Meg & I were college roommates back at American University many years ago. We were both in the School of Public Affairs and Delta Gamma sisters. We got in trouble once at the campus store for not wearing shoes and managed to survive for the first week of our sophomore year on a diet of bagels and beer ( the campus bank had switched over the summer and we couldn’t access our accounts for several days… bagels were only 45 cents and we made do!)

We learned to deal with “roommate issues”; she’d set her alarm a half hour early so that she could snooze for 30 minutes… to country music. My Great Aunt Lenore would call and talk her ear off. I actually grew to appreciate country music. She grew to love Aunt Lenore. And somewhere amidst the fraternity formals, late night study sessions and weekends exploring DC, we became friends. Lifelong friends who know how to make each other laugh and will always be there for each other. Think of a very special college friend and you’ll no doubt understand.

Years passed and though we were still roommates our first year out of college, we went different ways. She got married and moved to Denver, and then back to her home state of Kansas. I moved to New York City, got married and moved out to NJ. But it turns out that time and geography simply do not matter. I can still make her laugh. She still has my back

Just over a week ago, as I was waiting for the train after a dinner in the city with some out of town friends who were visiting NYC for BlogWorld, I saw I had received a message on Facebook from Megan. I laughed, thinking that after all these years she and I still had this weird connection. She must have somehow known I was talking about her at dinner that night. (I had been telling Justin Goldsborough and Arik Hanson about her antics as a Jayhawks fan). Then I read the note. Standing in Penn Station I learned that this dear friend, sorority sister and mother of 2 beautiful young girls has been diagnosed with Cancer. It has spread to her liver as well as 2 places in her bones. She asked me to share the news with our friends, because she did not have the strength to do so.

The next week was a blur. Sharing the news I could not quite grasp with friends I had not spoken with in (far too many) years. Holding virtual hands as we united to try and figure out how we could make this all better.  I spoke with Meg’s husband, the head Tennis Coach at Washburn who was busy pulling together a team of doctors, specialists and supporters that could help. Like any great coach, Dave is doing everything he can to keep spirits up and beat the odds. The odds are not good. Every moment has become a precious gift for Dave, Meg and their daughters Alexa (8) and Nadia (5). Meg is not ready to say goodbye. We are not ready to say goodbye. Friendship is forever.  And I want Meg to know that she, and her family, will ALWAYS have our love and support.

So I’d like to ask you to be a part of #TeamMeg. Here is her CaringBridge site which includes a link to a paypal account. I know that everyone has a good cause, but I hope you will consider adding $2 to the account. Why $2? Well, I seem to remember a local $2 beer night when we were in college. And we always seemed to find $2 to buy a beer. So tonight, I thought, perhaps you would buy this incredible girl a drink, and toast to #TeamMeg.

Valerie Merahn Simon