Many people know that Lacey Holsworth, PrincessLacey, died on Tuesday. She was 8 years old. She had relapsed neuroblastoma, cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. The outpouring of love and support for her and her family has been inspiring. Awesome. Humbling. And prolific. It is obvious that people around the world have been moved and inspired by this brave young woman and her fight against the #childhoodcancer beast. As a member of both the childhood cancer and Michigan State University communities, I am proud and grateful. I am grateful to the MSU students, student athletes, faculty, staff, and alumni who have rallied our community to share Lacey’s story and carry on her legacy. I am grateful that childhood cancer is getting national attention- as it should- and as every child diagnosed with cancer should. Lacey’s diagnosis, battle, and death are tragic. This should not happen. Cancer should not happen to anyone but certainly not to innocent children who have done nothing other than be kids. There is so much that is wrong about an 8 year old dying from cancer.

I am grateful that so many people have been moved to make visible expressions of their sadness and grief over Lacey’s death. This is an amazing and important first step. Awareness is key. I am hopeful that people will now take the second, third, and fourth steps and make something happen. Let us not sit back and keep watching. Let’s do something.

Sean is the one who told me about Lacey’s death. Later that day he told me that he wrote to a high-ranking MSU official, volunteering to help organize something, something big that would make a difference. What Sean and I have learned through our own childhood cancer journey is that words and vigils are not enough. Our kids need action. They need awareness. They need people outside the community to care, and get it, and be involved. They need money for research so fewer of them are diagnosed, they get better, less toxic treatments, and can go on to live healthy lives as survivors.

Turns out my husband is an awesome writer, too. This is the email that he sent: