alt Hacker NewsOne thing that Xers and xennials grew up with that later generations did not necessarily -- and unlike Atari consoles, wood paneling, and staying outside till the street lights came on, they're unlikely to yell to clouds about it on TikTok -- is the phenomenon of "knowing that one kid in school who died of leukemia".
Growing up, our leukemia kid was Donny Miceli. He was a great kid -- friendly, active, and athletic, even throughout all but the latest courses of his therapy. Could've been the Phineas to any number of potential Gene Forresters out there.
When our teacher announced that Donny had died, I was saddened but in a "didn't show it" way. It wasn't a blow to the system. It was something we all had seen a long time coming.
The school planted an apple tree in the courtyard in Donny's honor, with like a ceremony and everything.
How blessed are the later generations, that far fewer trees will be planted in school courtyards in recognition of students who are no longer there, due to leukemia.
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My sister, sadly. Long time ago now, but definitely filled with mixed emotions from this article.
That depends on the size of the school you went to. With 500 kids, it's unlikely to have even a single leukemia case in 13 years. It gets more likely with 1000 kids. And if you went to a giant school with 2000 kids, there probably was a case or two.
No offense, I don't know anyone who died of leukemia or even had it.
I think you may be experiencing a bit of the "blue car" effect. Of course everyone who went to your school knew someone who died of leukemia. They all knew the same kid.
And once you get to college, I wouldn't be surprised if you had run into a few other people who also knew people who died of leukemia.
But it was not as common an occurrence as you seem to think it was.
Jason Bell was the name, I think, of the kid in my high school who died from leukaemia.
Popular, athletic, good-looking guy. Then one day it was announced in the school news that he had passed away.