Everything seemed routine. Scott's mother was dropping his brother and him off at the movie theater in Emporia. They had just finished his weekly doctor's appointment "I have some shopping to do and I will be back for you guys after the movie is over." It had been a year and a half and the Grim Reaper was nowhere to be found. The thought at the time was twofold. Either he had moved on to terrorize someone else or maybe he was lying in wait, biding his time to strike at the young Mr. Edwards again. Unfortunately, the latter ended up being the case. "Scott, please come with me." Hearing his mother's voice in the darkened theater that Saturday afternoon as he was in the middle of watching 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' is a moment forever etched in his memory.
Scott Edwards was 16 years of age and in his second year of recovery from lymphoma when the Grim Reaper decided to knock on his door for the second time. How could this be? Life was starting to look-up for the young Mr. Edwards! He had a nice car, a hot girlfriend, his grades were good. Life was normal. "Scott, we have to go now." His mother didn't have to say another word, the tonality in her voice said it all for her. The Reaper was back on his trail.
A litany of tests by the doctors in Emporia had uncovered a number of discrepancies. They had done all they could for him. It was time to see a specialist in Wichita. When you're as sick as Scott was, time is of the essence. His mother and he made the two hour trek to Wichita immediately after receiving the news. By now he was somewhat used to the turmoil; his recovery from lymphoma had hardened him well beyond his sixteen years. But this time, things would prove much more deliberate. "Scott, I have some difficult news for you and your family." The specialist in Wichita was having a hard time with his words and Scott was losing his patience. "Doctor, don't beat around the bush with me. Please tell us what is wrong with me." The doctor gathered himself and said, "Scott, you have leukemia and it is going to require a bone marrow transplant."
The ride back to Madison was somber. "Everything is going to be OK! You beat it once! You will beat it again!" Karen Edwards was a strong, loving mother and she was doing everything in her power to keep her composure. Underneath it all. he could tell she was terrified. "We are going to stop in Eureka and see our minister," she stated. Eureka is a town located 30 minutes from Madison. The Edwards family attended services every week at a church there. If there was ever a time for "a man of faith's" comforting words, it was now. "What did I do to deserve this? Have I done something wrong?" He felt confused by all the turbulence that was in his life and he wanted an answer. The minister's reply was gracious, yet he found little solace in it. "It's not your fault. God has a path for everyone. He has chosen a difficult one for you my son. Rest assured, in the end you will follow whatever path he decides to lead you on."
The news of Scott's relapse hit Madison like an Olpe running back. Everyone was proud of him for beating lymphoma a year and a half prior. But this time he was staring down a much greater foe; leukemia coupled with a bone marrow transplant. The odds were high and the stakes were rising. The consensus at the time: the Grim Reaper was angry! Scott had escaped his clutches once before and he'd be damned if he was going to let it happen a second time.
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