Reader Responses to Living Large While Something’s Trying to Kill You

I was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, not an unexpected development for someone with an immune system that has fought hard and successfully to suppress HIV for 36 years. But now, this second life-threatening challenge has arrived. “Living Large While Something’s Trying to Kill You” dropped out of the sky and into my email inbox this morning, like a gift from G-d and Annie Lanzillotto ’86. I am so grateful.

The article dropped out of the sky and into my email inbox this morning, like a gift from G-d and Annie Lanzillotto ’86. I am so grateful.

She kept the picture there as a reminder that no one should set limits on what one chooses to do in this life. I have never forgotten that.

Tim Murphy did a wonderful job painting a portrait of this marvelous, beautiful, and singular free spirit, lover of life, gifted writer, expansive performer, and beautiful human being. I met Annie in the computer lab on Pembroke campus in the spring of 1986. Annie draped her computer with a beautiful scarf and kept a portrait of herself lying naked in front of the pyramids in Egypt, a big smile on her face, on top of it. She had taken the trip after her first bout with cancer, against the stern advice of her doctor. Annie told me she kept the picture there as a reminder that no one should set limits on what one chooses to do in this life. I have never forgotten that. Here’s to you, Annie.