511 lines
39 KiB
Text
511 lines
39 KiB
Text
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#">
|
||
<head>
|
||
<title>“Everybody wants to be optimistic” | National Institutes of Health (NIH)</title>
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8" />
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">
|
||
//<![CDATA[
|
||
var usasearch_config = { siteHandle:"nih" };
|
||
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script");
|
||
script.type = "text/javascript";
|
||
script.src = "//search.usa.gov/javascripts/remote.loader.js";
|
||
document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script);
|
||
|
||
//]]>
|
||
</script><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" />
|
||
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="rjIoO4vW0AYgltSYvxM1L_CzGIkq28kHf9gHIASKx8s" />
|
||
<link rel="profile" href="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="cleartype" content="on" />
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/nih/apple-touch-icon.png" />
|
||
<meta name="description" content="Kirk and Danielle Leach remember their son Mason, who died of brain cancer at age 5. They talk about his treatment, his special bond with his older brother, Mateo, and about his last days." />
|
||
<meta name="robots" content="follow, index" />
|
||
<meta name="keywords" content="“Everybody wants to be optimistic”" />
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
|
||
<meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)" />
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/everybody-wants-be-optimistic" />
|
||
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.nih.gov/node/31481" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="content-language" content="EN" />
|
||
<meta property="og:site_name" content="National Institutes of Health (NIH)" />
|
||
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
|
||
<meta property="og:title" content="“Everybody wants to be optimistic”" />
|
||
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/everybody-wants-be-optimistic" />
|
||
<meta property="og:description" content="Kirk and Danielle Leach remember their son Mason, who died of brain cancer at age 5. They talk about his treatment, his special bond with his older brother, Mateo, and about his last days." />
|
||
<meta property="og:updated_time" content="2023-02-27T15:50:55-05:00" />
|
||
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc8NXjXguKw" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:creator" content="@NIH" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:title" content="“Everybody wants to be optimistic”" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/everybody-wants-be-optimistic" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Kirk and Danielle Leach remember their son Mason, who died of brain cancer at age 5. They talk about his treatment, his special bond with his older brother, Mateo, and about his last days." />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/about-nih/everybody-wants-to-be-optimistic.JPG" />
|
||
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2016-07-08T15:11:56-04:00" />
|
||
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2023-02-27T15:50:55-05:00" />
|
||
<meta name="owner" content="OD" />
|
||
<meta name="published_date" content="2016-07-08T15:11:56-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="last_revision" content="2023-02-27T15:50:55-05:00" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_PfvPCWanzn7FjDwZqwAHhPoOxYKwkQP-RZSK1pFFG0s.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css__mIWP9gcStq74isjZVoAAsiih8VXwJoN75Nyw_BXrj0.css" media="screen" />
|
||
<style media="print">#sb-container{position:relative;}#sb-overlay{display:none;}#sb-wrapper{position:relative;top:0;left:0;}#sb-loading{display:none;}
|
||
</style>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_jENQOQqZCRFGZK__DTefxYiXR2RUf03k1ugj3_Vg7vk.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_3yt-b0M1HNJsvKsXwYjh5TEtX2lJGAvJvtmVAfORYZs.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans:700,regular|Droid+Serif:italic,regular&subset=latin" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_5rDMv37-JxnNA70cRr_1jlAjVs56DCb8EN4XB2QLl0c.css" media="all" />
|
||
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 8]>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_aLJB_yHt22A_mQek4IRDNsur5tEkCpqLe72j_w6QHQ0.css" media="all" />
