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Notes Left Behind by Brooke and Keith Desserich is a heart-wrenching, mind-boggling … tear-jerking book.  It is about a five-year -old girl stricken with inoperable brain cancer and given one hundred -thirty -five days to live.  She extends her time on earth to two –hundred-fifty-six days.  During this period her mother and father eloquently journalize each struggle, victory, and disappointment.  

 I am reticent putting my thoughts in writing about this precious little girl who was loved so much by doting parents and her community.  The book exposes the reader to a series of trials and tribulations until one feels on the roller coaster of emotions with her parents.  Salient points I remember from the book are:  

l.   Enjoy each moment of life. 

2.  Take no one or anything for granted. 

3.  Remember what is most important in life. 

4.  Respect family and friends. 

5.  Never give up hope. 

6.  Spend quality time with those you love. 

7.  Seek answers from more than one source. 

8.  When all hope is lost, hope again, anyway. 

9.  Seek comfort from others with similar experiences. 

10.  Relive and share memories with those you love. 

A question which intrigues me from reading Notes Left Behind:  When should one accept consequences of the inevitable? Prior to reading this book, my answer would have been:  Never.   At the beginning of the book we see photographs of a beautiful, vibrant, and thoroughly charming little angel.  By day 256 in the diary; the reader faces a barely functioning human being … a shadow of her former self. 

Out of respect for her dignity … I will not use more descriptive phrases and will let readers discover for themselves.  I hope I never have to make a choice with someone I cherish … having to live a miserable existence to stay alive or consider quality of life by not prolonging the inevitable. 

Another conundrum for me is:   Why after more than seventy years (and hundreds of billions spent on research) there is no cure for cancer?   Since we have tried the scatter -shot approach with thousands of independent research facilities.  I propose targeting funds in a concentrated effort … sharing information instantaneously and on line with super computers … setting  a target date for a cure in ten years … and  awarding a billion-dollar bonus  to the person (or organization) who  discovers a cure. 

I recommend reading Notes Left Behind and discovering the amazing journey of a miraculous little girl.  To Elena:   Thank you for living among us and sharing your story.  I do not know why the angels took you home, so soon.  I do know your saga is an example to one and all …  and if a person’s time on earth is measured by love of family, friends, and contributions made to mankind … you lived a full life.