Watch

Cancer Patient Embraces Suffering through Songwriting

Creator:
Published:
March 6, 2024
February 24, 2019
Why do we suffer? Watch as this brain cancer survivor explains how he found joy and solace in the suffering.

In 2018, Grotto shared this story about Josh Comeau, a firefighter and father who was battling stage-four glioblastoma cancer. Josh passed away in January of 2019. His fire chief said, "Josh was a strong firefighter physically, mentally, and spiritually. Josh's attitude and faith never faltered even in the toughest of times." Join us in praying for Josh and extending thoughts and prayers to his family. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Husband and father Josh Comeau was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a stage 4 brain cancer. "Sometimes when I am wrestling with any number of life's issues or the reality of cancer or what the future looks like," he shares, "God inspires me to write a song, and that is an excellent way of processing it."

Video Transcript

Josh Comeau: Hey, beautiful.

Daughter: Can I come out?

Son: Daddy's home.

Daughter: Mama, can I come outside?

Son: Hi, Daddy.

Wife: Hold on, let's give Daddy a hug.

Josh: Hey.

Daughter: Hi, Dad.

Josh: Hey.

Daughter: How was your day?

Josh: Great. It's great now. Hey. My house is in disarray. Large families typically have this problem; it's called ‘I can't pick up after myself’ disease.

Josh Comeau was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a stage 4 brain cancer.

Josh: And this is my little studio that I'm going to have to go get keys to unlock.

Grotto: That will protect it, huh?

Josh: Oh yeah.

Daughter: And this is my little house!

Son: We need to clean this room.

Josh: This is where I come up with musical solutions to everyday problems. Sometimes when I am wrestling with any number of life's issues or the reality of cancer or what the future looks like, I come down here and sometimes God inspires me to write a song, and that is an excellent way of processing it. I love to play on my looper and loop things all over. I could be making it up, I don't know, I'm the one with the faulty brain. But it just seems that there's new tones that collide with each other, just overlap, and sometimes I'll just get done with something and just sit in front of the amp and just let that sound wash over me. I don't know, it lifts my thoughts to higher places.

Josh shares his songs on YouTube. It’s not about the views. It’s solace and healing.

Josh: At some point, you have to pick up and move on. You have to find joy. You have to find joy in your life. You have to find joy in the fact that there's a purpose for this. You don't have to understand it.

I gotta believe that there is some purpose to suffering. Otherwise, looking at a cross, seeing a man crucified, died for me, makes no sense at all. But somehow, it's the strongest expression of love. The key is to pick up our crosses and walk this journey for Christians. That's what He's looking for.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
March 6, 2024
February 24, 2019
On a related note...
Meatless Friday Recipe: Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Meatless Friday Recipe: Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Grotto

How Resting on Sundays Can Transform Your Perspective

How Resting on Sundays Can Transform Your Perspective

Christian Santa Maria

"Examination"

"Examination"

Lesley Clinton

How Low God Will Go For Us

How Low God Will Go For Us

David Fagerberg

Start Your Day With These Yoga Postures

Start Your Day With These Yoga Postures

Hanna Van Elk

If You Grew Up with Divorce, You May Still Need Healing

If You Grew Up with Divorce, You May Still Need Healing

Dr. Daniel, Bethany Meola

This Story Will Change the Way You Remember 9/11

This Story Will Change the Way You Remember 9/11

Grotto Shares

“Camp Lazarus”

“Camp Lazarus”

Marjorie Maddox

TFW You Want to Be a Better Person

TFW You Want to Be a Better Person

Emily Bouch

Hillbilly Thomists at Appaloosa Music Festival

Hillbilly Thomists at Appaloosa Music Festival

Grotto

Share Your Thoughts Directly with Pope Francis | #TellItToFrancis

Share Your Thoughts Directly with Pope Francis | #TellItToFrancis

Grotto

This Mother Chronicles Her Pandemic Pregnancy Experience

This Mother Chronicles Her Pandemic Pregnancy Experience

Grotto

What I Learned from a Year in Service after College

What I Learned from a Year in Service after College

Caelin Miltko

Why God Asks Us to Love Even When It's Hard

Why God Asks Us to Love Even When It's Hard

Laura MacLean Reynolds

A Prayer for Easter Light

A Prayer for Easter Light

Grotto

Christmas Eve Reflection

Christmas Eve Reflection

Grotto

He Brews Beers and Community

He Brews Beers and Community

Grotto

6 Apps for Daily Spiritual Mindfulness

6 Apps for Daily Spiritual Mindfulness

Grotto

"Too Many Experts"

"Too Many Experts"

Robert Christian

How One Father Held onto Faith in Hard Times

How One Father Held onto Faith in Hard Times

Migs Mignanelli

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.