Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you know I’ve been battling cancer these past two years. Hard as it is to admit, cancer appears be gaining the upper hand. My life has been reduced to lying around my parent’s house, keeping up with an ever changing litany of meds, and looking back on my thirty-six years on the planet.
Up until now I’ve had a great life. What I enjoy most these days is catching up with friends and family and hearing about what you’re up to. I’m so grateful to have had you in my life.
Please feel free to drop me a line, send a few pics, or share an old memory or two.
I’m looking forward to catching up.
A big shout-out goes to my friends at Penn Medicine’s Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit. I miss you guys!
- James
J.J. I’m James’s mom. I stumbled your post today and saw your reference to “Bully.” He donated to James’s nursing education fund. I want to thank him but have no contact info. If you can help with this could you send it to rally1@mac.com? James dearly loved his gaming buddies. I’m sure he enjoyed hearing from you. Thanks.
Hi James. My middle name is James too so we have another thing in common. However, you are forever Canis to me. I have known you for quite a long time in guild wars and I have always known that you are a great guy with a big heart. I really admire you when you hosted the charity for the kids hospital. I thought it was an ingenious idea. The fact that you are willing to dress up so we can donate just prove what a great guy you are. I remember many of our little adventures together, naively thinking the two of us can kill an army blob. You are one of the reason (beside Wee and Lady) that I have decided to join Hate guild. I have never looked back and in return met a whole guild of great people. I am forever grateful to you for being kind to a fellow gamer who is not really all that awesome skill wise. I will always remember the last time you were on playing with us and said that you think I am always polite and nice. It meant a lot to me. Your forever friend and guildie Vanir aka Van.
Everyone will call you James, but not I as that is not who I know you as. Canis, you have been a wonderful gamer and a delight to know. My life is richer just because you were a small part of it. I will always cherish the hours long fights for SMC and the laughs we all have shared over the last 8 1/2 years. Know that you are always be in my thoughts no matter where you may be. SBI forever and GW2 for life! With all my love, Lady Moonmyst.
James, I want you to know how much of an impact you made in my life after meeting you, as completely strangers, sitting next to each other on the plane a couple years ago. You opened up to me about your journey, gave me one of your bracelets (I still have today), and left a lasting mark because of your outlook, strength, positivity and openness. I‘ve thought of you often since, praying for you, enjoy the random updates I’d catch while scrolling through on Instagram (so glad we exchanged that info, by the way) and wishing you the best and happiness always. I could tell, even in the short time we spent together, that you‘re special, one of a kind. Grateful for that chance meeting, for the reminder you gave me about this life we’re given, for your honest updates and for the opportunity to tell you these things. I haven’t and won’t forget you. Even as what’s still pretty much a stranger that’s the same age, I am proud of you and inspired by you, you’re something else. I’ll keep praying for you and ask that you try to keep faith and don’t be afraid, which I already know, from what you’ve shared, that you are not. Be happy, friend from the plane!
So grateful for your amazing group of caring and supportive coworkers at Penn.