Little Anthony

Just got a really shitty phone call. My nephews 17 year old best friend is about to succumb to cancer. The doctors discovered it first in his left leg. Two years ago at 15, after playing a basketball game he began limping and thought nothing of it. His parents thought nothing of it. One week later when the limp was getting worse as opposed to getting better his parents took him to a doctor to find out what was going on. Several tests later they all discovered that he had cancer growing in the bone of his leg. He underwent a battery of radiation and was started on all kinds of experimental drugs. He has been in and out of hospitals constantly. These past two years he has basically been a sick boy, then better, then sick, then better; first they thought they had beat it, then it returned. Amputation was suggested but the decision was made not to go that route. I think he may have had chemo at some point because I had heard about his curly hair returning. He has been in and out of remission, never really feeling well or like himself but there was always the hope that he would win over this thing that was slowly killing him. His parents left a lot of the decisions to him. I don't know if I could have done that but it's not my right nor want to question their treatment of their son.

Apparently the cancer has traveled to his lungs now and the doctors have advised them that there is nothing that can be done to try to stop it at this point. It's basically just a matter of time before the cancer takes complete control of him and ends his life. This is so sad. Why is it that a boy, still in the throes of youth, who never did anything to warrant this is going to be taken from this world? Snatched out of the arms of his parents, who have done everything in their power to keep this from happening. It doesn't seem just. I hope he doesn't have to suffer for too long. I hope that when this finally happens his parents will be able to go on. I hope my nephew will be all right.