Susan Calarco

Originally written on July 30, 2007:

My father spent 23 years in the Air Force while I was growing up. As a result, “home” never really stuck. We moved from place to place and I have never really been “from” anywhere. Because of this environment, I got to know my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on more of a surface level growing up. They were simply the people who lived in New York that we would visit once or twice a year and on the rare occasion, they would make the trek to Nebraska or Ohio or North Dakota for a visit.

I was very satisfied with this relationship because I guess I did not know any differently. I grew up, went to college and law school, and then entered the Navy. I still lived the nomadic life and was again content to know my family from a bit of a distance.

However, in 2004, my mom’s brother, my uncle Doug was diagnosed with Leukemia. This devastating news suddenly brought my family closer than it had ever been. My cousin Laura–Doug’s daughter–began to keep me updated on his well-being and his progress. In early 2005 I deployed to Iraq. My updates from home were always appreciated, but Laura’s emails were the correspondence I could not wait to receive. While in Iraq, she told me of my uncle’s ups and downs and struggles and triumphs.

When I returned home from in late 2005, I came home to what I thought was great news–uncle Doug had received a bone marrow transplant and was on his way towards recovery. Unfortunately, in the end, he was not able to win his battle.

Just three days after Christmas in 2005, my uncle Doug passed away.

My first event with TNT was with the Rhode Island Chapter–I participated in the Philadelphia Triathlon in June 2006. On the day of the race, every single member of that side of my family, to include Doug’s wife and his three children, were there to cheer me on. It was more emotional than I had ever imagined it would be and I finally realized what it was like to be close to these members of my family.

While Doug’s loss has been hard on my family, I am grateful that it gave me the opportunity to connect with my cousin, and the rest of my family, in a way I had never known before.

Good things do come out of sometimes very difficult circumstances.

Thanks,

Susan

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