Another Candle Snuffed Too Soon

I just learned that a good friend of my brother's has passed away. I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple times. He was the nicest person I had ever met. Brian had been battling leukemia for years. He and his wife (who has breast cancer) have a daughter who just turned 5. She was having her birthday party on the day he passed away. Brian was only 3 years older than me. I cannot express how much I hate the f*cking C word!!!

Gone, but not forgotten.

His obituary:

Brian Craig Dickson, beloved husband and devoted father, went to the arms of Our Lord on July 6, 2008. Brian was born in New Britain, CT, on October 25, 1974, and spent most of his growing-up years in Cato, NY. He graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1997, the same year he met his wife, Annette. Their marriage took place in 1999, after which they resided in Depew, NY for a year, where Brian worked as a computer technician.

In 2000, Annette's residency training brought them to Kansas City, MO. Brian worked for the USDA as a Unix administrator, a position he continued in for two years after his diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2001. Despite ongoing chemotherapy, he and Annette happily became expectant parents, an event dampened by Brian's relapse in 2003. Brian received a stem cell transplant from his brother, Brad, that May.

Seven weeks later, Arwen was born and Brian began the role he relished most: at-home dad. He enabled Annette's busy medical practice, and was an active, hands-on father, finding kindred spirits among KCDADs, a group of at-home dads in Kansas City. Watching Arwen grow up spurred his desire to pursue a teaching career, and he began graduate studies in education at Rockhurst University in 2004. In 2006, he was a most understanding caregiver for Annette as she endured treatment for her own diagnosis of breast cancer. She was recovering when he relapsed again shortly before his 32nd birthday.

A second stem cell transplant at MD Anderson in Houston, TX separated Brian from his beloved girls for several months in 2007. Earlier this year, faced with the news of possible relapse, Brian and Annette renewed their vows at St. Therese Church in celebration of their ninth anniversary. Brian doggedly pursued treatment with the goal to survive for his young family, even in the face of great risk. His favorite quote was from Jimmy Valvano's speech at the Espy Awards, "Never give up, don't ever give up!"

Brian is survived by his wife Annette, daughter Arwen, his parents Alan and Carol, and brother Brad. Visitation will be at St. Therese Catholic Church, 7207 NW Highway 9, Kansas City, MO 64152 from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Therese at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2008 with Fr. Mike Roach as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville. In lieu of flowers, family request donations to the American Cancer Society and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This moment of sadness was brought to you by the letter C and the number TOO MANY!!