Yesterday was a difficult and emotional day for me, as I said goodbye to my dear college friend who passed away of colon cancer. I spoke at the funeral which was really hard, but so perfect as well. Craig meant the world to me, so I pushed away nerves and spoke from the heart.
Craig and I met the first weekend of our freshman year at Baylor and we hit it off right away. We had such a great bond and friendship; one that I've never had with anyone else. We had a best friend/brother-sister relationship in one. In fact every year for my birthday (he never missed a birthday in 18 years!) he always sent me a card, phone call or text that would say, "happy birthday, sis" and I would reply, "thanks, bro!" I'm really going to miss getting that message for my birthday in a few weeks.
My memory book is flooded with pictures of the two of us. I have so many stories and memories that we shared. One of the funniest stories I like to tell was when I was with him at a Baylor baseball game. Craig filmed for Baylor sporting events and I'd often sit with him during the games. There was a platform on the other side of the outfield wall where we would sit. Craig was supposed to be watching the game, but he saw a cute girl walk below and he turned to look at her. When he did, a home run was hit and the ball hit Craig smack in the rear end!!! The ball ricocheted off and Craig fell off the platform. Thankfully, other than his ego, he wasn't hurt. But he told me he had the imprint of the ball on his backside for a week! I think he learned his lesson.
I think the thing I will miss most about Craig is our long talks. We had the best conversations and talked about everything and anything. I would go to him for advice on a number of topics and there was never any judgement or embarrassment. He was always very honest, even when I didn't want to hear the truth. But coming from him made it okay. I will always hold those talks near and dear to my heart.
I will never forget the phone call I got in October 2014. Craig and I had been planning on meeting up at a Baylor football game and were really looking forward to it. For weeks and days leading up to it, we were calling/texting back and forth about plans and how excited we were. Then the day before the game he called me to say he wasn't going. Of course I let him have it, saying, "Craig we've had this planned for so long, I can't believe you're selling out on me!" Then he uttered those 3 ugly words, "I have cancer." My heart dropped. I remember just rambling on because I was in shock and didn't know what to say. I had never had a loved one call to tell me they had cancer. I was so upset and so sad. I kept thinking, Craig is 35 years old. He can't have colon cancer; he has two BABIES at home! It just wasn't fair.
The next time I saw him was right before he was to start his first round of treatment and he was so positive, so upbeat and so happy! He just kept saying, "I'm going to fight and beat this. I have two little girls at home I'm going to fight for." I remember thinking "yeah he was going to fight and win." Throughout the whole journey he remained so positive. A couple of days would go by when I wouldn't hear from him, and of course I'd get worried, Then he'd touch base and tell me he'd been really sick in the hospital. (He was sick and in the hospital a lot!) But then each time, he'd follow it up by saying, "but I'm ready for the next round. I'm ready to keep fighting." He could have very easily given up, or shut the rest of the world out. But he didn't.
Back in September when Drew had to go to Texas Children's, Craig was next door at MD Anderson. Drew, thankfully, was sent home after 24 hours, healthy and happy. Craig, on the other had, and just been given more terrible news. The tumor had grown (the cancer had already spread to his stomach) and it was too risky to operate. Not the news anyone wanted to hear. It could have been so easy for him to go home, shut everyone out and have a pity party. But those next few days Craig was calling to check on Drew and Me!!! What a great friend! Not that I needed anything or anyone to remind me of what a great friend he was. He was ALWAYS a great friend and ALWAYS there for me. In fact, the last night I saw him alive and told me goodbye for the last time (the hardest moment of my life!) we hugged, he told me he loved me and that he'd always be there for me. And I know he will because he always has been. :)
"When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live," he said. "So live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you."--Stuart Scott
Please keep his sweet wife, Alyson, and their two precious girls, ages 3 and 1 in your prayers.
There were about 350 people at the service yesterday. It was evident that he touched many lives and he will be terribly missed!
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