Brave In The Face Of Death

I am continually amazed and impressed at the brave face people like Joan Decious are able to wear when facing a limited amount of time on earth.

Joan, of Anamosa, was give four to six months to live when she was diagnosed with brain tumors on her 59th birthday -- Feb. 20. (See today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette.) It has now been more than seven months and, as she told me, she takes each day one at a time. Today may be her last.

Knowing she had some time, Joan planned a "Celebration of Life" party that was held Aug. 1. About 300 family and friends showed up to have a good time, to wish Joan well, to watch Joan shave the head of husband Lynn (left), to help fulfill her dream of contributing at least $3,000 to the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation to help other cancer patients pay for expense treatment drugs. Fortunately for Joan, she kept her cancer insurance. But she knows most people don't have that.

Joan's dreams were far exceeded when those contributions plus others and a matching stipend from her oncologist brought the total to more than $20,000.

"I think when something bad happens to you, something good should come out of it," Joan says.

I know there are other Joan Deciouses out there, people who have been given a finite time on Earth and turn that into a positive for the people they will leave behind. It can't be easy for them. But it sure is brave and honorable and appreciated.