For My Brother: Bruce Springsteen - Spirit in the Night - Live 1973 in Los Angeles

Sometimes music is the balm that soothes our pain. I am remembering my lost nephew Luke one year after his passing and sending musical empathy to my brother Kent Chadwick and his wife Cathy.
Peace

A Photo Essay on "A Celebration of Luke Chadwick's Life: Lean On Me" at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island on September 6, 2009

Saffron Hugs at Luke Chadwick's Memorial


Luke!


Programs at Memorial Service


General Chadwick USMC


Semper Fi


Luke's Graduation Photo at Memorial Service


Peg and Bob Chadwick


Ali Chadwick Plays for Her Brother


Honoring Luke


Post Service Hugs and Greetings for Cathy and Kent Chadwick


Thoughts of Luke Hover in the Chapel


Cathy's Flowers and Dana's Badge


Cathy, Kent and Ali at the Celebration for Luke


Bainbridge Fire and Rescue Workers Gather to Honor Luke at the Memorial Service


MarySue Gazing at the Bainbridge Sky After the Memorial Service


Cassiel , Grandma and Grandpa


Flowers for Luke


Evening Glow After the Memorial With Luke's Obama Sticker


Cassiel With Dante


100 Years of Hallelujahs


SunBreak for Luke


A photo essay onA Celebration of Luke Chadwick's Life: Lean On Me at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island, Washington on September 6, 2009
Photos by Gregg Chadwick

Luke's Celebration ended with a recording of Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York



Luke, Buon Viaggio!

A Poem for Luke Chadwick by Brian Bajari

Now breathe deeply - or perhaps it's better

to laugh loudly

and cheer clearly

beside still waters

to maybe skip easy on

those green pastures near

that big leafy tree dear

wide-wondered Luke,

the universe's courageous

high holy, love only

deep hugging, song-laughing

open-handed friend.

-Brian Bajari
(after reading Luke Yen-hui's obituary)

He's a beautiful man. I'm crying with you - even though I know he's "flying with the angels."

Thank you Luke for your world-embracing love. Your smile that captured hearts wherever you went.

Flying With the Angels: Luke Yen-hui Chadwick

Update: A Photo Essay on "A Celebration of Luke Chadwick's Life: Lean On Me" at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island on September 6, 2009


Luke at Disneyland with Cassiel Chadwick and Kent Chadwick
July 2007

Update: If you have pictures of Luke that you would like to post, I will upload them here on Speed of Life as a celebration of an amazing life. Please leave a comment below and send any photos to greggchadwick@earthlink.net.




Luke Yen-hui Chadwick, died August 22, 2009 from acute respiratory failure after 3-months’ hospitalization at the University of Washington Medical Center. He was 22 years-old and a 2007 graduate of Bainbridge High School.

Luke was born Yu Yen-hui September 20, 1986 in Taipei, Taiwan. He came to Washington state to his adoptive parents, Cathy and Kent Chadwick, in 1988. By then he had already contracted the progressive lung disease secondary pulmonary hypertension.

Growing up, Luke focused on what he could do, as opposed to what he could not. He perfected the arts of friendship and of living for today. His greatest joy was to make someone smile, which he would effect with any means at hand. His spontaneity, courage, and unselfconsciousness inspired the whole town of Bainbridge Island, where he and his family have lived since 1996. While at Bainbridge High, Luke memorably served as the boy’s basketball team’s manager and unofficial mascot when the team went to the state championship. Graduating from BHS was one of Luke’s proudest moments.

In March 2008 Luke received the gift of a double-lung transplant and had 12 months of good health. He became an enthusiastic volunteer organizer for the local Barack Obama campaign. He even travelled independently in the spring of 2009. But a severe case of pneumonia irreversibly damaged his transplanted lungs and led to his final hospitalization in May.


Luke's 22nd Birthday
photo from Luke's dad - Kent Chadwick

Luke’s mom and dad, sister, Ali, grandparents, Bob and Peg, aunts, uncles, and cousins all rejoice for the time they had with their miracle Luke.

Luke told his friends on Facebook: “I try to stay upbeat and keep my head up but it is hard sometimes. I have God and he knows when I will be with him and flying with the angels. Love always.”



A celebration of Luke’s life will take place Sunday, September 6th at 3 p.m. at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, 11042 Sunrise Drive NE , Bainbridge Island, WA, with a reception to follow for all to tell Luke stories.

Donations in Luke’s name may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, which did so much for him as he fought his illness. The PHA is at 801 Roeder Road, Ste. 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or online at www.phassociation.org. To honor Luke’s year of transplanted strength, please consider registering as an organ donor.


Luke at Gregg and MarySue's wedding
7, 7, 2007

(If you have pictures of Luke that you would like to post, I will upload them here on Speed of Life as a celebration of an amazing life. Please leave a comment below. )

for Luke Chadwick - Buon Viaggio

Update: A Photo Essay on "A Celebration of Luke Chadwick's Life: Lean On Me" at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island on September 6, 2009

For My Brother ~ Something In the Night

Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
Something In the Night
May 23, 2009, 50 Rte 120
East Rutherford, NJ 07073

As a Jersey boy, when life gets rough I tend to "turn the radio way up loud, so I don't have to think." And I tend to turn to my (slightly) older brother for his wisdom and comfort. Now it's my turn to offer a strong back and a shoulder to lean on.

Life can seem cruel, unfair and oh so brief. I deeply understand the pathos when Bruce sings, "As soon as you got something, they send someone to try and take it away." Kent, maybe because he was born in Virginia, rather than in the state that became known as much for its factories and boarded up cities, would reject the cynicism in that line. Kent having learned much from our Marine Corps dad, instead, finds hope no matter what life throws his way and Kent knows how to soldier on.


Luke Chadwick Gestures Against the Fading Light

Kent's son Luke received a double lung transplant a year ago and has a had a remarkable 12 months. Luke's courage and sweet good humor has carried him on incredible adventures. But, Luke has hit a rough spot and is in the ICU at UW in Seattle. Luke and Kent and Kent's wife Cathy and their daughter Ali need all the love and support they can get at this time.


Not Quite the Jersey Shore
Cassiel Chadwick, Cathy Chadwick, Kent Chadwick and Luke Chadwick

Kent is a masterful poet and has introduced to me and my son, a world of words and images. My brother, I love you and am in awe of your courage and patience, and in your rough hour I give you the words of a Jersey street poet and a Welsh writer - Springsteen and Dylan Thomas.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
by Dylan Thomas


Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.