Sallyacious

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July 16, 2007

No Way to Say Good-Bye

A year or so ago I had a really lovely student from Nepal. (In fact, now that I think about it, all of my students from Nepal have been lovely people. As have the students from China, Sumatra, Korea and England. In fact, I have yet to have an un-lovely foreign student. They've all rocked.)

But as I was saying, Richa was something special. She was funny, she was bright, she was shy but determined, and she was a grade-A, number one kind of student. Sometimes, her mother came to class with her. To carry her books. Because Richa was on crutches. She'd had surgery for bone cancer and couldn't walk without them. When she was in my class, she was still trying to protect a weak immune system. But she attended almost every session, and she participated fully and she carved out a very special place in my heart.

I googled her this evening, because I've been thinking about her lately. I didn't see her on campus this year, and I wondered.

She's dead.

I don't know when. I can imagine how. And I'm so sorry. Because she was so clearly cut out for greater things than an early death from a horribly painful disease. I know I often hoped while she was in my class that she would beat the cancer and grow into the person she had the opportunity to be.

For Richa's family and friends, I wish peace and a joy in the opportunity to have known her. I know I was incredibly fortunate in getting to share a semester with her. Anyone who knew Richa is lucky to have been so blessed.

Posted by sally at July 16, 2007 09:15 PM

Comments

Posted by: Eris at July 17, 2007 09:55 AM

Posted by: Sallyacious at July 17, 2007 10:26 PM

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