*This entry is dedicated to Tucker Gowen- a classmate who will forever live on in our hearts*
Luck2Tuck
Never Give Up
It’s been a tough week. Last
Tuesday, my community received the news that one of my classmates- Tucker- who
had been battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia
for the past seven months, passed away. It was such
a shock to everyone. He had put up such a strong fight, but an infection
quickly compromised him. The proceeding week was filled with emotion.
Most of students found out briefly after school let out on Tuesday.
During that time, I was counting homecoming ballots. Although homecoming king
and queen is generally a popularity contest, we try to emphasize that the king
and queen should be spirited members of the student body who work hard to
represent the school. Tucker was that person. I received the news just as I was
counting ballots with his name on them. Even though he had been in the hospital
for seven months, he was still a member of the school, still a part of the
community.
Tuesday afternoon was rough. I managed to hold myself together until I
got home. Wednesday at school was even harder. The hallways were silent. Every
student- even those that never had the privilege of meeting Tucker- was truly
affected by the shocking news. Tears, hugs, and emotion became the norm for
several days.
Ever since Tucker received his diagnosis, the community has rallied
behind him. Through his battle- the ups and downs- and now, through his memory.
On Wednesday the school opened up the auditorium for any student to write a
message on. On Thursday, there was a Walk of Light in his memory. Over 1500
people showed up to walk around the track, and listen to speakers. The amount
of support coming in from the entire community was overwhelming to everyone.
The wake on Friday and funeral on Saturday were some of the hardest
times. We were all still in the mourning stage. Still trying to fathom the fact
that someone could die so young. Though Tucker was not “suffering” for a large
part of his battle, he was placed in ICU for the last month and truly was
suffering. It was reassuring to know that he was not suffering anymore. Yet we
still found it difficult to understand why he had to go through it, why he had
to go.
Tucker truly was the most uplifting person many people have ever met. He
had a contagious smile, vibrant personality, and heart of gold. He was a son, a
brother, a classmate, an athlete, and so much more. In his obituary, his
mother- who documented his, and his family’s, journey since March- wrote,
“God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So he put His arms
around you, and whispered “Come to me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and
saw you slip away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden
heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove
to us, He only takes the best.”
Tucker will forever be in our
memories. The colors orange- the Leukemia awareness color- and green- Tucker’s
favorite color- will forever be cherished. Luck2Tuck will always be in our
hearts, on our minds, and never far from our thoughts.
Rest in Peace
Tucker. 9/4/1994 - 10/9/2012
♥ Diary of a Teen
