Almost 4 years ago I lost my father-in-law to a form of blood cancer, Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. As a family we cannot believe that he has been gone as long as he has. Even though he is no longer with us a very special gift was given to me by aid of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).The gift? The gift, selfishly, was being able to spend more time with him but even more important, sharing in the birth of his last grandchild.
During his battle he approached a crossroad where he had to decide whether he was going to continue to fight or not. We spoke with him and plainly said "If you want to fight and continue treatment, then we will make arrangements to fly from California to Michigan to have your last grandchild in the same hospital you are receiving treatment." His eyes lit up and we knew he was going to fight with all of his might.
When the time came we flew from California to Michigan two weeks before my due date. Hogwash you say, well lets just say I was praying the whole flight when I was told that the possibility of having a child on a plane was very probable. I made the appropriate arrangements prior to flying and after flying to make sure the health of our daughter and I were not compromised. Both of my physicians made me well aware of the risks as well as the what ifs. For me, it was a no brainer! I figured that if he could bare the pain and all the side effects of receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments I could bare having a child in a VERY unconventional way. Thankfully, we all arrived safety and our plan worked.
We welcomed our daughter into the world at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield where my father-in-law was being treated. When he was safe to see people they rolled him into my room in a wheel chair. The look on his face when he saw Samarra for the first time was indescribable. I will always remember how excited and emotional he was, crying harder than I have ever seen a human being cry. He not only was looking his legacy in the face but realized his own mortality and the wave of emotions that come with it. But in that moment, nothing mattered more than his little granddaughter. Cancer disappeared in pure emotion, the pain didn't matter.
I wholeheartedly believe that other than the will to live the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society gave our family and I a true gift. I will always remember the raw emotion in that room and to this day it seems like yesterday. LLS, their medical research, life saving medication and patient programs are truly what gave our family more time which I personally will forever be indebted.
Brent Cassidy, I truly miss you every day but remember you in many parts of my day. It may be a simple look Kirk gives that I swear is you. It's in the belly laughs of Samarra and Trae. It's in the double rainbows that we are blessed to occasionally see. It's the spaghetti dinners with the family wishing you were there because it was your favorite meal. It's the chocolate all over my children's faces that remind me of you scraping the bottom of the chocolate fondue bowl. Most important, it's in the warm embraces from your son and your grandchildren that let me know you are still here. As long as I live I will never ever forget you or your legacy.
My work began with LLS in 2010 and continues to this day in my father-in-laws honor and legacy. I am determined to raise awareness and funds so that other families are given the gift of time, remission, being cancer free and the hope and possibilities of more life saving treatments to make the world blood cancer free.
All my love,
Jessica L. Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
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