Take a breath. Look around you. If you are still here breathing, be thankful. This blog was never intended to be a platform in which I share my deepest feelings but what good is it if I don’t write from the heart?
Over the last several months, my community (and beyond) on the Southside of Chicago has been lucky enough to be brought together by one courageous 12 year old, Emily Beazley. She fought hard for four long years, a battle that no one should have to go through, especially someone so young. If you did not know it already, cancer sucks, childhood cancer sucks even more. Don’t get me started on how the hell we don’t have a cure by now.
I did not know Emily or her family personally but because of the strength she and her family had to share her story via Emily’s Entourage Facebook page, I can honestly say that this 12 year old girl has changed my life. No matter how hard it got, she pushed through, surrounded by so much love from her very courageous family. Emily’s story went well beyond the Southside of Chicago, all the way to Taylor Swift and around the world.
We all face tough times in life. You might be sitting in the middle of one right now. All I ask is that for this moment, even just once today, everyone stops what they are doing and takes a minute to be thankful that we are still here. We have the chance to keep living, pushing through and doing all the things that Emily will not have the opportunity to do. Every single minute we have on this earth is a gift. I personally know that I am going to try my damnedest to honor Emily and each day reflect on all the good and all the things I have to be thankful for. Life is not perfect, it’s not easy but we are still here. That in itself is all you can ask for.
So, Emily, thank you for changing my life and leaving your strength behind. Life is short and I promise to remember that in the good times as well as the bad. Lots of love to Emily’s family at this time. Thank you for sharing your angel with us the last several years. I hope we find a cure for this horrible disease someday very soon.