Louis

Louis & Judy

I can't believe I am about to write this blog entry, but here goes.

I want to tell you about Louis, who is my friend Judy's nephew, and one of those people who is pretty much has been a gift to those who love him since day 1. I have been thinking recently about the first time I saw Louis. He was about 6 months old, sitting on the lawn with his mom, Rachel. I hadn't seen Rachel in about a year and she looked beautiful in red braids falling on either side of her head. It was clear that motherhood suited her--she was 20 and had never looked so well. Judy was sitting with them and she proudly pointed at the gorgeous rambunctious baby in Rachel's arms and said, "This is Louis." I said out loud: LOUIS!

Louis was diagnosed with Brain cancer at 7. Judy, who had been living near New York, dropped everything and moved in with Rachel and Louis. They formed a family unit and went forward. That's pretty much what happens--crisis is the great vacuum cleaner--it sucks up all the bullshit and leaves the furniture and the essentials. Louis' diagnosis was no different. It became a full-time job for all of them.

Some months after he was diagnosed, Louis came to my birthday party at a Chinese restaurant. While his appetite was kaput, he called from the other side of the table and said, "Summer, I highly recommend the scallops." He was 7 and he was thin and he had cancer and he couldn't eat much, but he wanted to recommend the scallops. That pretty much sums Louis up.

Another time I saw him, he had been spending the last hour "cooking"--which is to say, he was making his special sandwiches, where every bite was something different. You might bight into a peanut butter and jelly, only to take another bight and have it be hummus and cheese. When I got to their house, he was exhausted from his efforts, curled up on the chair in the kitchen. When I entered and saw him there--weak and skinny and in a ball, he said from the chair, "Summer, can I get you some coffee?" It was so sweet and funny--like his epic sandwiches, but I had to decline.

He fought his cancer, was clean for awhile, had a small recurrence, and then was clean. But cancer is not only a really BAD idea, it is mysterious and one fickle mother. I got an e-mail this weekend from Rachel and Judy that said what we all hoped was never going to happen: it was back and inoperable.

I wish that I could adequately describe all that I feel about this--how angry and sad I am. These awful stories happen and it isn't fair or right and it doesn't make any sense. If anything, this reminds me as individuals how connected we all are. It isn't just about Louis, but about the family around him. It is about the time they have together and the time we all have.

Rachel has been raising him as a single mom the entire time, and while she has been able to provide for Louis, after 3 bouts of cancer, she is pretty much tapped out. The doctors have said that they have probably about 2 good months before the disease starts to take its toll and they have decided, with help, to make those months count. I would like to make a public plea for your support for Louis, Rachel, and Judy. You can read more about their process here and make a donation. We, in this creative community often ask in a fit of desperation, what would we do if this was it. Well, for some it IS IT. Please help them enjoy the gift of the time they have left. They don't deserve this cancer, but they do deserve all the love and support in the world.

Louis, I'll take that cup of coffee now. I'll take a sandwich too.