I defy anyone not to have been moved by the courageous story of Stephen Sutton, the teenager suffering from terminal bowel cancer whose appeal has now surpassed two million pounds. https://www.justgiving.com/stephen-sutton-TCT
It’s not just the fact that this amazing young man has managed to do this, but also his indomitable spirit. When diagnosed he set up a bucket list of forty-odd targets and has managed to tick off thirty-five of them. In an interview given in front of his mum he said he had loads of motivation and little time and so he wanted to pass some of his motivation onto others who have more time than him. I cried my eyes out when I watched it; his mother must feel such pride in her son yet indescribable pain and grief that she will lose him so soon. I’m always very wary of celebrities who get involved in charity appeals, and I’ve never particularly warmed to Jason Manford, but credit to him for picking up Stephen’s appeal and running with it, pushing it over the one million and now the two million mark.
I look at Stephen’s photo, smiling and giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed and a wave of sadness engulfs me. Time and time again over the last few days I’ve found myself thinking of him and saying silent prayers, sending loving thoughts and light to him, willing him on, hoping that we have a miracle and Stephen’s doctors are proved wrong because nobody deserves to live more than he does. And I surprise myself at how much love I can feel towards someone I’ve never met. And how, oh how I wish him well.
I had some other things to share with you, but they all pale into insignificance really when compared to Stephen’s story. So I’ll end this blog here.
I’ve been totally consumed by this story over the last few days. Stephen went to school at Chase Terrace High School, the same as me and lives in Burntwood the same place as I grew up. He is an incredible young man and I admire his spirit, his tenancity, his sheer determination to make his time count. I hope they’re ready for him when he does finally get upstairs although I hope he has more time with his family as long as he’s not in too much pain. I have a feeling he’ll be shaking things up! Best warn my mom and dad! Lovely blog post Elaine, as you say, everything else kind of pales into insignificance xxx
Thanks, Kim xx