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About Jori Starr Zemel
Jori Starr Zemel lost her 20-month
battle with osteosarcoma on January 1, 2001, while surrounded by a group of
family and closest friends. Jori withstood unbearable pain and the trauma
associated with over a dozen surgeries and high dosage chemotherapy. She
faced this horror with a dignity, courage and grace that still mystifies us.
As her life slowly ebbed she maintained her love for people and her concern for
the betterment of the world.
Jori was a vibrant and brilliant girl. An outstanding student in her
school's gifted program - she was also a very creative artist |
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and writer, particularly excelling in poetry.
Her quick wit and mischievous sense of humor made her a favorite among her
peers. In many ways, she was also a typical adolescent who obsessed over
fashion, shopping and socializing. She participated in cheerleading,
fawned over her pets and loved her family and friends as deeply as they adored
her in return. She possessed the young's exuberance for life, at one point
during her illness confiding, "Mom, you don't know how badly I want to live."
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Throughout Jori's treatment, her parents vigorously
challenged the medical community and pursued the best treatments available.
At the same time, they diligently dedicated themselves to keeping Jori's life as
"normal" as possible - not a small feat. They faced a parent's worse
emotional nightmare coupled with the economic realities of producing an income
as financial concerns escalated and tended to the needs of other family members.
Jori's battle was profiled on the Discovery Channel documentary, "A Time to
Live".
No child, or family, should ever have to face the pain and anguish of this
disease. Jori's parents, Brook and Nina Zemel, are still unable to make
sense of her death. The JORI ZEMEL CHILDREN'S BONE CANCER FOUNDATION is a
both a tribute to this amazing child and a result of her parent's passion to
save others from ever having to endure the loss of a child from this disease
again. |
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Along with friends and supporters, Brook and Nina urge
you to join our efforts to find a cure for children's bone cancer. We are
fighting for every child like Jori and for every family overwhelmed and
devastated by their child's illness. Through education, research and
family support programs, we are their advocates. |
A Poem by Jori
I am a silly girl with many hopes
and dreams
I pretend that I am a butterfly on a cherry day
I hear the trees whisper to another in the majestic, quiet woods
I want to live my life to the fullest every day
I am a sill girl with many hopes and dreams
I wonder why God chose me to have cancer
I understand that I am not the only one
Yet I feel alone and secluded
I dream about what a normal life is like
I worry if I will make it through all my pain
And I know that I must hold on and be strong
I am a silly girl with many hopes and dreams
I touch the hearts of all suffering kids
I cry when I see kids just like me
I try to love everybody for who they are
I say that people should reach out to each other
I hope people see me for who I am
I am a silly girl with many hopes and dreams
View more of Jori's poetry
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