The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
“I am so proud that<br />
I continue to<br />
have the memories<br />
<strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
conversations <strong>and</strong><br />
life lessons he<br />
taught me, even<br />
though he is gone.”<br />
your family even if it is hard at times. Papa <strong>and</strong> I were a team as we took care<br />
<strong>of</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>mother <strong>and</strong> my brother, <strong>and</strong> he taught me how to persevere<br />
through challenges.<br />
After just two years <strong>of</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>parents living ten minutes away, Papa got<br />
diagnosed, yet again, with skin cancer. This time it was a lot worse. He had to<br />
receive chemo <strong>and</strong> radiation, <strong>and</strong> I soon learned that my Papa was going to<br />
pass away. Watching his courage trying to push through it all reminded me<br />
<strong>of</strong> his lessons from the past two years. He had actually taught me ways to help<br />
him. I remember feeling really scared that the person who had taught me how<br />
to take risks, be brave, <strong>and</strong> be a strong family member would not be there to<br />
help me or to share my life with me. I was very sad. Having the courage to<br />
realize that this was the time I was supposed to do all <strong>of</strong> those things for my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>father made me feel better. It was hard, but I used all <strong>of</strong> the lessons my<br />
Papa taught me to find my courage <strong>and</strong> help me take care <strong>of</strong> him when he was<br />
sick. I would help him get his medicine <strong>and</strong> get him a new bottle <strong>of</strong> oxygen<br />
when he needed it. It was hard to help him, but I pushed through it. Having<br />
the courage to make him proud as he needed help with everything in life<br />
made me a stronger <strong>and</strong> a better person.<br />
For us, we had to try to keep our normal life routines <strong>and</strong> not think <strong>of</strong> his<br />
life-threatening disease. Papa was so brave. He never wanted us to worry, he<br />
just wanted us to have courage. I did that by continuing my conversations<br />
with Papa, having fun with him, <strong>and</strong> listening to his stories. I realized even<br />
when cancer was really taking him away from me, he was giving me courage<br />
for my own life. Having the courage to say goodbye at his funeral while doing<br />
a reading <strong>and</strong> a blessing was a true test <strong>of</strong> Papa’s lessons. I am so proud that I<br />
continue to have the memories <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> the conversations <strong>and</strong> life lessons he<br />
taught me, even though he is gone.<br />
Volume <strong>XXX</strong><br />
71
Change language