BE REAL

Watching Death Come Alive

My Uncle David has leukemia. And it will kill him within the week.

About a month ago, via Facebook, my cousin informed me that his Dad, my Uncle David, living in Baja California, was just diagnosed as having Leukemia. Over the weeks that followed, his immediate family began a US trek bouncing from hospital to hospital, inspired by the hope and treatment physicians offered. Odds were in his favor.

From the beginning of Dave’s journey, his wife and kids posted updates on Facebook. The news went from bad to good, to bad again. This cycle repeated for the past month as posts to Facebook were made, and family and friends responded. My father, 83, asked if I had heard the news of his youngest sibling. I told him I was in the loop as I followed the story on Facebook. I saw firsthand how much of the extended family has been brought together and engaged through the many updates.  My Dad has since been watching Facebook for the daily updates. 

On July 24, one of Dave’s friends started a Facebook Fan Page named “Friends of Dave Clagett”. The impedance was the need to raise extra money to support a bone marrow transplant. As Dave’s health improved, he was accepted in to an elite donor program at City of Hope hospital. Seeing the posts on the fan page, you could sense the joy and optimism. Photos of Dave were posted, stories were told and the tone was upbeat and optimistic. Clearly those posting had emotional capital in what they were doing. But you could say the same for the audience.

Things suddenly turned for Dave. Here is the latest post from his Daughter-In-Law:

Dave’s road of Leukemia has been a twisty, windy road. It seems when he has been driving on the road, he has hit a bump or two. Brave Dave kept getting back in the car and on the road he went. Over the last few days Dave’s leukemia decided to go off-road and took a few turns too many. 

This is not easy to write, Dave’s journey is slowly coming to an end. Dave will not be going to City of Hope and he is resting comfortably at the hospital in Palm Springs. Matt and I are leaving tomorrow for Palm Springs.  Marianne is staying at the hospital by his side, so please understand she might not be answering emails for a bit. 

Please keep Dave, Marianne, and Matt in your prayers. 

Love to you all, 

Julie 

I read the post above, just this morning, as did the 45 or so “fans” of Dave. But I am heartened to know that there is a close group of us, that share our sorrow. Many of us have not seen Dave for many years. While it appears these are my Uncle David’s last days, he become so much more alive to me, because family and friends, young and old, took the time and effort to share news, thoughts and emotion, via a silly website called Facebook.