Yesterday, in my Facebook news feed, I saw this post from the husband of one of my "friends" who I have never met. Curt Niebur shared a link to a post titled "Goodbye" on his wife's blog, "Toddler Planet":
"Susan Niebur passed away on February 6, 2012 after a lifetime of love, crusades, and strength. Over the last five years she lived with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that presents without a lump. She chronicled her life with cancer here on her blog Toddler Planet with honesty and emotion that were even more rare and aggressive."
It fascinates me how social media can connect us, across state lines and geographic borders with people we might never have met otherwise. People everywhere can enrich our lives in unexpected ways, touching us with the way they live their lives and what they share. All you have to do is reach out, let people in and listen.
An article by Janice D'Arcy on the Washington Post Lifestyle website said this about Susan:
The Silver Spring planetary scientist and mother of two young boys turned her experience into a source of solace and guidance to people all over the world. She also likely saved many lives as she rang out warnings about IBC on her blog, Toddler Planet, and through her whirlwind of real and virtual activities.
She made it a mission to give the cancer battle an honest, funny, human soul. And, to make people understand how aggressive IBC can be and how breast cancer can destroy a body without revealing itself through what we've come to believe are the tell-tale signs.
And I love this quote, in Susan's own words, that the Washington Post article ended with: "All that survives after our death are publications and people. So look carefully after the words you write, the thoughts and publications you create, and how you love others. For these are the only things that will remain."
Well said, Susan. I wish I had met you sooner.
Facebook...it serves the insatiable need to feel relevant...obviously there's a needy world out there.
Ouch! You sure are synical Brian. I share photos and jokes with my family and friends on Facebook, arrange gatherings quickly and sometimes make new friends. Stories like this inspire and there are a lot of them out there. It opens ones eyes to the fact that there is a wide world out there beyond the edges of your holler. There IS a needy world out there. We need each other. Man is a social animal. Lighten up Brian... seriously. I didn't know about IBC until recently. Susan may save someone elses life that reads her story.
Kim...I live with a "Facebooker" so I have heard your side and agree that there is some good in it.
Awwww Brian, you are so cute when you are agreeable. A toast to Susan Neibur and her life and a nod to you Brian.
Facebook helps me connect w/friends and family here in the US and over-seas. It's not about the individual, it's about everyone being connected.
Other avenues of communication would be, costly, time consuming, frankly impossible.
Yes, I have my real name, tee-hee!
Kim...your nod is so noted...I felt the need to note your nod because all nods need not go un-noted...Rich...I kind of figured you weren't doing the anonymous thing with your family...maybe the invisible thing but not the anonymous thing...I must say I am a bit jealous of them...I mean, after all we've been through...seriously though,it sounds like it works for you and "The Lady Tanksely" so "Keep on Facebookin"... but don't feel sorry for me,tonight I draft my "Fantasy Baseball Team"...a selfish but extremely enjoyable distraction.