I did not want to post about this, but I can not stop thinking about it.  It is such a bittersweet story, especially on Father’s Day.

A young girl named Colby had been struggling with cancer since 2005.   This April, at the age of 10, she became very excited when she saw the trailer for the Pixar animated movie “UP.”  She told her mom how much she wanted to see it.   Colby quickly took a turn for the worse, and was too sick to go see the movie in the theater when it was released.  Her family and friends  repeatedly called Pixar to see if they would mail her a DVD of the movie so she could watch it at home.  Pixar sent a staff person to Colby’s home with the DVD and a basket of toys so she could watch the movie.

Unfortunately, Colby was so ill and in pain from the cancer, she was unable to even open her eyes to watch the movie.  So, her mother narrated the whole movie to her daughter, and Colby indicated to her mom that she loved it.  Seven hours later, Colby passed away.

I posted about this because I often am in awe in how strong a mother or father can be.  I just don’t know if I could be as strong as this mom, who narrated a movie about life and death, to her dying daughter.  Where did this mom find the strength?

The story made me hug my kids closer.  To breathe them in.   To savor the sweet smell of sand, sunscreen, peanut butter and summer that is exuding from their skin.

On this Father’s Day, take a moment to smell your own flowers growing in your home.  And kiss you babies daddy!

RR