What's been so shocking about this is how fast it went. We have a former work colleague who was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer last year, and we've been blessed that he's responded well to his treatment. Frankly, I was lulled into thinking that Shana's father would be equally blessed.
He was diagnosed in January, and at the end of March, the doctors discovered that the chemotherapy wasn't shrinking his tumors, and that in fact, the cancer had spread. Larry, Dana (his wife & Shana's mom), Shana, and her brother made the decision to bring him home for hospice care. The doctors said "Two weeks to two months."
And I got lulled into false hope again. All I heard was two months. Creative ideas were proposed for how to help Shana get through the considerable amount of work on her plate from her parent's house in Lancaster. Her parents got high-speed wireless so she could work more effortlessly. Arrangements were underway.
Larry passed away this past Tuesday, just a week after going home, and I believe that the Greatman family's heart is broken.
I only met Shana's dad a few times. They stopped by the office once to see where Shana worked, and they were so cute -- very much in love with each other and proud to bursting of Shana. I met him again when Shana graciously invited me to a wedding shower in Lancaster knowing that I was at loose ends in Los Angeles. He and Jeff (Shana's fiance, now husband) escaped to do "manly" things while the girls played, and he delighted in all of it. That delight was nothing compared to the sunbeams streaming out of him at Shana's wedding, seeing his beloved daughter marrying a good man and starting a new life.
He was one of the most vibrant people I've ever met, but he was also fundamentally kind and generous to his core. Larry was the kind of father who, once he figured out that you loved Shana and were loved by Shana, opened his arms and welcomed you into his sunshine, and goodness, what a lot of sunshine there was!
Shana and her family are sitting shivah and grieving. Shana's mother has posted that she lost the love of her life. They're all in an incredible amount of pain. I can't be there physically for Shana or her family, but if you could, say a little prayer and send a little love to the west coast, and give your people a little extra squeeze. I started building some bridges with my family because of Shana and Larry, and my heart is a little broken, too.
2 comments:
what a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. many of us were lucky to be touched by him. those of us who know shana will have the opportunity to experience his greatness in her.
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