Del. Liz Bobo: A Letter to the Community

Patch received a copy of this letter from Del. Liz Bobo as she shared an update on the health of her grandson, Zach, and talked of how important community support has been to her and her family as Zach, now 18, has battled a brain tumor for nearly half of his life.

With her permission, we share her Jan. 25, letter with you here:

Dear Friends,

I am missing the legislative session this morning because Lloyd and I are about to drive to Johns Hopkins Hospital where Zach will undergo brain surgery at 1:30 this afternoon. Ben Carson and another very gifted surgeon from Hopkins will be performing the surgery. 

About two weeks ago, when Zach underwent his regular six month check up, an MRI revealed another lesion on his brain. The surgeons decided yesterday that surgery would be today.

It has been seven years since Zach had his first brain surgery for a tumor on his brain stem. After months of inspirational determination and hard work, Zach had a full recovery.

Now at the age of 18, he is a freshman at the University of Maryland in College Park. He is an assistant manager of the university’s men’s basketball team.

Many of you know that I value my personal relationships deeply and particularly love communicating with other human beings at the level of the soul. I am blessed with many dear close family members and friends. I have learned so much about life from them. Zach is the greatest teacher of the value and beauty of life whom I have ever known.

He was performing his manager’s job at College Park yesterday when he got the news that surgery would be this afternoon. He drove himself home to Ellicott City and posted the following messages on facebook:

“Found out that I’m getting surgery tomorrow. Don’t want anybody to be worried, I’ll be fine."

“Another opportunity for me to prove myself worthy of this  life. Blessed.”

Zach and his devoted family – my daughter Chris and her husband John Lederer and their daughter Julia and a large extended family – believe deeply that it was prayer that got Zach through seven years ago. We are asking all of you now to please pray in whatever way you choose for Zach to be whole and healed. Please ask everyone you know to do the same.

Many quotes come to mind about Zach, and none more than Rumi’s – “May the beauty we love be what we do.” That is how Zach lives his life.

I am blessed to be his Grandma.

Love and Peace.

Liz