It really, really sucks.
Jamie (one of the team mentors this year, and a participant in last year's TCM) had been doing a great job all summer of keeping us up-to-date on one of our fall marathon "honored teammates" -- a nine-year old girl named Alie. She'd been battling leukemia since she was only three years old. Three!
Recently, she'd been on oxygen because of some fluid in her lungs. Her CaringBridge website was updated regularly, and both Jamie and our coach Jan regularly asked us to leave comments for her. Alie wasn't able to attend the team picnic this past Saturday, because she was still in the hospital. Jamie handed out pink and purple ribbons to tie to our shoes -- Alie's favorite colors.
She passed away yesterday.
Another young life cut way too short because of leukemia. And not for lack of effort, or love, or strength, or courage. One can only hope that she is in a better place now -- and I continue to hope that research gets us closer to a cure.
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