A Tribute to a Hero (Set to 2 Europe Songs)

This video is dedicated to the memory of one of my favorite relatives (my cousin-in-law Ajay) who recently passed away (3/09) from complications to esophageal cancer. Last year Ajay started experiencing pain upon swallowing. The symptoms quickly progressed to the point where it was very difficult for him to swallow and eat b/c of the pain. He had lost a lot of weight as result and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. To be close to his relatives and b/c there's a lot of red tape/ delays in the Canadian health care system, he decided to receive appropriate treatment overseas in India.

To our relief, Ajay improved and his cancer was in remission for several months and he appeared to be doing well. Tragedy then struck and he took a turn for the worse as his cancer suddenly came back. He had to leave his wife and children again, and was rushed back to the hospital overseas for more tests and treatments. His wife (my cousin Nina) then received the phone call that no one wanted to hear - Ajay's condition was quickly deteriorating. He no longer could eat and eventually became very emaciated and weak, almost unrecognizable - the cancer was that malignant and metastasized to other parts of his body. Nina quickly hopped on the first flight to India to be by his side. Unfortunately while Nina was on the plane, the love of her life died in the hospital. Neither his two children nor Nina were able to hear his last words. After Nina found out about Ajay's death, she notified their two children (one in middle school, the other in first year of high school) to get on a plane to India, not telling the status of their father. After travelling almost 7000 miles on a plane by themselves (not knowing the purpose of their trip), both of the children were then notified (in person) of their father's untimely death after they had arrived in Dehli.

Ajay was a good guy and a great family man. He didn't deserve to die at such a young age - he was very healthy and didn't have any risk factors at all for esophageal cancer. (he was a non-smoker, non-drinker, no reflux, etc).

I created this video to honor Ajay. I chose to put together 2 songs from one of my favorite groups of all time, Europe, set to pictures of the rock group Europe (I chose not to put up any pictures of Ajay for he is not here to give me permission to do so, and not sure how he would have felt about having his picture on the internet. Plus I wanted to give some privacy to the family that he left behind, and hence decided not put up any pics of Ajay.) This video is divided into two parts: it starts off with a solemn somber sound (w/ few pics) and the overall theme shifts towards a keen sense of acceptance towards the end (w/ a lot of pics).

Regarding the song choices, "Coast to Coast" is a song about universiality and the importance of strength and perserverance during any kind of adversity. It's a simple message of hope and reassurance that it'll be okay. This song is for Nina and their two children that Ajay left behind. The other song, "Hero", is what the title says it is. Ajay was a hero to me....a hero to whoever got to know him.....a hero that will never be forgotten. RIP Ajay.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tribute
• to
• hero
• tragic
• tragedy
• esophageal
• cancer
• death
• europe
• coast
• out
• of
• this
• world
• start
• from
• the
• dark
• joey
• tempest
• john
• norum
• leven
• mic
• michaeli
• ian
• haugland
• kee
• marcello

[ducklinduckegg]

my dad died of oesopageal cancer in may 09, his condition was very much like your dear relative, its so sad, so very sad and a nasty cancer, it pains me to think of how much my dad suffered, all cancer is horrendous but oesophageal cancer is awful, the most awful cancer of all

[bappichulo]

I am deeply sorry to hear that about your father. My deepest condolensces go out to you and your family. I agree w/ u about esophageal cancer being one of the nastiest cancers anyone can have - esp considering fact it's painful to swallow when one has esophageal cancer - a basic function of the body that gives us pleasure (act of eating/swallowing) is taken away and replaced with such pain with each swallow. Well the good thing is that ur dad and my cousin-in-law are no longer suffering. RIP.

[VoodooChildsReturn]

I love Europe, I hope Ajay has found eternal peace in the afterlife.

[bappichulo]

Your kind comment is much appreciated :-) I hope he has found eternal peace too.

[aphasia1972]

out of this world was a good album very good clean sound mix surely totally different what every europe fan back then in 1988 expected a second final countdown album but it came totally different very bluesy melodic rock sometikes to cheesy but very good it is europe with or without john Norum surely better with him but always great songs from these guys love the music

[rshackification]

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