Parkø

“Ian is 15 years old. In 2019, Ian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. After surgery and months of chemotherapy, Ian was declared cancer free; however, in November 2021, his cancer would return and spread throughout his body. This past week, he and his family would learn that there was nothing else they could do. The cancer that had ravished his body in the past and he had beat would soon be the same cancer that kills him. Upon finding out that the cancer would kill him, Ian began crying. He wasn't scared of dying; in fact, he was okay with it. Ian was sad. Ian cried because, as he said in his own words, "I only want to do one good thing in the world before I leave you all." It was Ian who made the choice to tell his friends and his little brother that his cancer would inevitably kill him. I think this picture truly shines the light on the "good" that Ian wanted and believed he needed to share. Even in his devastating prognosis, it was Ian who would comfort and console his friends and little brothers. Crying in this photo is Ian's little brother, Peter. Peter had just learned the devastating news that his days with his older brother were numbered. Holding him as tight as ever and kissing him on the forehead, Ian held on tightly and apologized to his brother for not being able to beat the cancer. From here on out, while he says he is sad, he also admits he's okay with dying, because while "dying" is the technical term, he refuses to sit around dying and instead chooses to be busy living until his death becomes reality. The truth is that Ian refuses to live for himself. He chooses only to live for others until the moment he takes his very last breath.”