Fourth-Grader's Touching Tribute to Brother Wins Contest

Copeland Manor School fourth-grader Taylor Widman's essay about the big brother she lost to neuroblastoma cancer in 2005 was among the winning entries in a student writing contest sponsored by Creative Communication.

Taylor's essay, "My Brother's Fight," received a Top Ten award in the third through sixth-grade age division.

"Taylor wrote about her brother (Jake) who died of cancer and the impact it's had on her young life," said her father, Matt Widman, who with his wife, Ann, established the non-profit Super Jake Foundation to help families with children fighting pediatric cancer.

Here is Taylor's essay:

"My Brother's Fight"

It all started when my brother, Jake, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer.

He just had a simple stomach ache when my dad was driving my brother home from school one day.

My parents took him to the doctor's office and the doctor said that they had to take a helicopter to get to the hospital because Jake's ribs were 6 times the size of his regular ribs, and he was very sick.

Jake was only three when this happened. My brother was a fighter, he loved super heroes, and when he was in the hospital, he would always wear his Spider-Man costume.

The nurses and doctors were very nice to him. It was a hard battle for me, my brother, and my parents. I still remember that Jake and I would sit in his hospital bed and share M&Ms.

One day, the doctor asked my parents if they wanted to take him home or leave him at the hospital because he was going to die. My parents said that they wanted to take him home to die because they knew that's what Jake would have wanted.

So we went home that day and Jake was in his Spider-Man pjs, in his bed with me and my parents. That night when everyone was in bed Jake passed away. I loved my brother and I still do. I miss him dearly but I know he will always be in my heart!