It is with great sadness that we report that 16 year-old Dylan Brown, subject of our September 2007 To Your Health column, lost his battle with neurosarcoma (cancer of the spine) on July 14.

At an age when most teenagers are dating, driving, hanging out with friends, and participating in school activities, Dylan’s routine included rounds of radiation and chemotherapy as well as frequent hospital stays. During his struggle, Dylan was buoyed by the strength and courage of his parents, Bob and Tracie Brown, his sister, Alyssa, and a host of family and friends.

Some of Dylan’s happiest moments, as we related in September, were spent on the bench with the teenage baseball league’s Exeter Cardinals, of which he was an honorary member. An avid baseball fan, Dylan is considered an inspiration by coaches and players. He was also an honorary member of the Exeter High School lacrosse team.

Possessed of a sunny disposition, Dylan was a kind, gentle, outgoing young man. To know him was to like him. The world is a poorer place for his passing.

When we paid our respects at Dylan’s funeral, we were given the following inspirational passage:

“To Those I Love” by Isla Paschal Richardson

If I should ever leave you whom I love, to go along the silent way, grieve not. Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there. And when you hear a song or see a bird I loved, please do not let the thought of me be sad. For I am loving you just as I always love. You were so good to me! So many things to say to you……Remember that I did not fear, it was just leaving you that was so hard to face. We cannot see beyond, but this I know….I loved you so — ‘Twas heaven here with you!

Dylan, there will come a time when we speak of you without tears and without sad thoughts. But forgive us if right now the tears and sadness prevail. Your time here was much too short, but your memory and inspiration live on.

Print This Article