As a journalist, I report on the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. While I was trained to be emotionally removed from the subject matter I cover, it is sometimes not that simple. When a story or person is so touching and inspirational, I cannot help but feel. It may not be the most objective response, but I am human, after all.
Today I received shocking and very unfortunate news from a young woman I interviewed a month ago. Her name is Nadine Block, and she informed me that her father, Kevin, passed away from the cancer that plagued him.
For those who did not read my article on “Keeping Kev” – the social media campaign that Nadine and her brother Jamie created to save their father’s life – I will provide a brief summary.
In June 2013, Kevin Block, 56, was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He endured countless attempts at various chemotherapies without success. Kevin’s illness left him unable to work, and as a result he lost his business.
At the end of January 2014, Nadine, 23, and Jamie, 17, received the devastating news that there was no cure for their father in Canada. They immediately began “Keeping Kev” to fight for his life.
Their campaign’s mission was to raise the required funds for Kevin to be able to participate in a clinical drug trial only available in the United States. It was his only hope for survival.
When I spoke to Nadine for my story, I asked her what message she wanted to spread to other young people through her campaign.
She said: “First, appreciate every day that you have with your family because you never know when that can be taken away from you. Second, never underestimate what you are capable of doing. Almost one month ago, I would never have imagined that my friends, family and I would have created such a success in such a short period of time. Being proactive and positive goes a long way. Third, don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too precious.”
Her words could not be more powerful. We are all guilty of taking our blessings for granted. We are all guilty of being lazy or not stepping up to the plate.
When Nadine emailed me this morning about Kevin’s passing, she thanked me for my “hard work and dedication” in publicizing her family’s situation. It means a lot to me as a writer to know that people appreciate my efforts, but I didn’t become a journalist to receive praise.
My mission in my career is to help others through my words. I strive to bring attention to worthy causes. I try to make an impact so that something positive can come from the negative in our world.
The story of Kevin Block is one I will never forget. I did not have the pleasure of meeting this man in person, but he and his family have tugged at my heartstrings.
If you take anything from this article, take this: life is unpredictable, so make the most of what you have. And above all, love.
