Today’s hike was a part of a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the Climb to Conquer Cancer. I decided to participate in the event because Baden Powell was the one that made me cry last year, not because of the hike itself .. but because I had learned of my dad’s cancer diagnosis the day before and I was terrified of what life would be like without him. My dad would pass away less than 2 months later. When I asked my friends for donations I could not have imagine what ended up happening on the trail.

What started off as a hike in memory of my dad really turned into a hike with an old friend. Before my dad was diagnosed my friend Arelis (John) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that would take his life in a matter of months.

I vividly remember the day he passed I had received a phone call from his wife (my friend Patty) who asked me to come and say goodbye. When I got to their home I remember John was no longer talking but as he lay in bed I held his hand and told him how much he meant to me and that I was lucky to have been able to call him my friend. I told him it was ok to go home and when I mentioned Patty he squeezed my hand. I knew he was worried about leaving her behind, so I promised him that I would take good care of Patty and that I would make sure she smiled again. Less than an hour after I returned home I got the call that John had passed.

Today I told John about the good job I have been doing as we hiked to Baden Powell. He will always be in Patty’s heart and while she misses him dearly, love and joy have returned to her heart. She married her high school sweetheart (I officiated the wedding) and she is surrounded by people who love her. I hope that he looked down upon this beautiful place with a smile upon his face knowing that he made a difference and that he continues to do so.