A family at our school has just experienced any parent's worst nightmare.  Their fourth grade son lost his battle with cancer.  Two years ago they discovered a tumor in his brain.  He spent those two years in treatment after treatment.  The cancer spread into his spine and he passed away last night just before midnight.

I am part of our schools fan out system.  I am in charge of calling a list of families when something big happens at school.  I got the call at 7:30 this morning to contact families and let them know there will be grief counselors at school.

My 3rd grader knew this boy.  At Christmas time he came home from break and said "Andrew might not come back after Christmas."  The look in his eyes told me exactly what that meant.

My Alex is a very bright kid.  He started asking questions like "Is cancer hereditary?"  "Is cancer contagious?"  "What exactly is cancer?"  I answered them all to the best of my knowledge knowing that my answers wouldn't be all that comforting.  And he said exactly what I was thinking "It just isn't fair".

I don't know how Andrew's family have managed during this difficult time.  I can't begin to understand the grief they must be feeling.  I only hope that the outpouring of love they are receiving from our school and community is a comfort in any small way.  And I hope and pray none of you reading this ever have to go through anything like this.