5-jarige inspiratiebron achter That Dragon, Cancer overleden
Joel Green, het jongetje dat in zijn vierde levensjaar al tegen zijn achtste tumor vocht, is gisteren overleden op vijfjarige leeftijd. Joel was de inspiratie voor zijn ouders om That Dragon, Cancer te ontwikkelen, een spel dat later dit jaar tijdelijk exclusief verschijnt voor Ouya en dat een veilige omgeving wil creëren voor gezinnen om over moeilijke onderwerpen, zoals kanker, te praten.
Hieronder het emotionele bericht van vader Ryan Green waarin het overlijden van Joel wordt gemeld.
Amy and I did not get much sleep last night. As the hours flew by faster than I could catch them, we prayed, we grieved, I cuddled my sweet son as tightly as I dared, examining his face and hands and toes and belly button, taking pictures of us that I will never show anyone else, and sweeping the hair across his forehead over and over again. Joel fell asleep at home. Surrounded by his family and friends, only hours after we had filled our home with songs of worship to our God and prayers for mercy and healing for Joel and for ourselves from the voices of our church and friends and family. As I awoke this morning after an hour of sleep, I lingered in the early morning light of our room, his body cradled, as always, in the crook of my arm. Except instead of the sweet sighs of comfort and the warmth of his little body against mine, the moors of death had tightened, leaving Joel’s earthly tent, cold and breathless. And so now we mourn, and we weep, we rage and we argue with the God who knows how the story will end. And we laugh with our family and friends, and sob in the quiet moments, and wrap ourselves in his blankets and wrap ourselves in His peace. The kind that passes all understanding as we make the decisions that will lay Joel to rest. We continue to contend; For a miracle of Grace; For resurrection life, in this life and the next; for our hope. Hope that the story of our love for each other and the story of our Father’s love for us, will be more real and more true than it has ever been before. With all the fullness of emotion that makes this human experience so utterly beautiful, thank you for your love. -Ryan
|