A few weeks ago my son Travis posted a story entitled “Tough Love,” which tells the story of how he was inspired to write a song about dealing with his close friend’s addiction. A few weeks ago Travis was writing songs and performing and recording music in Nashville while working a part-time day job. Now Travis is at City of Hope, a major cancer research center in Los Angeles, fighting for his life.
He has an aggressive form of lymphoma, which was misdiagnosed at first. We got to City of Hope just in time. Now he is getting high-powered intensive treatment and isn’t feeling very well. But he is so very brave and tolerant of all the procedures. On the airplane the night we traveled to LA from Nashville, he was in excruciating pain. He said to me, “Mom, some people will never know unconditional love… like what I have from you.”
Then he said, “Mom, don’t worry, I’m not afraid of anything.” I personally cannot fathom the strength and valor of this sweet loving boy I have known and loved for over 40 years. I have never seen such suffering, courage and selflessness. Travis has many more songs to write and stories to tell.
Right before he was diagnosed with lymphoma, Travis co-wrote a song with a young colleague, Colby Dee, about a woman friend they have who is struggling with cancer. They called it, “I Will Fight On.” Now Travis’s story is not about addiction, but we are all in the same survival story. Thank you for reading this and for your inspirational prayers and thoughts.
-Madeline Dow
[A note to this story: As of January 2013, Travis Dow lost his heroic fight with cancer. He will be remembered for his strength and willingness to take on life’s struggles. Travis submitted a story to Heroes about his experience with a friend’s addiction called “Love Gets Tough,” in which he encourages others to endure and fight for recovery. We are grateful for Travis’s contribution, and this addendum has been provided per the request of his mother, Madeleine Dow, so that Travis’s story will continue to inspire others to fight on and live life to the fullest.]