It is at the same time unbelievable and absolutely horrifying to me that I’m even typing this. Obviously it goes without saying it’s not something anyone should ever have to deal with. But they are. In a way we all are.

By They I mean neighbors of ours. They also includes Frank and his classmates. One of Frank’s neighborhood friends and elementary school classmates has been diagnosed with cancer. The fight will be long and exhausting. When we heard we all breathed deep and now secretly hope but… Words just escape me.

This is Lucas.

By We I mean our neighborhood. Lucas is in what we in the neighborhood affectionately call the Sac Gang. A group of kids that roam our neighborhood and our cul-de-sac and our yards in-particular due to a rare East Tennessee characteristic. They’re flat. When our house was finally finished in the fall of 2004 we met Diego, Lucas’ older brother. Lucas would not be born for 5 more years. Diego was part of the original Sac Gang. He’s in high-school now and is a great young man. But Lucas’ Sac crew is bigger and more active. They are running the streets, making up games, and being kids whenever the weather permits.

Frank lights up and drops me like a hot rock when Lucas and the Sac Gang comes rolling through. Running for hours on end, using sticks as light sabers, and playing games unknown to me, apparently is much more fun than hanging with dad. Lucas is a big reason Frank gets to run with the Sac Gang.

We haven’t told Frank yet. Not really sure how to. Sometimes words fail.

If you know me at all you know what’s coming. Click the link. Do what you can.

Lucas’ Fight Against Child Cancer

Preciate ya.