Not everyone gets
discovered by a plucky five year old, but it happened to Eric last summer. I
was playing a match with a new mixed doubles partner, Brian. Eric came over to
the courts to watch the match.
At one point I looked up
and saw a little girl sitting in Eric's lap. When I mentioned it to Brian he
told me it was his daughter, Tess. She had just climbed into Eric's lap and sat
there the whole time chatting with him and asking questions. Then and there
they became buddies.
Throughout the season we
got to know Brian and his wife Maura. When the next mixed team started up Maura
joined and played with Eric as her partner. The tennis was great and we played
with them socially as well.
It was a Wednesday in
mid-January when we the four of us were sending emails about playing together
on Saturday. Early the next morning we got an email from Maura saying that
Eric's buddy was not well. She was at UCSF and they'd discovered a mass on her
brain.
Surgery followed the next
day and a large, cancerous tumor was removed, but smaller tumors were
inoperable. Tess remained in the hospital for the next five weeks.
The surgery left her with
weakness on the right side and speech problems. Rigorous cancer treatments and
various therapies filled her days while all who knew her hoped and prayed for
Tess. Getting strong enough to sit up. Relearning to walk. Tess is such a
trooper.
Tess stayed connected to
her many admirers through the iPad mini given to her by her Dad's co-workers.
Her mind has been so sharp throughout the many ordeals. One night we visited
Tess at the hospital and she and Eric and her Dad played Chutes and Ladders in
the playroom. Time after time Tess kept rolling ones. Finally, she shook her
little head and said, "A parade of ones!"
When it was time
for Tess to return home to her new pink bedroom, big sister Kara made a
beautiful welcome home video. Tess has a big Irish family filled with
love. She and her three siblings have aunts and uncles and cousins
galore.
Now she's in between treatments
and life is a little more normal. She's even been back to school a bit. I saw
her on Friday and discovered she'd been suffering from a cold. When I made the
comment that I'd wondered why she hadn't been around school she said,
"We'll you should have texted me!" That's Tess. That's Tess force.
May the force be with her.
To support Tess and
others Eric and I are walking in the Brain Tumor Walk in San Francisco on May
4th. Please donate if you can. The smallest contribution is appreciated. Please
follow the link and click on my name. http://www.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!
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| Playing Chutes and Ladders at UCSF with Eric and Dad. |
