electronically reclining hospital bed, clenching my Instead of lounging at home
mother’s hand as we both drowned in our tears between surgeries, which was a
praying to God for the excruciating pain inside me tempting alternative, I decided to
to stop. The day I was admitted to Hasbro Chil- act. While my classmates were
dren’s Hospital, my mother and father drove nearly taking tests and attending classes, I
five hours to be with me. Having my mother as applied myself, recovered physi-
company and comfort every day for the next two cally, and completed all the work
ANSEN
months in the hospital was more powerful than the that I had missed. At the end of the
H
strength any medicine could have provided. year I had made the honor roll for
NDREA
A
Being away from my school, my friends, my the semester that I had been unable
B
Y
O
classwork, my sister, and ice hockey made me feel as to attend, as well as for the semester
PHOT
if I had hit rock bottom. I spent a total of 60 days in that I completed upon my return.
the hospital, and I had not eaten a piece of solid Apathy and laziness are what keep the average
Sean O’Brien had
food for seven weeks. One day that December, I was human being, for the most part, just that, an average
many standout
games as the goalie
home with my family while recovering from my person. It is easy to be happy and complacent when
for the boys varsity
third surgery. I was lonely, depressed, and in con- everything is going well. I have suffered, failed, and
hockey team.
stant fear about what the future might hold and ultimately succeeded; I never plan on quitting, and I
about the effects that colon removal might have. I will always strive to persevere. Merely surviving
went outside alone for a walk, and I realized that after my surgery would have meant giving up on my
the depression and pessimism that I felt inside was dreams; rather I choose to dream passionately and
not what God had intended for me to take from this to work to thrive and to succeed.
experience. This moment was my awakening and I want you to know that I would never have
became the defining 15 minutes of my life. I made been driven to break out of my apparent limitations
an oath to myself to live with passion and to “dream had it not been for this group whom I had so igno-
no small dreams,” in the words of Johann Wolfgang rantly and stereotypically generalized as “perfect.”
von Goethe, the great German poet. The ultimate We all have our imperfections, and, shining through
test would be to act upon my declaration. some of our most vulnerable and dire experiences,
I dreamt of playing hockey again. The doctors appears a light of friendship, trust and understand-
told me that it would be at least six months until I ing. I do sincerely thank each and every one of you;
could lace up my skates. At first I thought that I especially the Curtin and Carrellas families, Ryan,
would never play hockey again. After I was taken to Ally, Shane, and Peyton Mulhern, and my personal
the ground floor and outside in a wheel chair, I hero, Doc Wallace. In the words of Henry David
could hardly stand up straight because I had been Thoreau, “’Tis healthy to be sick sometimes.”
sitting in the hospital bed for nearly two weeks Before I end this talk, I have one request of
prior to my discharge. I soon decided that six you. Recently, the father of one of my good friends
months was too long to wait. Consequently, I was diagnosed with cancer; more specifically, colon
underwent daily rehab and abdominal exercises to cancer. So I ask you today to keep my friend’s
gain the strength that I needed. Not before long, I, father, Robert Erb, in your thoughts and prayers.
the underdog, had persevered. I had beat the odds You may not know this man, but you probably did
and was skating all within one month. not know me that well either, then I was away and
Next, I was told that I might need an extended receiving cards, videos, e-mails—and encourage-
period of time after my final surgery before I could ment. For this I will always be grateful.
return to my boarding school community. However,
one week after my fourth surgery I was able to Sean O’Brien ’08 of Malvern, Pa., heads to the Uni-
return to St. George’s as a result of the incredible versity of Connecticut this fall. He can be reached at
progress that I had made, according to my surgeon.
obnet24@aol.com.
ST. GEORGE’S 2008 SUMMER BULLETIN 19
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