I met Blake Cognata last May, early in his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Quickly, he became one of the most inspirational humans I’d ever been around.
His calm, yet realistic view of the world—and his circumstance—was mesmerizing for any adult, let alone a 17 year-old. And his determination? Unwavering from the get-go.
I shared in the joy with Blake and his father, Rick, that next month when they told me Blake’s surgery to remove a tumor in his hip had gone to plan, and that the lacrosse standout was feeling great and poised to return to normal life.
But as these things often do, the disease came back for Blake, and today, my words come with strain.
This morning, we lost Blake, just days before his 18th birthday.
There’s an adage that says, “It’s not how long you live your life, but how well you live it.” That said, judge Blake Cognata by the overwhelming support of the Fairport community these last 10 months.
Judge Blake by the countless numbers of yellow shirts, ribbons and signs that have flooded the city of Rochester since his fight went public.
And judge Blake by the unfathomable sorrow that his departure from this earth has shown on his friends, family, and anyone he’s ever touched.
Life isn’t always fair…but how unfair would it have been had we never met Blake Cognata?
