Finishing Well Series

By now John was undergoing chemo and he struggled to keep any food down, his health deteriorated and it became increasingly difficult to make it to practices. Then one day, one of the runners came to John to share the good news: they were going to make it to the AAU Finals. John’s last wish was to be there for it. Unfortunately, it was not to be. A few weeks later on Thanksgiving Day at the age of 26, John died- 18 months after his first doctor’s visit. He had beaten the odds. Two days later, the Duke City Dashers won the AAU Championship.

A few days after his funeral, students at Aspen Elementary began calling their school, John Baker. A movement began and a name change request was sent to the school board. 520 families in the District voted unanimously for the name change. Today John Baker Elementary stands as a testimony to a courageous young man who believed in giving his best effort right down to the very end.

Five years before he was diagnosed with cancer, John wrote this poem:

Many thoughts race through my mind

As I step up to the starting line

Butterflies thru my stomach fly

As I free that last deep sigh

I feel that death is drawing near

But the end of the race I do not fear

For when the string comes across my breast

I know it’s time for eternal rest

The gun goes off, the race is run

Only God knows if I’ve won

My family and friends and many more

Can’t understand what it is was for

But this race to death is a final test

And I am not afraid, for I’ve done my very best