NPR: A Memento Of Hope

My Cancer

A Memento Of Hope

I found two mementos of Leroy's life. I had to go into his wallet, and out floated a tiny slip of paper. A fortune from a Chinese dinner. He had eaten one of his favorite dishes, Peking duck. The fortune said, "You will spend old age in comfort and material wealth."

And then I found a small gold disc. Engraved on the disc were the words "Come home soon."

The fortune he kept, I'm sure, because the cookie was probably stale -- they usually are -- but the sentiment was something we all hope for.

The disc was something special. I'd had it engraved and given it to him the day he left to join the 3rd I-D, the "Tip of the Spear" as they called themselves, when the war with Iraq was about to begin in 2003.

I guess I was hoping it would be his good luck charm. Something to protect him from bad things. And it did its job for 48 days.

Back then, it seemed the war would be the biggest threat to his life. But his real battle was still a couple of years away.

-- Laurie

9:16 AM ET | 11- 5-2008 | permalink

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Leroy Sievers

Blogger

Leroy Sievers in the Ted Koppel Documentary

Leroy Sievers speaks with Dr. Christos Georgiades. Credit: Tyrone Turner

A Ted Koppel documentary focuses on his friend Leroy Sievers' "My Cancer" blog and the response it evokes.

About 'My Cancer'

A journalist for more than 25 years, Leroy Sievers worked at CBS News, the Discovery Channel, and ABC News, where he was the executive producer of Nightline. He wrote this blog daily until his death in August.