A letter I recieved some time ago

A letter i received some time ago from a year 10 high school student. I tried to contact her at the time as the letter brought tears to my eyes again and it was a thought provoking letter that sometimes prompts us into action, or just thought.

Here is her words about "The Real Fight"

" When I heard we were to read the book 'The Real Fight' I really didnt want to. All I could think of was how boring reading about a Taekwondo Champion would be. I didn't realise until after I had read the book that it was much more than that. It was about a young girl that was determined to do well in life and was at the peak of success when darkness dawned on her. While I was reading through the book i felt as though I was going through this traumatic experience with her, for example when the radiologist announced she had a lesion on her liver, I had no idea what it meant and after I realised that it meant she had cancer a sadness and feeling of dread ran through my body and by the end of the book I felt really connected with this young woman as if I had known her for years.

When I began reading the book the first words gave me quite a shock. ' Nobody beats cancer' I automatically thought of how this must be one of those books that talks about how depressing life is after you are diagnosed with cancer, but i was wrong. The book actually inspired me and made me think of all the easy things i take for granted in my life. Small simple things like talking, sitting up, and evening breathing were all things that Kim Dalton could hardly do after her operations. The horrible realisation that cancer can attack anyone at anytime really scared me, mother, fathers, sisters, brothers, someone famous, someone rich, someone poor, someone successful it doesn't matter. No one gets to pick and choose who and when someone gets cancer. It just happens and that is the biggest shock of all.

Kim' s story really inspired me that no what happens everyone can find it within themselves to find the courage and determination to pull through, even in the toughest of times. Her understanding of knowing that her life has changed forever and her hope of becoming a better person because this disease even if she it doesn't beat it. She is wise and courageous without knowing it, you can't help but like her and wish that she would be ok. She says something in the book that about how her opponent id now cancer that she wants to face it and fight it with more focus then ever before in her life. This shows her background of Taekwondo was influencing the way she sees and think is about her cancer and how in the end was able to stay focused and as much in control of it as she could be. This has such a positive feel and really makes me think of how I can learn and grow from her experience.

Closer to the end of the book, Kim talks about life and acceptance. "Could I accept all that has happened to me? Is it possible that I could find peace without a cure...?" As I read these questions I thought about how incredible Kim was at a young age. I wonder how she could possibly have thought so rationally at that age, when she was nearing the end of her life. Perhaps the thought of her life ending so abruptly made this incredible young woman realise that the everyday things that everyone argues over and thinks are really important, really aren't. That "Perhaps this happened for a reason and because of this she has a greater appreciation of life and a greater depth of character". Perhaps by Kim being so sick she trained her mind to focus on the other things other than her health such as her sport, a passion she had always held long before she became terminally ill. Her words had so much meaning and were so wise that I couldn't believe how a woman could see from that point of view, the point of view I'd expect to see from an elderly person.

Kim Dalton was, still is an inspiration and showed so much compassion in every aspect of her life. I would definitely say she was a role model and by writing her book has touched so many people. I love how she says :"living now is important. Living well with appreciation is important. Living with meaning is important. Our connection to and influence on others is important." she seemed to know and understand everything i didn't, but then she could go on and explain everything in words I could relate to. While reading this book I felt as though I could feel the pain and as though I was there with her the whole time. I even remember back in 2003 hearing about this incredible woman. Now, after reading this book I feel very lucky to have listened to her wise words. She was never whinging about why me. Her selflessness is incredible and I can only strive to be as brave, understanding, accepting and determined as Kim Dalton was, I only wish I could have got to meet her, she was only 24, WHAT AN INSPIRATION

Emma L. D. 10e2"

Well Emma the Daltons and i thankyou for your thoughts on Kim on the eve of our 3rd year of her passing.

Robert Cooley