Courage + Believe = Life

"Courage + Believe = Life" was John Challis' motto. He joins Dr. Randy Pausch as another Pittsburgh area inspiration, not just for cancer patients, but for all. John Challis showed us how to live a full and rich life. His life ended Tuesday at the age of 18.
KDKA-TV has this story and a slideshow.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers this article.
And Pittsburgh's best blogger, PittGirl sums it up as well as can be done.

Wise decades before the wisdom should have kicked in and mature years before the maturity should have shown up, he was truly an inspiring teenager who faced death, admitted it scared him, but was more worried about how it would affect his family when he was gone.

He was a selfless kid who instead of dwelling heavily on what he could not change, looked to using his reaction to the inevitable, to change those around him. And it did.

Her entire posting can be found here.
ESPN had a touching tribute on SportCenter.

His battle with liver and lung cancer was inspiring, not because he overcame adversity to live his life to the fullest, but that he did so in such a positive way.

Randy Pausch: RIP

Carnegie-Mellon University professor Randy Pausch has ended his battle with pancreatic cancer. In his now famous "final lecture" to students last year, he promoted a very uplifting philosophy. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette offers the story of this remarkable individual's life. The wonderfully talented PittGirl offers perspective as well.

Check out his lecture, Achieving Your Childhood Dreams:



The tissues are on the table.

On Tony Snow, Adam Frey, Randy Pausch, and John Challis

The death of Tony Snow this weekend was not unexpected, nor is the outpouring of love and admiration for this very special role model.

• Deacon Greg offers a homily on A world without Snow.
• William Teach over at Pirate’s Cove offers some thoughtful observations and a link fest.
• Michelle Malkin’s article delves into the many faceted personality that made Tony Snow so special to so many.
• Lemuel at Hillbilly White Trash provides some clarity about why Tony Snow’s passing has impacted us all who follow politics and media.
• You know the Anchoress will offer some valuable nuggets of wisdom.
• Gina Cobb’s take: Tony Snow, R.I.P. ("Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant") is another “must read.”
• E.M., our favorite American Princess in A Sad And Sudden Loss offers the perspective of the younger generation.
• And Dr. Melissa Clouthier suggests some parallels in the passing of Snow and pioneering heart transplant surgeon Michael DeBakey.

I place Tony Snow with a group of brave Americans from whom we have much to learn.

College wrestler Adam Frey has maintained a fascinating outlook on life in his blog as he continues his battle with some stubborn chemo-resistant tumors.

“I guess all there is to do is go there and kick it in the ass. I am sure God has a reason for this, and I trust him fully. Of course, I hope no offense is taken upstairs when I say I do not really want to go through it…again. Life I think is going through most things you do not want to do in life and only a few you do. I am learning that really fast.”

There’s Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch, whose continued survival is something of a miracle, yet he sees beyond all that.

And most inspiring because such wisdom is not usually thought to reside inside the body of an 18-year-old, is that shared by John Challis, who has been making the rounds of baseball, football, hockey, and other sports venues, bringing tears to tough guy athletes and news media critters alike. Quotes like this one in a recent Pittsburgh Post Gazette article, “A Beaver County church had planned a fundraiser, but John and his family asked the church instead to conduct the event and give the money to a fifth-grade boy in Beaver County who has a brain tumor.

"His family can use it more than we can," John said. "That's just common sense. Someone does something good for you, then you help someone else."

ESPN produced this SportsCenter feature on John:

R.I.P. Tim Russert

Tim Russert, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of NBC's Meet the Press died of a heart attack while at work today. More here. I thought Russert to be one of the best in the business.

A dead soldier's perspective

I'm back from my self-imposed exile from the Internet (the real world is an awfully interesting place after all.)
In browsing through the several dozens of blogs I read regularly, an entry at American Princess caught my eye. Titled "Something Very Sad", through it we learn of the death of a blogger/soldier in Iraq. I had never before read anything by Andrew Olmsted. This, his last word is a must read. May God bless his family and friends.

Sympathies to Still Stacy

It's a sad day in the blogosphere. The always insightful and entertaining Stacy has lost her mother. Consider visiting her site and paying your respects.