Remembering Alden

Back in June 2009, I wrote a blog about how I met a little girl named Alden.

Way back in November 2008, Steve Malachowski sent an email to my school, Alden High School, about his daughter, Alden, who was then undergoing treatment for leukemia. To cheer her up, he was hoping to purchase some t-shirts with the world “Alden” on it from our school. My principal, Mr. Ryan, figured we could do better than that and passed the task off to our Student Congress. Members of Student Congress immediately began collecting Alden paraphernalia, in the hopes of sending it to her home. That is, until I discovered where Alden lived. As it turned out, the Malachowskis lived in Austin, Texas, where I was headed in but a few weeks time to receive my title and staff the Distinguished Youth of Texas pageants. I offered to take the gifts with me. To read more about my meeting with the Malachowskis visit this blog.

Following out brief visit, Alden got better. For a few months, the leukemia was gone, and she got her life back, in her own terms. She started school again, got a lead in her school play, and was even named Prom Queen at the kid’s oncology prom.

Then, in June 2009, things turned for the worse. The leukemia returned, and Alden’s condition continued to worsen. She passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2009. She was 13 years old.

At the end of our visit in Austin, the Malachowskis told me how they hoped to take the whole family and visit Alden, New York someday. While they wished Alden could have been with them, Mr. and Mrs. Malachowski did just that on Tuesday, June 29th.

The former Student Congress president, two current Student Congress members, and I went to greet Steve and Shelley Malachowski at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport. We waited for them right in front of security with a sign that read “Alden Welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Malachowski”. We caught the attention of quite a few people in the airport. I was really excited to see the Malachowskis again, and also a little anxious. I wasn’t sure what feelings might reemerge once I actually saw them with my own eyes again.

When I finally saw them walk through the crowd of other passengers from arriving flights, I just had to smile. I alerted the girls that it was them, and they immediately got excited as well. The Malachowskis seemed so thrilled to see us, and immediately began to get to know the girls. I hugged each of them. They’re such warm, wonderful people.

A local limo service had volunteered to escort the Malachowskis to Alden High School in style. On the ride from the airport to Alden, the girls and I acted as tour guides, pointing out little places that were big parts of our lives. I gave random snippets of history lessons. Once we actually got into the village of Alden, the Malachowskis began to recognize a lot of places from the pictures and postcards they had been sent over the last two years. They could point out the bank, the pharmacy, the library, and Henry’s Candy, which we sadly had to inform them that it was closed for the summer. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The limo pulled up next to the side of the high school, where a tent and chairs had been set up. A local teen band was softly strumming acoustic guitars, and a fairly large group of Aldenites were crowded around applauding as the Malachowskis stepped out of the limo.

Once everyone was seated, the memorial service began. Lindsey Winiecki, the former Student Congress president, spoke through her tears about starting the Alden Connection project. It was extremely moving to hear the care and love behind her words.

I then got up to describe my meeting with the Malachowskis back in November 2008. I had typed out a speech, but when I got up there to speak, I found I just couldn’t read it. I just looked at the Malachowskis, and started to talk from my heart, the best I could. Thinking about Alden stirred up quite a bit of emotions, and I made sure to hug the Malachowskis again after.

Next, Student Congress Treasurer Chris Dorminy spoke. He had been instrumental in planning Alden’s memorial, and working with the Malachowskis to get them to Alden. Later that night, the Malachowskis were able to attend Chris’ Eagle Scout award ceremony as guests of honor.

One of Alden’s art teachers, Mrs. Kozinski, said a blessing to memorialize the small tree, wrapped in pink ribbon (Alden’s favorite color), that had been planted in her honor, as well as a small, beautiful bench.

Alden High School’s choral group, Park Street Voices, sang “Prayer of the Children”, in a very, very fitting tribute. It was truly haunting, but in a good way. Everyone in the audience was crying, but their was this cleansing, freeing sense about it. Park Street Voices’ own Val Uebelhoer, who struggled with her own health problems this past year, helped the Malachowskis release a box full of butterflies. (Though the butterflies didn’t seem to want to leave their cozy box for the cool Alden night!) Park Street Voices then sang “Seasons of Love”, which launched everyone into another round of tears.

Mr. Malachowski then stood up and thanked everyone for all of their support. To show their appreciation, they wanted to donate a gift to the school. On the ride to school, I had seen they had been carrying a volleyball with them. This made sense, as Alden had loved volleyball, despite her short stature, her dad pointed out. The whole crowd gasped when Mr. Malachowski explained that the ball had been giving to Alden just days before she passed away, and he felt the Sharpie inscription on it was just as fitting for the Alden community. The inscription read “To Alden: LIVESTRONG, Lance Armstrong.”

Everyone walked to the auditorium for a short video that had been assembled in tribute to Alden. There were interviews with people who had been involved in the Alden Connection, as well footage from Alden’s visit to Distinguished Youth of Texas. The evening finished with a true Buffalo dinner of pizza, wings, and beef on weck.

I’m hoping to have pictures of this beautiful event up on the blog soon, so keep posted. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to learn more about Alden’s story and leave a message for the Malachowskis here.