Memories Forever - Softcover

Prologue This book has been compiled as a tribute to the young people who with courage and dignity gave all they had to fight the horrendous disease - cancer. We dedicate this book to their families and friends who with the same courage and dignity have had to go on without them. We can learn great lessons from these kids. Through the stories and poems, we want you to see strength, hope and love each child brought to the people whose lives they touched. Do not be saddened by these children as you read the poems and stories. Each is written as an acknowledgement to faith, hope, courage and love.

Acknowledgement We want to thank all of the family members and friends who contributed their poems and stories to make this book such a grand tribute to these children. We want to thank Pat Brown, the Candlelighters' bereavement group facilitator, and Jill Lee and Janice Willard, both bereaved parents, for editing this book and making a dream become reality. We also want to thank Bemby Yocum, also a bereaved parent, for supplying the artwork for the beautiful cover. In addition, we would like to thank the Children's Mercy Cancer Center of Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, for their support in this project, as well as for the love and hope that every staff member gives to each child who comes through their doors. Life Once Symmetric by Jonathan Beaven December 5, 1981 to October 16, 1997 Osteosarcoma Life was once symmetric, Everything continuing on a fixed path, A pattern, a rhythm, a fluid journey. Suddenly knocked off the steady road, The story changes abruptly. Life becomes uncertain, The piece of the puzzle Fitting perfectly together, Now scattered almost hopelessly. The soul now being tested, Only faith helping you along A dark, frightful tunnel seems To forever run. But a light now beginning to yield the way, The burden now being lifted, A weight on the shoulders eases its intensity. A ball and chain which kept you briefly Helpless, is released. Life once again is once back on the path, The puzzle pieces now locking together The same pieces, but now a different picture.