Loss of a great young man who taught us all so much

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It is with great sadness that I received the news earlier today from my friend Chuck Frantz, that Zach Kraus has passed away.

Zach was the 16-year-old Parkland High student who has spent the last 11 years battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a variety of health issues related to the leukemia

This young man spent his life going in and out of hospital rooms and facing major surgery after major surgery, and yet, despite never having a chance at a normal life, he never ever complained and continually possessed an amazing upbeat, positive attitude that made everyone who knew him, love him.

He underwent a bone marrow transplant back in 2003 with the marrow donated by his sister, Tori.

It was one major crisis after another for Zach, but through it all, he kept his spirits high and kept battling all the while hoping -- against odds -- for the day he would be totally healthy again.

I knew Zach and his ordeal through my relationship with the Lehigh Valley Yankee Fan Club, an organization that held numerous events and raised thousands of dollars to assist the family with Zach's immense medical bills.

Beyond that, Chuck Frantz made sure Zach became a Yankee fan and arranged opportunities for him to meet the Yankees players with special trips to the ballpark (see below as Zach gets an autograph from Jorge Posado with Chuck standing to Zach's right).

ZachKrauseThrough local author Billy Staples, another friend of the Yankee Fan Club, Zach was also able to forge a relationship with former Eagles lineman Jon Runyan. Staples wrote a chapter about Zach in his most recent book "BillyBall 2009: The Road to the Phillies-Yankees World Series."

Staples' chapter on Zach was entitled "Jon Runyan and Zach Kraus:Two Heroes, One Goal."

Staples wrote of Kraus: "What gets him through spinal taps and chemotheraphy are thoughts of getting his full strength back, hanging out with his friends, going to the movies, going to school, and maybe even playing competitive baseball one day. He sees in Runyan the power and strength to push himself through, to make it to every game no matter what."

Staples added that Runyan became an even bigger fan of Kraus. Just that chapter alone is worth reading that book.

There was another tribute to Zach written on the Sports Talk blog here at mcall.com by my colleague and mentor Paul Reinhard last August.

It talked about the inspiration that Parkettes' champion gymnast Joey Peters drew from Zach's brave, valiant fight.

Here's a link to that beautiful piece http://blogs.mcall.com/sports/2010/08/zach-kraus-gives-new-meaning-to-joey-peters-life.html.

Zach touched a lot of lives because he taught everybody who knew him what was really important in life. Even as he struggled with this disease, he fought to raise money for others who were facing similar struggles. Zach's sense of unselfishness was as large as his passion for life.

He reminded us all of what life's all about.

I will write a column in the paper about Zach, but for now let's just use the words of Chuck Frantz, who loved Zach as if he were a member of his own family.

Zach2

"His spirit inspired us all," Chuck said. "How could you be mad, how could you be disappointed when you saw Zach go through what he did and he always kept smiling. We're going to miss him, but he'll never be forgotten."

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/