Monday, July 13, 2009

Public life, private grief

There is something wholly unnatural about a parent burying a child.

I thank God every day I have not had to face that kind of heartbreak.

Some of us aren’t that lucky. Add in the fact that you must endure your grief while trying to function in the public spotlight, and you have an even more trying ordeal.

We are supposed to grow old and watch our children grow into adults. All the care we have showered on them is then returned as they often look after us in our golden years.

Trying to reverse that system, with a parent left to bury a child gone way too soon, is about the worst life has to offer.

Our hearts and prayers go out to state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, and his family on the loss of his son.

Joseph Thomas Lentz lost his courageous battle against brain cancer. He was 2 years old.

Just too damn sad.

Most fitting for a public servant, the Lentz family is now hoping that the tragic loss of young Joseph will help in the battle against cancer.

They have set up a foundation in his name. Contributions should be made to The Joseph Lentz Fund for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research, The Foundation and CHOP, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Eighth Floor, Suite 8050, Philadelphia PA 19017, att. Richard Breslin.

Rest well, Joseph.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Agreed Heron, you never get over loosing a kid either: it's one of the most painful, deepest emotions known to a woman then a man. But, I would like to add: there is something wrong when a two year old kid gets that disease. I doubt it was genetic and think our poor environment is making too many sick.

July 13, 2009 5:52 PM 
Blogger JJ's mom said...

I point out that families who would not otherwise exist "in public" do so through the websites, CaringBridge and CarePages that are created for the relaying of information to family and friends. Our grief is not private - it is shared with the world.

www.ICouldBeYourChild.org includes hundreds of children who have passed from this disease, as well as the foundations that parents have created to make a difference.

To anonymous - The problem with the brainstem infiltrating gliomas (dipg) is that there is no known cause. It has not been proven to be either genetic or environmental.

August 24, 2009 12:03 PM 

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