Sorry, I Need an Outlet

Michael Paul Cote | December 1, 2005
I just spent the last day and a half at work doing one of the hardest things that I have yet to do. I had to set up a memorial card for a four year old boy that just died of cancer.
Now that in itself is tragic, but the entire story is just...(loss for words). Two weeks after this boys birthday in April, he was taken to the doctors complaining of a pain in his abdomen. He was diagnosed with "Wells something" cancer, which generally has a 95% survival rate. Less than eight months later, his parents are having his funeral.
I had to sit with his mom and pick out pictures for his memorial card. I did not know this child, but I feel that I do now, after looking at the myriad of digital pictures his mom brought in.
I'm not ashamed to say that we were both in tears going through the selection process. Rarely have I seen a child whose personality comes through photos like this boy.
To all of you with children, enjoy them, love them and cherish them while you can because you never know what might happen in the next minute.
I apologize if this brings people down, but I really needed an outlet for this. Thanks for being there.

Amy Austin | December 2, 2005
Having the season that I've had, Mike, I can totally understand that, and I feel for you.

I am so ultra-sensitive to such things right now that I was watching a Lifetime movie earlier today (and yes, I know, I should know better!) -- one that I'd never heard of... And Then There Was One -- about a family of three who had all contracted AIDS. By the end of it, there was a funeral for both the father (who had developed a cancer as well) and the baby girl (who had also contracted it from the mother, who'd had a transfusion before getting pregnant), and I was pressing on my eyeballs just to keep from having (yet another) serious cry-fest.

I guess the network knew what they were doing when they chose their name, and I'm sorry that yours was the real thing, Mike. There's nothing you can really say at moments like this that doesn't just sound like really trite cliches... but at the very least it does let people know you care. I'm just hoping that "it's darkest right before the dawn" will prove itself out with my new year... and for this boy's family's holiday season, too.

Jackie Mason | December 2, 2005
[hidden by request]

Michael Paul Cote | December 2, 2005
Thank you both. It was really weird, I can usually distance myself to a point, but this case really got me. St. Judes is an excellent charity. From what I understand the majority of the money raised is used for what they say it will be used for unlike some. Ronald McDonald House is another excellent one. This one I have seen work up close.

Scott Hardie | December 5, 2005
It's always difficult. I've lost my own healthy family members to sudden, aggressive cancer just like that. Somebody has to be the 5%. I feel for the family, and for you Mike.