ZACH SOBIECH WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY A PROPER GOODBYE

Some times things happen that provide us with a tiny hope that humanity still exists in our cruel, mostly uncaring world in which everyone seems to only be interested in their own selfish needs.

As a parent who has experienced the horrific loss of a child, I can often identify with others who are also experiencing the agony of the inexplicable endless suffering that we will feel forever.

Each of us tries to instill in ourselves and others, a legacy to remember our children who have died, so that their much too short time on this earth is cherished for eternity.

It is our hope that others will never forget that our children lived and that their lives always will be remembered, never to be erased.

One such story is about a young man, Zach Sobiech who died on May 20, 2013 at the age of 18. 

Zach lost his battle to a rare form of cancer but his legacy has continued to live on.   

His mother, Laura Sobiech, said her son Zach had instructed his family and closest friends on how he wanted to live his last moments on earth, which involved remaining conscious until it was his time to go. An uncommonly brave choice as Zach suffered in his last few bittersweet moments.

Laura said Zach, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 14 years old, was conscious until just moments before he died on May 20, that’s what he wanted and achieved, to be able to say a proper goodbye. Laura said it was the way he “wanted to go.”  

With only months to live, Zach turned to music to say goodbye. Zach had written a song called "Clouds" about coming to terms with his imminent death. His YouTube hit, "Clouds," went viral last December and, at one point, reached No. 1 on iTunes.

On Thursday night, December 5, 2013, a choir of 5,000 singers made up of a few friends, family, but mostly strangers came together to sing a triumphant version of "Clouds" at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.


The event, held one year after "Clouds" hit YouTube, was organized by local radio station, KS95.

In the middle of the crowd were Sobiech's parents, Laura and Rob Sobiech, and his girlfriend, Amy Adamle.  "Everybody came together, and it was for Zach, and it was for everyone in the room," Rob Sobiech told the Pioneer Press. "And it was for other kids who have cancer." 

Then the crowd sang his song with their amazing voices and faces touching my soul. I felt their emotions and "goose bumps" when I watched the videos.

Please watch the videos below, for yourself, so that you have the opportunity to feel even more of what is being said here in my words.

It should affect you in much the same manner because this is about life, death, unfairness, hope, and the goodwill of human beings of all religions, races, politics, and differences who came to share together, that they ALL wanted to express their compassion, caring, love for another human being.

Watch the incredible, haunting performance of "Clouds" in the video below by the crowd at the Mall of America.

Zach's amazing story also caught the attention of Rainn Wilson's YouTube channel, SoulPancake, and they made a short documentary about the teen's journey, "My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech."Watch the video below to learn more about Zach's incredible life.

Watch Zach's original performance of "Clouds" in the two videos below.

                        

                                              THE LYRICS

It is at rare times like this that the human spirit shows it still has some goodness in it. 

 

REST IN PEACE ZACH Sobiech. 

May 3, 1995 – May 20, 2013