The Tribune

Have you ever watched someone die? Not a sudden death, but a slow, painful demise?

I have. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s brutal.

My family is no stranger to heartache. We’ve lost a lot of people – in some of the most heartbreaking ways imaginable.

But, this time it was different. The victim was 19 and he never saw it coming. His name was Nathan Smith. He was my cousin. He died from a rare form of liver cancer.

Doctors say it was the first of its type in The Bahamas. Nathan was also one of four people in the world who had it. When diagnosed, he was already at stage four. Stage four!

In the weeks leading up to his death I watched my cousin quickly become a shell of his former self. The cancer destroyed his appendix and spread to his stomach. It later crept into his spine. In fact, doctors said it was a miracle that he walked into the hospital because there was literally no connection left in his spine between his lower back and hip.

At first, the chemotherapy worked, slowing the cancer’s progression. Then he stopped responding to treatment. His body started shutting down. His entire liver was gone. Nathan passed away on April 9, 2013. I was relieved. Not for myself ... for Nathan. On the day of his funeral I watched as his casket descended to its final resting place. Seconds later, a woman pulled me away from my grieving family, at first offering her condolences and later reminding me that Nathan might have had a fighting chance if our family could have come up with the money.

We could not. Turns out, she was a general practitioner from the Princess Margaret Hospital who had assisted him.

Nathan’s narrative is no different from that of Alexandria “Carly” Bullard, the adorable four-year-old girl I had grown to know and love when I worked as a news editor at Love 97FM. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. Carly’s mom, Desiree Smith (no relation) came to our news station with her story.

Through tearful eyes she pleaded with the public for financial assistance. I recall asking her what she most feared. She broke down. “That I won’t get the money in time and Carly will die,” she said. Desiree never raised that $250,000. Carly died on September 27, 2012.

Today, as I reflect on the second anniversary of Nathan’s death I think of the void left by his death and how it has left a gaping hole in my family’s heart. That pain is further compounded every time I see his twin brother marking milestones without his better half.

I don’t have a cure for cancer. Nor do I have millions of dollars, but I am relentless. Babe Ruth said it best: “You just can’t beat a person who won’t give up.”

This November, I will use my legs to fight the disease. In January, I signed up with Bahamas Half to run a half marathon – my first ever. I will be attempting this feat three months after I turn 36. I’d never been inclined to run before. I never understood the draw. But after organising Marathon Bahamas, which my company, Sunshine Insurance sponsors and organises, I started to envy the runners a bit. In them I saw focus and discipline. But, nothing compared to seeing the sheer joy on their faces as they crossed the finish line.

So on November 22, I, too, will cross the finish line and I will do so in Nathan’s and Carly’s honour. And I will do it through my personal fundraiser, Ro. Run. Raise. Repeat.

I started this fundraiser to raise money for various causes. I have a soft spot for children. So, this year, I’ve decided to run for the Freedom Kids - a support community for children with cancer and sickle cell. The children range in age from two to 17. Freedom Kids falls under the umbrella of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas. I have set a personal goal to raise $5,000. Many times we look to corporate citizens to come to our aid, but cancer doesn’t just affect corporate citizens. It ravages individuals and families. So, with this fundraiser I’m looking especially to individuals to donate $13.10 for my 13.1 mile run. It’s going to be a hike, but I’m always up for a challenge. The funny thing is, not once since I signed up for my run have I regretted the decision or felt the need to back out. I just keep seeing Nathan’s and Carly’s faces in my mind’s eye and that gives me all the motivation I need.

I hope in November I’m able to surprise Freedom Kids with even more money than my goal.

For more information on Ro. Run. Raise. Repeat. visit RoRunRaiseRepeat on Facebook or email rogan@rorunraiserepeat.com to donate.