Monday, May 03, 2004
Heartbreaking: Ian Malone Has Died At The Age Of Four And Half
The last time most of us set eyes on Ian, he was a baby nestled in the arms of his father and mother, who were standing in the audience at the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, acknowledging Al Gore's citation of their brave struggle to secure from their HMO the treatment Ian required, as the result of brain damage experienced during the birth process, in order to stay alive. The connection between these young, valiant, parents, and this old hand of a politician was palpable, or so it seemed to me.
We were to learn that the Malones had approached Gore for help in early 1999 and that he'd intervened forefully and successfully on their behalf. The Malones were now making public that help, in a highly political way, in the best sense of the word "political," to join their fight on behalf of their son to a larger struggle for decent health insurance, including a Patient's Bill Of Rights for all American families.
They have continued that committment through-out their son's all too short life. And they have continued their connection to Al Gore by running the website algore04.com, even after Gore's decision not to run again for the presidency, using it to keep track of Gore's activities. It seems that the Malones have felt that Gore has kept faith with them by way of the extraordinary series of speeches he's made expressing his opposition to the Bush administrations policies on Iraq, the environment, the war on terror and civil liberties.
The Malone's released this statement, and indicated their preference for anyone who would like to commemorate Ian's life.
You can see a charming picture of Ian and read more about his story and the Malones here. It's worth a visit.
Some weeks ago, in an interview with the Rev. William Sloane Coffin on "Now" Bill Moyers asked Rev. Coffin, physically diminished from an illness from which, it appears, he is not expected to recover, but still the moral mentor I remember from his days as a Yale Chaplin and as the Pastor of the great Riverside Cathedral, about his eulogy for his own beloved son, Alex, who had died in a car crash at the age of twenty-four. How do we make sense of the death of children? Coffin had no easy answers. Nor was the eulogy filled with easy piety. Instead, it was filled with pith and vinegar, humor and anger, more questions than answers.
I'm not exactly sure why, but my first thought, upon hearing this morning of Ian Malone's death, was of Rev. Coffin's eulogy for his son, and for this section of it in particular:
Rev. Coffin also invoked Hemingway's great line from "A Farewell To Arms:" "The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places."
The Malones became strong at the broken places. And so, I think it is fair to say, did Al Gore. Let that strengthening and Ian's smile inspire all of us in the coming months.
UPDATE The Hospice of Snohomish County is here.
We were to learn that the Malones had approached Gore for help in early 1999 and that he'd intervened forefully and successfully on their behalf. The Malones were now making public that help, in a highly political way, in the best sense of the word "political," to join their fight on behalf of their son to a larger struggle for decent health insurance, including a Patient's Bill Of Rights for all American families.
They have continued that committment through-out their son's all too short life. And they have continued their connection to Al Gore by running the website algore04.com, even after Gore's decision not to run again for the presidency, using it to keep track of Gore's activities. It seems that the Malones have felt that Gore has kept faith with them by way of the extraordinary series of speeches he's made expressing his opposition to the Bush administrations policies on Iraq, the environment, the war on terror and civil liberties.
The Malone's released this statement, and indicated their preference for anyone who would like to commemorate Ian's life.
“Ian’s short life was a constant battle to improve the system for those who will come after him. We will sorely miss his beautiful smile and ready laugh, and are sorry his journey had to end so soon.”
A memorial service will be held at Purdy Walters and Cassidy on Pacific Avenue in Everett, WA- Saturday, May 8th at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ian's name to Hospice of Snohomish County."
You can see a charming picture of Ian and read more about his story and the Malones here. It's worth a visit.
Some weeks ago, in an interview with the Rev. William Sloane Coffin on "Now" Bill Moyers asked Rev. Coffin, physically diminished from an illness from which, it appears, he is not expected to recover, but still the moral mentor I remember from his days as a Yale Chaplin and as the Pastor of the great Riverside Cathedral, about his eulogy for his own beloved son, Alex, who had died in a car crash at the age of twenty-four. How do we make sense of the death of children? Coffin had no easy answers. Nor was the eulogy filled with easy piety. Instead, it was filled with pith and vinegar, humor and anger, more questions than answers.
I'm not exactly sure why, but my first thought, upon hearing this morning of Ian Malone's death, was of Rev. Coffin's eulogy for his son, and for this section of it in particular:
The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is "It is the will of God." Never do we know enough to say that. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, God's heart was the first of all our hearts to break.
Rev. Coffin also invoked Hemingway's great line from "A Farewell To Arms:" "The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places."
The Malones became strong at the broken places. And so, I think it is fair to say, did Al Gore. Let that strengthening and Ian's smile inspire all of us in the coming months.
UPDATE The Hospice of Snohomish County is here.
