I haven’t been here for a while. It is not because I am at a loss for stories to tell, or thoughts to share, but today…

Today…on the 3rd last day of 2010…when everyone is talking about what to expect in 2011 and what their resolutions are for the new year, what we want to change, I received a message from Shari on facebook that Lex had passed away in Israel. I never met Lex, but her passing has really made me sad today.

For those of you who don’t know about Lex, she and her mom have been in Israel for the last three months while she underwent hopefully lifesaving treatment for her re-occurance of her Leukemia. She, like Shari received a bone marrow transplant earlier this year. In the summer they found out that her cancer had returned and the only place she could get help (at a very large financial committment) would be Israel. There was no question in their mind – the community came together and raised tremendous amounts of money for the treatment, and off they went. Mother and Daughter together – to save each other.

Her mother, Debbie, has been writing beautiful, descriptive, poignant blogs (http://debra-lovinglex.blogspot.com/) which I have been following on a regular basis. Her stories about their life in Israel through the last three months, in and out of the hospital, the holidays, shabbat. Even the little details Debbie made beautiful. They have been so blessed with family and friends constantly flying in to be with them, comfort them and bring the some sort of normalicy in a foreign land.

And today she posted her last post, as she called it. Her chapter in Israel is now over. She and her family now have to come home and live a life that no one should know.

I am not a mother, but I am a daughter, a sister, a niece, an aunt and a friend to many. I can’t imagine what her family is going through now. I lost a friend a few years ago, and I have had a glimpse of what it is like for a parent to lose a child.  I can only say a prayer for the Wronzberg family to help them find light at the end of their darkness.

“Baruch atai Adonai, Elonheyu Melach Ha’olam, ha’noten laiya’ef Koach. 
Blessed are you, Lord our G-D, king of the Universe, who gives strength to the weary.”

 Amen.