It was in January 2005 that I received a phone call from a father looking to enroll his son in our program. His voice was hoarse, but he made his way through the inquiry. I asked him what the primary reason was that he wanted his son the have a Big Brother. He was disabled with brain cancer, he said. His son was having a hard time handling it, and was becoming angry. My heart sank. He said he had put off the call as long as he could. He was hoping someone could bring his happy little boy back. That little boy is Jeremy, and he was 7 years old.A Big Brother was in the process of enrolling when that call came. His name is Ross. I had met Ross about a month before, and talked with him at length during his interview. He was a man in his 50s, and struck me as a gentle man with a big, tender heart. I knew Ross wanted to make a difference, and this was certainly an opportunity for him to do that. The rest of this article is written by Ross about his experience so far.
"I must admit that before I met Jeremy, I wondered if he would be properly served or happy with a 'Big Brother' who is old enough to be his grandfather. My apprehensions were quickly dismissed the moment we met. We hit it off immediately. What sealed the deal was when I told him my favorite place for pizza was Talk of the Town. My introduction to Jeremy and his family went extremely well. It was a most enjoyable and inspiring meeting. I remember feeling an abundance of joy present in the room. Despite all that this family had been through, and what they knew they would face in the future, they accepted me with open arms and open hearts."
"Even though he was too weak to attend our meeting, Bill did make an appearance as I was leaving. He could hardly walk because of fatigue, and had a very hard time speaking. Despite all this, he shook my hand and thanked me for becoming Jeremy's Big Brother. [After that] I saw Bill from time to time. One night will stay with me forever. I was in the kitchen waiting for Jeremy, when Bill came out to greet me. He told me it was 'nice to see Jeremy smile again.' The next time I saw Bill, he could not speak. He held out his hand to shake mine. Bill did not say a word. He was saying one last 'thank you.' He was also telling me that he trusts me with his son. Bill's deep love toward his family, his wisdom, and his complete trust in me, influenced me to write a poem about him."
"I felt Jeremy needed a diversion from the sadness. We bowled, played basketball, took a cruise on Lake George, played catch, went to Canal Fest, and did a multitude of other fun things. Our friendship has flourished. The first time Jeremy really talked to me was on his 8th birthday. I had given Jeremy a gift card for his birthday, and he was going to pick out a present. On the way into the store, there was a 'cyclone'-type fundraiser to help children with cancer. Jeremy said to me, 'Wait Ross, I want to help kids with cancer.' As Jeremy rolled a few coins, he was staring at the coins going round and round and finally dropping into the funnel hole. He had a sad, blank stare on his face, and my heart felt heavy. Jeremy looked up at me and said, 'I wish I could help my dad, Ross. I feel so sorry for him.' I told him I wished I could help too. Five days later, Bill passed away."
A day after Bill's death, in October 2005, Ross visited the family to make sure everyone was doing alright, and he shared his poem with them. At Jeremy's request, the poem was displayed beside Bill's casket at the wake. Jeremy and his family were comforted by Ross at the wake as well. Today Ross says Jeremy is doing much better, and is happy. His Big Brother and his dad are watching over him. Thank you Ross, Jeremy and Tracy for allowing us to serve you, and share your story.
Bill