|
||
<![endif]-->
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_KviiBystpJcQq4MplcQZvCFxnu9V763f5bPq_AKh4xM.css" media="all" />
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_mQAv54bz2JVXcwS5QWlz0fVY9Os67zeu9bgNqtlVLPY.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-2.2.4.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery/2.2/jquery.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.migrateMute=true;jQuery.migrateTrace=false;</script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-migrate-1.4.1.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery && window.jQuery.migrateWarnings || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery-migrate/1.4.1/jquery-migrate.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_9sGTPBGcOGZjLiSLGrYEnuUf8VdvLmL_DEZNNNbnHXk.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_hNnF7a_sbk6nZ2-mOamHzalYND7HBHDLRInsaU93HDk.js"></script>
|
||
<script>document.createElement( "picture" );</script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_gHk2gWJ_Qw_jU2qRiUmSl7d8oly1Cx7lQFrqcp3RXcI.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script defer="defer" src="//script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0011/2616.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_3s0l7MQ3oYmGkNAypyzCJq3a0wT85XX_P1SLgnph5K4.js"></script>
|
||
<script>
|
||
Shadowbox.path = "/sites/all/libraries/shadowbox/";
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"instances":"{\u0022default\u0022:{\u0022content\u0022:{\u0022text\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022style\u0022:{\u0022tip\u0022:false,\u0022classes\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022position\u0022:{\u0022at\u0022:\u0022bottom right\u0022,\u0022adjust\u0022:{\u0022method\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022my\u0022:\u0022top left\u0022,\u0022viewport\u0022:false},\u0022show\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseenter \u0022},\u0022hide\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseleave \u0022}}}","qtipDebug":"{\u0022leaveElement\u0022:0}","shadowbox":{"animate":true,"animateFade":true,"animSequence":"wh","auto_enable_all_images":1,"auto_gallery":1,"autoplayMovies":true,"continuous":false,"counterLimit":10,"counterType":"default","displayCounter":true,"displayNav":true,"enableKeys":true,"fadeDuration":0.34999999999999998,"handleOversize":"resize","handleUnsupported":"link","initialHeight":160,"initialWidth":320,"language":"en","modal":false,"overlayColor":"#000","overlayOpacity":0.80000000000000004,"resizeDuration":0.55000000000000004,"showMovieControls":true,"slideshowDelay":0,"viewportPadding":20,"useSizzle":false},"picture":{"mappings":[["Sidebar media mappings","sidebar_media_mappings"],["Floated media mappings","floated_media_mappings"],["Not Set","not_set"]],"label":"Image size (required)"},"extlink":{"extTarget":"_blank","extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":0,"extIconPlacement":0,"extSubdomains":1,"extExclude":"(.\\.nih\\.gov.)|(.\\.cancer\\.gov.)|(.\\.genome\\.gov.)|(.\\.drugabuse\\.gov.)|(locatorplus\\.gov.)|(.\\.govdelivery\\.com.)|(.\\.hatchbuck\\.com.)|(nihseniorhealth\\.gov.)|(clinicaltrials\\.gov.)|(search\\.usa\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(search\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(drugabuse\\.gov.)|(medlineplus\\.gov.)|(collegedrinkingprevention\\.gov.)|(smokefree\\.gov.)|(arpa-h\\.gov.)|(nih\\.sharepoint\\.com)","extInclude":"(.\\.pagefreezer\\.com.)","extCssExclude":".media, .emergency-message, .slideshow-main, .bean-home-slideshow-2l-block","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":"_blank","extAlertText":"You are leaving the NIH website.\r\n\r\nThis external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. NIH cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.\r\n\r\nLinking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site\u2019s privacy policy when you follow the link.","mailtoClass":"mailto","mailtoLabel":"(link sends e-mail)","extUseFontAwesome":0}});</script>
|
||
|
||
<script type="application/javascript" id="uws-snippet">
|
||
// Verint Unified WebSDK Integration Snippet v2.3
|
||
//
|
||
// Instructions: please embed this snippet directly into every page of your website template.
|
||
// For optimal performance, this should be embedded directly into the template, not referenced as
|
||
// an external file.
