CANCER SUCKS, yet LOVE is POWERFUL

Thomas O'Brien

and his beautiful Mom

Debbie Koenig

Love and the evelasting memories, struggles, stories and paths travelled never prepare us for a diagnosis of

C A N C E R

and the journey that then takes its own toll on the body/mind/spirit

as new paths are forged into unknown territories.

Thomas O'Brien diagnosed with Hodgins Lymphoma 3+ years ago,

now 21 years old,

has been in a battle for his life,

his YOUNG life

with an old soul.

A remarkable young man out there in Texas that is filled with gentle spirit and kindness,

who now has folks praying and thinking of him and leaving him messages from all over the world.

He has managed to get people away from their own self absorbed lives

and their own issues, thoughts, politics and problems

and

INTO a young man who has openly shared his journey along with his Mom Debbie and his 4 legged out in Texas.

People from around the states have asked how can they donate blood and platelets in his name

to try and be of help at MD Anderson, one of the finest Cancer Centers in the country on his behalf.

We've lit candles to light his path, to honor and to thank him and to remind him that he is not alone

and to thank his Mom for bringing into the world such a kind and caring young man filled with such amazing grace.

DEbbie has taken so many for a trip down memory lane with photographs of Thomas as a wee boy, through his life of photographs,

and as a therapist I know that what she is doing is called a

"life review"

and I can only imagine the boxes of krumpled kleenex that lay around the computer as she posts each picture with a few words of the memory of her boy; his dreams for his life.

From the desire to be a pilot, to scuba diving, to the wonders of the world, and his love of God and country, along with family and friends,

and hot cars and girls

he is quite a young man.

And so many now feel as though they are losing a cherished friend,

and others still cling to a miracle and beg him to continue fighting.

He has fought

He has stood, he has gone where most would not dare, and beat so many odds already that I stand amazed by him.

I hope and pray that so many understand one day

THOMAS IS THE MIRACLE!

I used to put a lot of posts with photographs on his wall that would say,

"you my friend need to put on your shades, cos' you Thomas O'Brien outshine the sun"

and

he did and still does!

His is a light that is so bright that we all need to wear shades, for his light from within burns brightly in his short life, and will in the next place as well.

Some are just born to be that way;

even if painfully here a short time,

their impact on the world is felt long after their painful leaving,

their mark is indelible on the lives that they've touched.

Lent to us for a short while to make a strong statement and hopefully to allow us to live life stronger, better and larger while valuing each breath and each moment as we remember those warriors we've been honored to learn from.

Particularly the young ones that somehow teach so much while they are with us.

Yes Thomas, my friend you outshine the sun baby! YOU have left a mark with many who will always remember the bright light of YOU ...

I doubt I will ever see a

"hot red sports car" again that I don't imagine him in it, even here in Florida!

I doubt I don't ever again see a young man and wonder if they will rise to the top of the sun with kindness that I have witnessed in a young man who has fought this kind of fight with such amazing grace under fire.

CANCER SUCKS

This is Thomas' scan

yet

HE FOUGHT and he remained concerned about all those who friended him and he never met.

He posted last night that he know feels his time is "close" and he hopes "everyone is ok"

along with his thanks to all.

He let everyone know he has been afraid of late.

I would love to have a little time to talk with him, but I'm sure there are thousands that feel the same way.

It may be that he is not as afraid as he is going to

miss everything here.

That he is trying to find the energy to say so long to his Mom, his family, his beloved Seamus.

It may be that he is wanting to feel OK to cry and to express in a fast amount of time those things that have to be extremely difficult for a 21 year old to do when energy is waning and his life is drawing to a close here on this earth.
He may wonder will he really be remembered?

I cannot imagine.

It might be that he doesn't want to disappoint anyone by resting and releasing, with so many messages of "please keep fighting"

or

"I still believe in miracles"

or

"I'm still believing in YOU"

or

"Don't give UP"

...

I can't imagine.

I do know this though;

Thomas O'Brien

is a warrior, he has fought a tremendous battle with a horrid disease, he has shared intimate parts of his life with so many people who now stand with him.

Candles, prayers, thoughts and love surround him, his beautiful Mom and loved ones.

He has been and will always be an inspiration of a gentle soul who walked on this earth;

a kid, a man, a warrior

who is loved.

I am certain he will be greeted in spirit land with a celebration of beauty, met by his lord and angels singing; with a restored body of no pain, and joyous noise

as he will dance across the galaxies

as he then watches over his Mom

from the next place.

We will all be all the better for walking this journey from all over the world and knowing him, his path, his walk;

and

hopefully we will embrace life and hold it more sacred

dance more often

sing a bit louder

go for it a bit stronger

and

get out there even when it's raining

with our shades on

and

OUTSHINE THE SUN.
I believe in Thomas,
I have faith
I know he will have a joyous passage to the next place
and dance in the light of amazing grace
I know he is a warrior of gentle spirit
and that he will be remembered
I know his Mom will ache for him
and will mourn him
as if losing a part of herself,
yet I know also that she will survive
as she is the root of the tree that gave him all that he is
and through him she is strong
enough to bend
yet will not be broken.

...

You might even find yourself buying a hot red car like the one Thomas was scootin round Texas in with the stereo full blast!

Just remember to park it a few spaces away from all the rest of the cars!

YOU might just want to get yourself a Tatt

just remember the whys and where's of doing it.

So now

Thomas O'Brien my love,

look at this and remember who you are darlin,

remember the warrior you are,

do not be afraid.

WE ARE WITH YOU,

God is with YOU,

remember that tat, the feelings the significance of it?

YOU will be ok now...

...

Speaking of Cancer...

This Tatt

is on the back of a dear and beautiful woman,

Tonya who is also a facebook friend of Thomas;

she had this done in honor of her best friend after her death.

ELKE

we remember

gone too soon

CANCER SUCKS 

Please light your candles and hold

Thomas O'Brien

in thought

along his journey now.

“And after your death, when most of you for the first time realize what life here is all about, you will begin to see that your life here is almost nothing but the sum total of every choice you have made during every moment of your life. Your thoughts, which you are responsible for, are as real as your deeds. You will begin to realize that every word and every deed affects your life and has also touched thousands of lives.”

[Elisabeth Kubler-Ross]

Prayers and thoughts goin up for all who gather here.

We are with Thomas O'Brien, Debbie Koenig

and all who love them.

Walk in Beauty,

DRSES

www.sherryeshowalter.com