A Message From a Fellow Swimmer

You never know who knows who. Barbara, fabulous member of the sisterhood and wizard of working connections, sent Olympic swimmer Gary Hall a message about RJ's condition and we got this letter in return. Jessica thought that it would be great to post it for everyone to see:

RJ,

Heard one of the swimming community had picked a fight with Burkitts Lymphoma. Well, I’m writing to express my support. I’ve been fighting with diabetes for almost as long as you’ve been alive now and I’ve won some rounds. I too am a swimmer. I swam in three Olympics and had my share of tough sets. Those tough sets make you stronger. They make you tough. They prepare you for the tough fights we all have to face at some point in our life. At 13 you’re fighting a good one. You can do this. Hold on. Don’t give up. I’m cheering for you, along with the rest of the swimming community. I’ll offer two lines from two different poems my grandfather used to recite to me when I was your age with the hope that it might offer some encouragement in the big fight.

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

-Edgar Guest

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

-Rudyard Kipling

Maybe we’ll go for a swim when you get better. Good luck!

Kind Regards,

Gary Hall, Jr