|
||
//
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY BELOW THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
(function () {
|
||
var cookies = document.cookie.split("; ").reduce(function (o, i) { var p = i.split("="); o[p[0]] = p[1]; return o; }, {});
|
||
var containerValue = cookies.uws_container_override && JSON.parse(decodeURIComponent(cookies.uws_container_override));
|
||
var config = {
|
||
moduleHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
configHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
siteKey: "nih-gov",
|
||
container: containerValue || "live",
|
||
loadTime: Date.now()
|
||
};
|
||
var readyCallbacks = []; window.uwsReady = function (callback) { readyCallbacks.push(callback); };
|
||
var sdkPath = "//" + [config.moduleHost, "files/sites", config.siteKey, config.container, "sdk.js"].join("/");
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script"); script.src = sdkPath; script.async = true; script.type = "module";
|
||
script.addEventListener("load", function () { window.unifiedSDK.start(config, readyCallbacks); });
|
||
document.head.appendChild(script);
|
||
})();
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY ABOVE THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
</script>
|
||
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body class="html not-front not-logged-in page-node page-node- page-node-31481 node-type-nih-basic-page section navigation-who-we-are section-about-nih">
|
||
<a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a>
|
||
<noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5CBCNW2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>
|
||
<div class="l-page has-two-sidebars has-sidebar-first has-sidebar-second">
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-page-content">
|
||
|
||
<header class="l-header" role="banner">
|
||
<div class="l-ribbon-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-ribbon">
|
||
<li><span class="ribbon-hhs"></span><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health & Human Services</a><span class="ribbon-right"></span></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div> <div class="l-banner-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-banner">
|
||
<div class="l-branding">
|
||
<a class="nih-logo icon-nih-logo" href="/" title="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" rel="home"><img src="/sites/all/themes/nih/images/nih-logo-color.png" width="390" height="60" alt="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" /></a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- DigitalGov Search -->
|
||
<form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" id="search" class="search-form site-search" method="get">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nih" />
|
||
<label for="query" class="hide">Search the NIH Website</label>
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-site-search" id="query" name="query" type="text" placeholder="Search NIH" /><input type="submit" name="commit" value="Search" class="form-button form-button-site-search" />
|
||
</form>
|
||
<ul class="banner-utilities">
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ned.nih.gov/">Staff Directory</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-navigation-wrapper">
|
||
<!-- ****************** SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Site Menu</h2>
|
||
<nav class="l-menu-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-menu">
|
||
<!-- ********* HOME TAB (Mobile view only) ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-home">
|
||
<div class="tab home"><a href="/"><span>Home</span></a></div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* HEALTH INFO TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-healthinfo tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/health-information"><span>Health Information</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/health-care-facilities/index.html">Health Care Providers & Facilities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/health-info-lines">Health Info Lines</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.healthcare.gov">HealthCare.gov</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you">NIH Clinical Research Trials and You</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor">Talking to Your Doctor</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/clear-health-nih" title="">Clear Health A–Z</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/health-information" title="More Health Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<form id="hipsearch" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" method="get" class="search-form">
|
||
<p class="subhead"><label for="query2">Search Health Topics</label></p>
|
||
<div class="input-wrapper">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="hip" />
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="dc" value="940" />
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" maxlength="50" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-search" id="query2" name="query" type="text" />
|
||
<input name="commit" type="submit" value="Go" id="searchbutton" class="form-button" />
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-medlineplus" href="https://medlineplus.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">MedlinePlus Health Info</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-wellnesstoolkits" href="/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits"><span class="minibadge-text">Wellness Toolkits</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* GRANTS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-grants tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/grants-funding"><span>Grants & Funding</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov">Grants Home Page</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/index.htm">Find Funding</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/due-dates-and-submission-policies/due-dates.htm">Due Dates</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.html">How to Apply</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/about_grants.htm">About Grants</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/policy/index.htm">Policy & Compliance</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/">Grants News/Blog</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/contracts.htm">Contracts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.lrp.nih.gov/">Loan Repayment</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/grants-funding" title="More Grants & Funding Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-report" href="https://report.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">RePORT</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-era" href="https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/"><span class="minibadge-text">eRA Commons</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-commonfund" href="https://commonfund.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Common Fund</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* NEWS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-news tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/news-events"><span>News & Events</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/news-releases">News Releases</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/digital-media-kits">Digital Media Kits</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-resources">Media Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-contacts">Media Contacts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/images-b-roll">Images and B-roll</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/events">Events</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/social-media-outreach">Social Media</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/news-events" title="More News & Events">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-researchmatters" href="/news-events/nih-research-matters"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Research Matters</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihrecord" href="https://nihrecord.