Welcome to Update On Zack - the blog

You have found the official blog for "Update on Zack" - the story of Zack Homrighaus and his, and our, journey through brain cancer. Zack was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 17, after a church hiking trip to the mountains brought it to light. From the very beginning, we reached out to our friends and family through email - requesting prayer and giving updates on Zack's condition. These emails were also full of the many wonderful things that God was doing in our life, even in the midst of this most awful of times.

Zack's story is one of hope, the triumph of God's love over fear, and a real time diary of the proof of God's intimate concern for all aspects of our life, from the really big things to the seemingly minor ones. I have three reasons for wanting to share this story with folks beyond and above the thousands who have been reading, praying and passing along our Updates. The first is to give Glory to God for all that he did for us, for all the times he lifted us and gave us mini- and not- so- mini-miracles, sending light to us in the darkest of times and reminders of His presence in the good ones. Also, I know that this is a story the world needs to hear. A story of courage, hope and humor. I know the world can draw strength from one 17 year old, who when faced with the unthinkable, carried on with bravery, honesty and humor, and dare I say it, wackiness. The last reason is very selfish, in a way, on my part. I hate cancer. Too many people have been ravaged by it, weakened, if not killed, by it. I feel so very helpless, as if it is an evil that has touched my life over and over, but that I am powerless against. But then, I thought, I'm not so powerless. I can give some of the money from the book to brain cancer research at M. D. Anderson. It may not be much, but it's what I can do where I am right now - which I guess is the best that any of us can hope for. So, Zack and I talked about it, and 15% of all profits from this "Update on Zack" book will go to finding the reasons why brain cancer strikes some people and not others and once the docs know that, they'll find a cure.

So, this is what this blog is for, what it's dedicated to and where it's coming from. I will post the last Update on Zack on this site, when I finish writing it this week. it will also be a place to see how the book is coming along, help with the book by giving me your own stories of Zack, either to share with the blog or to include in the book. This will also be a place that will have links to some of Zack's favorite things and people. It will also have pictures of Zack for those of you who didn't know him personally. I hope you will join us for this new journey.