re: Update on Alabama teen cancer patient befriended by LSU's Les Miles

I'll try to explain a little clearer what I meant by my post: it's a very difficult thing to wish someone well/hope for the best when they are facing a terminal illness. I've dealt with it from both sides, as I'm sure many have. Football, and any sport or form of entertainment for that matter, is a form of escapism, and can complicate matters, if you are not careful with what you say.

For example, I have heard many in this, and many other threads offer up their feelings for this young man, and his time left with his family. It can be a difficult thing to balance though, when you wish a kid well with his own last wishes. It is good and well that Sid wants to see his tigers play Nov 7th. Many have 'wished' that he lives for two more weeks, and watch the game. But something may go unnoticed by those of you who wish this.

Sid's parents, like most parents, are and should be eternal optimists. They are preparing for a grim reality. But my hope for their son right now, is a hope they probably share too: That Sid survives to see LSU play next year, and the year after next, and raise a family, and bury his parents, rather than them bury him. I don't mean to scold anyone on how to comfort grieving family. But try not to tether and attach all their hopes to a mere football game if you can. As grim as a situation may be, think of the family moving forward, and how that may touch them, if all of LSU nation is wishing two more weeks for Sid to live.

Let's be a little more positive! Sid's football wish is all well and good, but as a parent, I want, and my earnest desire and hope for Sid is a lot more than 2 weeks. As a courtesy, I'm sure the family completely understands where everyone is coming from and, along with Les, appreciates all the well-intentioned sympathy and expressions of love.

But as with most families that deal with this, and have to for years to come, the hope is that their son, as Les has said, 'fights like a tiger', regardless of what God's will may be.

quote:

---

Sid's parents, like most parents, are and should be eternal optimists. They are preparing for a grim reality. But my hope for their son right now, is a hope they probably share too: That Sid survives to see LSU play next year, and the year after next, and raise a family, and bury his parents, rather than them bury him. I don't mean to scold anyone on how to comfort grieving family. But try not to tether and attach all their hopes to a mere football game if you can. As grim as a situation may be, think of the family moving forward, and how that may touch them, if all of LSU nation is wishing two more weeks for Sid to live.

Let's be a little more positive! Sid's football wish is all well and good, but as a parent, I want, and my earnest desire and hope for Sid is a lot more than 2 weeks. As a courtesy, I'm sure the family completely understands where everyone is coming from and, along with Les, appreciates all the well-intentioned sympathy and expressions of love.

But as with most families that deal with this, and have to for years to come, the hope is that their son, as Les has said, 'fights like a tiger', regardless of what God's will may be

---

Look man, and I mean this with all my heart, just shut the frick up and stay out of these threads. You're the dumbest mother fricker on the planet if you think anyone only wants this kid to live for 2 more weeks because of a football game. Sid's dad is posting in the thread on the Rant thanking everyone for the kind words. I've lost adult family members, 2 way too young family members, close friends and I am a psychiatrist specializing in adolescent grief and mental illness. I've seen more than my fair share of shitty situations involving sick kids and grieving parents. Your "I know better than anyone" attitude doesn't belong here because you're attempting to stand on a fricking soap box where one doesn't belong. Just move on.