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Record</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* RESEARCH TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-research tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/research-training"><span>Research & Training</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/medical-research-initiatives">Medical Research Initiatives</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-highlights">Science Highlights</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-nih-labs-clinics">Research in NIH Labs & Clinics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/training-opportunities">Training Opportunities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/library-resources">Library Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-resources">Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/clinical-research-resources">Clinical Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/safety-regulation-guidance">Safety, Regulation and Guidance</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/research-training" title="More Research & Training">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-pubmed" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">PubMed</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-stemcell" href="https://stemcells.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">Stem Cell Information</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-oppnet" href="https://oppnet.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">OppNet</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nidb" href="https://intramural.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIDB</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihblueprint" href="https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* INSTITUTES TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-institutes tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/institutes-nih"><span>Institutes at NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/list-institutes-centers">List of Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director">NIH Office of the Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/directors-nih-institutes-centers">Directors of NIH Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-institute-center-contact-information">NIH Institute and Center Contact Information</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/institutes-nih" title="More About the Institutes at NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="ic-acronymn-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cancer.gov" title="National Cancer Institute">NCI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nei.nih.gov" title="National Eye Institute">NEI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov" title="National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute">NHLBI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.genome.gov" title="National Human Genome Research Institute">NHGRI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Aging">NIA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism">NIAAA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases">NIAID</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niams.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases">NIAMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nibib.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering">NIBIB</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov" title="Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development">NICHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders">NIDCD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research">NIDCR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases">NIDDK</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nida.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Drug Abuse">NIDA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences">NIEHS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nigms.nih.gov" title="National Institute of General Medical Sciences">NIGMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Mental Health">NIMH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities">NIMHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke">NINDS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Nursing Research">NINR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov" title="National Library of Medicine">NLM</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cc.nih.gov" title="NIH Clinical Center">CC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cit.nih.gov" title="Center for Information Technology">CIT</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.csr.nih.gov" title="Center for Scientific Review">CSR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.fic.nih.gov" title="Fogarty International Center">FIC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ncats.nih.gov" title="National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences">NCATS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nccih.nih.gov" title="National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health">NCCIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* ABOUT TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-about tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/about-nih"><span>About NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do">What We Do</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://hr.nih.gov/jobs">Jobs at NIH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/about-nih/explore-nih">Explore NIH</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/about-nih" title="More About NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director">The NIH Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Take the Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health">NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/impact-nih-research">Impact of NIH Research</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust">Science, Health, and Public Trust</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<div class="tab-bkgnd"></div><!-- For pixel rounding issue -->
|
||
</nav>
|
||
<!-- ****************** END SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-main-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-main" id="page-content">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">You are here</h2><div class="breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a> » <a href="/about-nih">About NIH</a> » <a href="/about-nih/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></div> <div class="l-region l-region--section-header">
|
||
<div id="block-block-126" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-126" id="block-block-126" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-126">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<h2><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<aside class="l-region l-region--sidebar-first">
|
||
<nav id="block-menu-block-5" role="navigation" class="block block--menu-block subnav block--menu-block-5">
|
||
<h3 class="block__title"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are" title="Who We Are" class="active-trail">Who We Are</a></h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-5 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-4131 menu-level-1">
|
||
<ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-4116"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-leadership">NIH Leadership</a></li>
|
||
<li class="leaf menu-mlid-4086"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/organization">Organization</a></li>
|
||
<li class="leaf menu-mlid-4161"><a href="https://ned.nih.gov/search/" title="">Staff Directory</a></li>
|
||
<li class="leaf menu-mlid-4101"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/history">History</a></li>
|
||
<li class="last leaf has-children menu-mlid-616"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director" title="The NIH Director">The NIH Director</a></li>
|
||
</ul></div>
|
||
</nav>
|
||
</aside>
|
||
<div class="l-content-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-content" role="main">
|
||
<a id="main-content"></a>
|
||
<div about="/about-nih/who-we-are/everybody-wants-be-optimistic" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document" class="ds-1col node node--nih-basic-page view-mode-full node--full node--nih-basic-page--full clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p class="pretitle"><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/voices-nih-community">Voices of the NIH Community</a></p><div class='syndicate'><h1>“Everybody wants to be optimistic”</h1><div class="featured-media"><div class="ds-1col file file-video file-video-youtube view-mode-featured_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="media-youtube-video media-youtube-1">
|
||
<iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="640" height="390" title="Everybody wants to be optimistic." src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dc8NXjXguKw?wmode=opaque&controls=0&theme=light" name="Everybody wants to be optimistic." frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Everybody wants to be optimistic.</iframe>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div><div><p>Kirk and Danielle Leach remember their son Mason, who died of brain cancer at age 5. They talk about his treatment, his special bond with his older brother, Mateo, and about his last days. </p>
