Today, a mother in Buffalo, MN is burying her nearly-5-year-old boy after a heartbreaking battle with brain cancer. I went to high school with this mom. We weren’t close friends, but school acquaintances. She was kind then and kind when I reached out 2 years ago to ask for pointers after she had a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section).

I’ve been following along this past year and a half as her entire family took on this crazy/unfair/heartbreaking/fucked up fight for the life of her baby. A week ago, he lost that fight, in the arms of his mother.

There is so much distance between this sweet boy I’ve never met and myself and there is so much distance between this kind girl I haven’t seen in 15 years and myself. Yet, I feel so much sadness surrounding me. It makes me shudder to think about what it is like in the actual eye. I just can’t begin to fathom the pain this mother must be experiencing. Or, in her words, “enduring.” My heart aches for them.

Today they have bravely chosen to celebrate his life instead of mourn his death. So, today, my sweet C and I are wearing Andrew’s favorite color – blue – to celebrate his life and savoring extra moments that we are lucky enough to share together.