Blog Post
A Couple of Phone Calls
Posted by: Richard H. Schoenberger
March 31, 2008
Topic: Our Clients
Got a call last week from Andrea, a former client. Her husband Jeff died a couple years back in a motorcycle accident when a car rental company's tired employee crossed a double-yellow line and smashed into a group of riders enjoying a brilliant northern california day. Andrea and their five children were devastated.
Years earlier, Jeff had been diagnosed with cancer and undergone intense chemo and radiation therapy. The couple held their collective breath through Jeff’s post-treatment check-ups. Time after time, Jeff and Andrea returned from the doctor’s office at Stanford University with a clean bill of health – no evidence of cancer. By his last visit with his physicians in April of 2004, 16 months post-diagnosis, the doctors told him to go out and live a full life; Jeff was likely cured. The tragedy occurred only two months later. Jeff died on what was for him a freedom ride; freedom from cancer.
So why was Andrea calling me? To see how I was doing and to inform me that, by the way, she had just undergone bilateral mastectomies due to recently diagnosed breast cancer.
That night, I sat next to my wife and two kids as we watched my youngest daughter play what may charitably be called softball. A young woman sat next to us whose third grader was one of my daughter's new teammates. We heard her cell phone ring. She answered, hesitated and quietly inquired, "Is he alright?" Then she was gone.
The next day we read about her husband's tragic death in a motorcycle accident when a driver crossed a double yellow line and senselessly killed this woman's husband and her children's father. Her brother-in-law called last week and asked us to represent them in a civil case. She showed up at this week's softball game, surrounded by loved ones and bravely cheering on her daughter.
I can't imagine what our clients go through sometimes. I hope never to know. I just know that their courage never ceases to amaze me.
