University of Georgia Athletics
A Letter from Talya's Parents
March 24, 2003 | Gymnastics
March 24, 2003
Anne and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of you for the incredible love and support that you have given to our daughter, Talya. We can't even begin to express how grateful we are to you for your kindness. The letters, cards and flowers have brought hope and happiness to a young women who is now fighting for her life. Your thoughts and prayers have lifted our spirits and helped us cope with this awful event.
As parents of three gymnasts, Anne and I have always faced the reality that there would be plenty of injuries and setbacks for all three kids. To be a high level athlete, dealing with injuries is something you learn to accept. Dealing with cancer is what you might say is "a living nightmare for a parent." The three most painful words ever spoken to me occurred on February 25th. It was the end of a cold winter day in Massachusetts. I was sitting in my truck waiting for Talya to call. I knew that she had a doctors appointment that afternoon to give her the results of the lab test. As I answered my cell phone, I expected Talya to say that the test was negative and there was nothing to worry about. Instead, I could hear her crying on the other end as she said to me, "dad, it's cancer." My whole body went limp - how could this be? How could this amazing athlete, so young and healthy and solid as steel have cancer? What did I do wrong? I'm fifty four - it should be me.
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