For Talia

I never met Talia Castellano. I saw her and was inspired by her like many others on Ellen. We watched her the day after my lumpectomy while waiting to for the decision on chemotherapy. I knew that if this bubbly 13 year old could keep her positive spirit after 6 years(!) of cancer treatment my potential 7 months was a drop in the bucket.

I loved in the 2nd video she did something I did (do) to my mom all the time, sang "Just keep swimming" when asked how she keeps going.

Talia died on Tuesday morning after battling cancer for almost half of her short, but inspiring life. When checking my e-mail at work I saw the news posted on the comcast homepage and made the rest of my office watch the video of her passing that the Today show did. There was not a dry eye in the house. When I showed my mom the video later I broke down again. Despite not knowing the little spitfire, I related to her so much that I am having a tough time digesting the news. Sprinkle in a little survivor guilt and heat and I have been crank-a-saurus Rex the rest of the week. I need to remember to "Just Keep Swimming".


For Talia, who was truly a cancer fighting Army of One.