On March 19th 2011, I returned to Bermuda to attend the annual St. Baldrick’s event taking place that evening. As I was waiting in the immigration line at the airport my cell phone started ringing. The ringer was set to the old phone setting with the volume turned all the way up. Cell phones are not allowed in the immigration hall so I quickly shut it off. I turned the phone on again while in the line for the customs agent hoping to see who called. There were a number of missed calls. It rang again and I quickly answered it to let the caller know that I would call them back as soon as I could. It was my brother in law calling to tell me that my niece, Laura, had been found dead in her bed a few hours earlier. I couldn’t believe what I heard – my mind went numb. Laura was 18 years old. The post mortem showed that she died from complications of diabetes.
Nothing we can do will bring back Laura or the countless children who have died but we can prevent other children dying from cancer and give hope to countless parents that their child will be cured. To help achieve this goal, I’ll be shaving my head this year for St. Baldrick’s. Money raised is dedicated to fund research to find a cure for various forms of childhood cancer. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s foundation has made 374 awards to the best and brightest pediatric cancer researchers to find a cure. In addition, we have helped pay for over 30,000 children to participate in clinical trials. The money is and will continue to be put to great use.
Two years ago, I shared that I had received chemo treatments for Sjogren’s Syndrome. The chemo is designed to suppress my immune system while other medications do their job. I’ve had chemo cycles every six months since, with the latest one in early January. Thankfully, the treatments are working. It was through St. Baldrick’s that I was introduced to the specialists who diagnosed me and I’m thankful for that. One benefit I’ve received from the various treatments, is a deep appreciation for what children go through when they receive their treatment – the poking and prodding from needles, the burning of the veins, the hours lying in a hospital bed watching the machines pump medicine directly into the veins. It’s not fun and I wish no child has to endure it in the future.
Although Laura did not die from cancer, I will be shaving my head this year in her memory. I challenge you to join me as a shavee. It’s easy to sign up at an event near you – the list of events are shown on www.stbaldricks.org The more shavees we get, the more money gets raised and the closer we get to a cure. Should you like to keep your hair, you can donate directly on my head, via credit card, at the following secure link. Every dollar counts: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/509498/2012. Alternatively, a donation by check or by phone (1-888-899-BALD (2253)) would be graciously accepted.
The natural order is for children to bury their parents. The biggest grief a parent can have is to bury their child. Please join me in trying to make sure this does not happen in the future at the hands of childhood cancer.
Many thanks,
Enda
