Today, a beautiful girl I've never met died of osteosarcoma. She was 14. She was my friend Barb's niece.
Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer most often found in teens and young adults. Chelsea had leg pains, and by the time she was diagnosed in early February, it had already metastisized to other locations in her body. Chemotherapy didn't work, and was discontinued mid-May.
My heart aches for her parents and little sister, for her friends, her relatives and for all who knew her. I wish them grace during the difficult road ahead. Her family are devout Christians, and take comfort in their faith that their dear one is with God.
Cancer is insane.
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8 comments:
Thank you so much for this lovely memorial to Chelsea. We miss her terribly already but can smile with happy memories of the fun, goofy girl she was.
Her loving aunt, Barb
My heart goes out to her family. I don't even know what to say except that I will pray for comfort for all of them.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend's niece. As an aunt myself, I can't imagine how much that must hurt. So Barb, big big hugs to you.
*******
On another topic, I know that this is taxol #2 for you - so sending lots and lots of warm "let-it-be-okay" thoughts across town, that it go as well as it can. Let it not make an imprint, let it be no big deal in the scale of the memory banks, let it be a raindrop on a vast sea of life....in short: let it not be traumatizing. And if it's not okay, which is the nature of it, kick and scream, let it all out...only two more to go after this, the halfway point!
tell a new cancer story.
you can do it.
we need you to do it.
chelsea needs you to do it.
the world needs you to do it.
the world needs new stories.
For dear Chelsea Rae,
We heard about you from special friends that love you, pray for you and miss you.
We have lost too many wonderful loved ones to cancer. We will lift you up in memoriam by working hard to raise more money to fight cancer. We will WASH CARS FOR CHELSEA RAE today to raise money for the Am. Cancer Society.
And we will WALK FOR CHELSEA RAE at the 24-hour Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) in Pinole, CA on 8/18-8/19.
You have left a legacy that inspires others. God bless you and your family.
Linda and Allison
I hate to hear of such a young girl taken by this disease. It is such an unbearable tragedy. I am so sorry.
You put it so well, cancer is indeed, insane, but insane in a mean and vicious way. Fuck you cancer. Ah yes, the voice of the angry catholic is heard in the land! Thankfully Chelseas family has much more grace than I ever will.
Cancer IS insane. I'll never understand it. Although I never met Chelsea she was a special girl. I could tell it by her mom's posts on her blog and just in her smile. My thoughts will be with her family on Thursday.
Kimi
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