|
||
|
||
<h3>Transcript</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>Mason was a very active, funny 5-year-old. He loved art and soccer and was stubborn as an ox and he loved his brother. And the best way to describe him is a force of nature.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Kirk </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>He had a short but very interesting life. He lived in four different countries, spoke two languages fluently and parts of another. And he met the First Lady of the United States and he met the Queen of England in his five years on Earth.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>Kirk, tell me something that you remember about his treatment experience, like something that sticks out in your mind?</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Kirk </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>One is how active he was during the treatment, during the very strong chemo that was in his body when he was at Children’s Hospital, when he would be riding up and down the hallways on the Big Wheel and we’d be running along with the IV pole. Him playing soccer with his brother, in the room and in the hallway. He scored a goal in a soccer game two weeks before he passed away. He wouldn’t let anything stop him.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>His sheer determination blanketed a lot of his pain and it blanketed a lot of his suffering in a way that those who experience that all the time could have told us a little bit more about it. And I think…that’s I think my biggest regret is that we didn’t have those conversations right from the beginning.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Kirk </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>It’s a hard conversation to have with people because everybody wants to be optimistic until the very end. But I remember distinctly our older son was playing soccer and Mason was there, but he was probably about 50 feet away and I was talking to one of the moms on the team and, oh, she said, “Well, aww, well, how is he doing?” And I said, “Well, you know, he’s dying.”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>He kept control, just like his personality was right to the end. He woke up that morning and said he was done and eight hours later he was unconscious.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Kirk </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>Right.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>And 18 hours later from there he was gone. I still remember the hospice woman coming in to us and saying, “You know, it’s gonna be soon, it’s gonna be soon.” And we called Mateo and said, you know, “Do you want to come home?”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Kirk </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>Mateo was at a soccer game.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Danielle </strong><strong>Leach: </strong>And he said, “No, I’m okay,” and Mason waited for him to die. Mateo walked in the room and he told him the score of the game and Mason was gone about five minutes later.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>On my worst days, I just think of that little boy getting up and running around when he felt miserable and then I say, you know what, we all need to be a little bit like Mason.</p></div></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="lastupdated">
|
||
<p>This page last reviewed on February 27, 2023</p> </div> </div>
|
||
<aside class="l-region l-region--sidebar-second masonry-container">
|
||
<div id="block-ds-extras-sidebar-box-nih-basic-page-ds" class="block block--ds-extras block--ds-extras-sidebar-box-nih-basic-page-ds" id="block-ds-extras-sidebar-box-nih-basic-page-ds" class="block block--ds-extras block--ds-extras-sidebar-box-nih-basic-page-ds">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div class="box"><div about="/field-collection/field-sidebar-field-collection/27196" class="ds-1col entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-sidebar-field-collection view-mode-sidebar_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">Related Links</h3><p><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/voices-nih-community">Voices of the NIH Community</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you">NIH Clinical Trials and You</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/">ClinicalTrials.gov</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.researchmatch.org/">ResearchMatch</a></p></div>
|
||
|
||
</div><div class="box"><div about="/field-collection/field-sidebar-field-collection/27201" class="ds-1col entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-sidebar-field-collection view-mode-sidebar_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">Additional Resources</h3><p><a href="http://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/guide-for-parents">Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer">Advanced Cancer</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="http://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers">Childhood Cancers</a></p></div>
|
||
|
||
</div><div class="box"><div about="/field-collection/field-sidebar-field-collection/27206" class="ds-1col entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-sidebar-field-collection view-mode-sidebar_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>Produced by Dan Collison with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. <a href="http://www.storycorps.org/">www.storycorps.org</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="mailto:storycorps@nih.gov">storycorps@nih.gov</a><br />
|
||
(301) 594-0797</p></div>
|
||
|
||
</div> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</aside>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="l-connect-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-connect">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Connect with Us</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="contactus-monochrome" href="/about-nih/contact-us"><span class="icon"></span>Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="twitter-monochrome" href="https://twitter.com/NIH"><span class="icon"></span>X</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="facebook-monochrome" href="https://www.facebook.com/nih.gov"><span class="icon"></span>Facebook</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="instagram-monochrome" href="https://www.instagram.com/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Instagram</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="youtube-monochrome" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nihod"><span class="icon"></span>YouTube</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="flickr-monochrome" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Flickr</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="social-monochrome" href="/news-events/social-media-outreach"><span class="icon"></span>More Social Media from NIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-footer-wrapper">
|
||
<footer class="l-footer" role="contentinfo">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Footer</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/">NIH Home</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/disclaimers">Disclaimers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/nih-website-archives">NIH Website Archives</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/nondiscrimination-notice">Nondiscrimination Notice</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/freedom-information-act-office">Freedom of Information Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.edi.nih.gov/no-fear-act">No Fear Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://oig.hhs.gov">Office of Inspector General</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="lastTab" href="https://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></p>
|
||
<p>National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892</p>
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a></p>
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="back-to-top"><a href="#"><span class="icon-arrow-up"></span><span class="text">Back to Top</span></a></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_7Ukqb3ierdBEL0eowfOKzTkNu-Le97OPm-UqTS5NENU.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_E9yUYWK8EMydR0HMIp2PahVxPAClXyH0Cnh782A15UM.js"></script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html>
|
||
|