lately)... This one I shamelessly yoinked from my friend Christi's blog. She posted it in reference to a story she was preparing to tell about a devastating breakup in her past, but it spoke to me in my grief then, and it offers me hope today for all of us.
You see, a couple of months before my life suddenly changed, I got an e-mail from my buddy Tom informing us that his seven year old son had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor. Hubby and I were aghast, but we followed the news on their CaringBridge site, and on Tom's personal blog, and we were so impressed with their strength, their maturity and faith.
I never got to meet their Ian, and that I regret. I prayed for them and waited with them as they tried an experimental treatment that bought them some time and some hope... and in recent months I've grieved for them as the news came that the tumor was growing again, aggressively, and Ian's time was growing short.
Last night I got a text from Tom that Ian has gone home to be with the Lord.
I don't know how many of my tears today are purely for them, and how many are mixed with my lingering personal grief. I don't think it necessarily matters. All in all, when it comes down to it, this sucks for both of us.
There's a song I don't much like, but still I've quoted here before (and I never thought I'd quote it once, ha!) - the relevant lyric today is "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
Time will tell what new beginning comes from this.
I'll leave this post with a song (a common theme of mine lately)... This one I shamelessly yoinked from my friend Christi's blog. She posted it in reference to a story she was preparing to tell about a devastating breakup in her past, but it spoke to me in my grief then, and it offers me hope today for all of us.
I was so sorry to hear about little Ian. I have been praying for him along with my co-worker who was keeping up with Tom's blog. I know Jason is watching over Ian and I know Jesus is watching over them both. We will have a great reunion one day. I love you Denni!
Posted by: Robin, Woodland Hills | February 19, 2009 at 02:07 PM
hi sissy...my goodness...it's been forever since i came by my old blog-haunts. i can't tell you how sad i am to hear about your beloved. my heart has just ached all day for you as i've read thru your story. you've been thru so much and it's hard to see how life could ever be beautiful again, but it will, dear one, because love always wins.
you're in my thoughts and prayers,
Pam (camphappybadfun)
Posted by: pam | March 04, 2009 at 04:01 PM