HH Greaves, Leven, near Beverley.
We British are said to be at our best when faced with adversity.
Such Dunkirk spirit is called to mind on reading the tale by Catherine Scott (Life&Style, September 24) in which she describes the stoicism of Colin Nesbitt: "Grandad's battle to help all the brave little heroes".
This lovely and loving man's chi
ef concern is the well-being of his beloved grandson who suffers acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
"Once you are told your child has cancer, your world ends," he tells us.
Yet, more happily, his own world took a new direction when he met a little girl who had not spoken to anyone since coming to hospital.
"I pretended to bump my head and she smirked. I did it again and she laughed out loud."
That reminded me so much of beloved comics from the silent films era; Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton – such is the power of humour. I do not subscribe to any particular religion, but I suspect in Colin's dedication to the cause to which he aspires, some kind of divine help. Why do I write this letter? It is because a dear and close friend of mine recently underwent a gruelling operation to remove a bowel growth which is confirmed as being cancer.
How does she deal with this traumatic prognosis? "With characteristic courage.
"I am not afraid to die," she says, "I've had a full and interesting life and successfully raised a son."
Nonetheless, such is her courage that she will fight the disease. So, my message is: "Fear knocked at the door; courage opened it, and nobody was there."
Well done to kindly Colin, and our thoughts for much success is offered with the venture he began in aid of Little Heroes. Compared with the list of worldwide crises and political
strife, these pale into insignificance compared with the human interest story about Colin Nesbitt.
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