Please Survive
 
Lee's Letter to Uncle Phat

Lee, 
Monday, May 12, 2003
     

Dear Bac Phat,

How are you doing?  This is Lee here writing a letter for you.  I would like to let you know that I will be there as soon as possible to be by your side.  Currently, I am in the middle of final exams for the next two weeks.  My last final exam, Physiology, is on May 30^th and I already ordered an airplane ticket to come see you on Saturday, May 31^st.  My dad is coming this weekend to see you.  Just hang in there because I have faith in you and I know you can fight this terrifying battle because you will have to give me a chance to see you.  People may say you have only a couple of days to live but I know you are a fighter.

I am so glad to have an uncle who is caring, loving, and passionate.  I would like to thank you for everything that you have done for me.  Thank you for all of your extraordinary advice and allowing me the opportunity to see what you do in your career.  Thank you for giving me tips for my Undergraduate research career at the University. I was nominated for two research opportunities, with the Science and Engineering scholars and McNair Scholars. 

Thank you for letting me visit you in France during the summer of 1998 and showing me your clinic and the hospital, especially that day when you performed an autopsy.  I was very amazed by the fact that you have written so many books and articles for the scientific community.  I have mentioned you to other people and they are very amazed.  I also have met a particular person that you might know.  He is also a parasitologist and his name is Dr. Anthony Allison.  I went to his seminar, called "Lessons from the Interface of Genetics and Medicine.”  He was the very first person to discover that people with sickle cell anemia were resistant to malaria.  I mentioned your name and he wanted to know more about what you do.

Please listen to me; you must survive in order to write your next book because you have promised me that we will collaborate on this next piece.  I would like to have the opportunity to work on diagrams of histological samples that you have obtained.  Please do not leave now as we have a task to finish. 

Bac Phat, you must survive and you must succeed this obstacle in life.  Here’s something that will make you stronger, called “Can’t Take That Away.”
  

Can’t Take That Away
    

They can say anything they want to say to
try to bring you down;
But you will not allow
Anyone to succeed,
Hanging clouds over yourself;
And they can try hard to make you feel
That you don't matter at all;
But refuse to falter
In what you believe
Or lose faith in your dreams.

Because there's a light in you
That shines brightly;
They can try,
But they can't take that away from you.

They can do anything they want to you
lf you let them in,
But they won't ever win;
If you cling to your pride,
Just push them aside.

You have learned there's an inner peace you own,
Something in your soul
That they cannot possess;
So you won't be afraid
And darkness will fade.

They can't take this precious love
That you’ll always have inside yourself;
Certainly the Lord will guide you
Where you need to go.

They can say anything they want to say
To try to break you down;
But you won't face the ground
And you will rise steadily,
Sailing out of their reach.

Because there's a light in yourself that shines brightly;
They can try
But they can't take that away from you
 

         Please remember that my parents, friends, and family have faith in you.  My parents love you very much and they are happy that you came to visit us recently.  My dad is coming this weekend and I will be coming on May 31^st and do not let go!

Love,

Lee and family