Leuk and young people

I woke up this morning realizing I’ve been on this planet for 62 years. I’m not sure what the heck happened. Yesterday I’m dancing with my girlfriend to White Rabbit, today I’m married to her with two adult children and three grand children.

I’m very lucky getting my leukemia at this late age. CLL is usually, but not always, a slow moving disease. Since I’m in my later years, I might even beat Leuk to the deadline (pun intended).

But I’ve met young folks on Twitter who are suffering with leukemia. They’re too young. When most kids are dancing to what-ever-band-is-in-now, they are having chemo and spending time in hospitals and worrying about their future. A future that Leuk is trying to deny them.

But they are brave. Their tweets (posts) are mostly upbeat. They talk about regular teenage stuff mixed in with their leukemia worries.

In the late 1960’s a girl in our high school, Lynda, died from leukemia. She was smart, beautiful, a cheerleader, and one of those quiet personalities that made you glad she was there. She would have graduated near the top of her class. But she didn’t make it.

In her Junior year she was gone.

Leukemia in young people is a hateful thing. I wonder sometimes what sort of vast, eternal plan would allow it.

But kids are resilient. They are good fighters. If their loved ones help hold them up and if their faith is strong, many will beat Leuk.  And some will not.

We need to pray for them – these young kids forced to grow up quicker than most. Their only struggles should have been the wonderful, awkward, tangled up mess of teenage life;  not worrying about a terminal disease.

To these young people fighting Leuk I say this: Don’t give up. Face him head on. Fight the good fight.

And win.