If It Weren't For You

If It Weren't For You

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have had a poster of Justin Bieber up in my classroom for a whole year

I wouldn't have spilled butter chicken all over the floor at CHEO

I wouldn't have been celebrated with flowers

If it weren't for you

Matt and Jeff wouldn't have had crowns to wear at a concert

I wouldn't have had a fight with a doctor the first time I met your parents

I wouldn't have understood unicorns

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have gotten to be a Fairy Godmother

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have known how proud someone could be to weigh more than 10 lbs at birth

Our conversation about "Kick a Ginger Day" wouldn't have been so meaningful

I wouldn't have been able to describe the smell and taste of the softest, ashiest cheese

If it weren't for you

Matt would have had to eat grown up food, instead of chicken fingers

We would have all shaved our heads

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have made two of my most incredible friends in your parents

I wouldn't have known the kindness of strangers who made a beautiful dream come true

I would have felt guilty about how many Golden Palace egg rolls I can eat in one sitting

There are things that you think

And there are things that you know

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have known that the worst thing about cancer was not scoring guys

I wouldn't have known how much strength could be in one person

I wouldn't have known the compassion that can be shown by children to their friend

I wouldn't have known the healing power of a horse

You used the word "irony" as liberally as Alanis Morisette

Loved Hallowe'en as much as I do

Refused any extra attention

And put a sign on your door that said

"If you can't treat me like Molly,

Go away."

The people you really let in got to see so many sides

Your complex, multilayered personality

Wickedly funny

Brilliantly smart

Observant

Thoughtful

Sarcastic

Always surprising

A twinkle in your eye

The knowing look

That spoke of wisdom well beyond your years

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have laughed till I cried and

Cried till I laughed

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have the mask that was hand-painted

With a unicorn 

And a neon rainbow

That took a private taxi ride

From an artist's house

To the hospital

Where it kept your head in place

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have understood that bravery means

Saying "no" incredibly forcefully 

To the people who love you

In their misguided attempts to support you

If it weren't for you

I wouldn't have known that courage

Is when you look out for others

Even when you're hurting

It it weren't for you

I wouldn't have seen an incredible side of my baby brother

And my husband

Or known that I could say thank you

And good-bye

If it weren't for you

More kids would be sick

---

In Molly's lifetime and memory, more than $150 000 has been raised to support the life-enhancing and life-saving treatments offered at CHEO. 

Please donate to Team Molly

---

I have learned a lot of lessons from a lot of kids. I suspect that some of them may even read this. Lest they think that I don't have similar stories about them I want to remind them that once you're mine you're always one of mine.

The time is right for me to share some of my cherished memories of Molly.