How Austin Schroeder is being remembered

How+Austin+Schroeder+is+being+remembered

Gracie Rechkemmer, Intern

Six months ago, the Schroeder family experienced the devastating loss of their son Austin. With the loss of a loved one, many people would choose to retreat from society, but Austin’s family refuses to do that.

“We could choose to crawl in that hole, but of course, we wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t want that,” said Stacy Schroeder, Austin’s mom. “We try getting out to tell people about Austin’s story, and about how strong he was, and how he did win the day, every day, and to find that positive, even if we did have bad days.”

The Schroeder family has chosen to use their experiences to try to help others. They, along with the many supporters they have in their community, are starting a foundation that will not only honor Austin’s memory, but help other families that are going through similar situations.

This foundation is called Adolescent Young Adult (AYA). It is a cancer program run through the University of Iowa that is aimed toward patients aged 13-31 for whom normal cancer treatment isn’t working. AYA will provide more rigorous care and treatment for these patients, as well as provide a basis for researching further treatments.

“If we do more research, maybe the next person will live two years or three years,” Austin’s dad, Craig Schroeder, said. “The next one will live five years. And then eventually, we’ll beat this type of cancer that Austin had.”

Through AYA, the Schroeder family strives to remain true to Austin’s attitudes and values. Carter Johnson ‘18, one of Austin’s best friends, comments: “His strength in life was that he was always able to find the positive in everything.”

This positivity in the worst of times is one of the things that made Austin stand out from other people his age, and this strength is commemorated in the song “The Healer.

The Healer” was written by Molly Rechkemmer, a close friend of the Schroeder family, and it propounds a message of hope for people who face life-threatening illnesses.

Molly comments, “At first when I sat down to write this song I was struggling, so I just stopped and prayed for a long time and asked God to share His words and His message. God never promises any of us that we won’t have to go through difficult circumstances, but what He does promise is that He’s with us and He won’t forsake us.”

This song has been an encouragement to those who were close to Austin, as well as others who are going through difficult times and are looking for hope.

“The song is a very very good reminder for us that even though we’d like to be selfish, the healing can happen at heaven’s gate and that’s something that’s out of our control… it’s a reminder that they are in a better place,” Craig Schroeder said. “It’s a reminder that we need to find a positive, that he is cancer free and out of pain.”

 

Lyrics to “The Healer”: The-Healer.docx

Listen to the song here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxS8uOewWwVCUXhSbGpqWUZjdGc/view?usp=sharing