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...
This Company Gives People a Second Chance at Life

This Company Gives People a Second Chance at Life

Grotto

How Jon Batiste’s Music Can Help Us ‘Hold On To the Light’

How Jon Batiste’s Music Can Help Us ‘Hold On To the Light’

Alessandra Harris

Why Bother Reading the Bible?

Why Bother Reading the Bible?

Coty Miller

"Rose-Breasted Grosbeak"

"Rose-Breasted Grosbeak"

Judith Sornberger

This Story Will Make You Think About Life Differently

This Story Will Make You Think About Life Differently

Grotto

Inside the Life of a Monk

Inside the Life of a Monk

Grotto

How an Encounter Taught Me to Be Welcoming at Mass

How an Encounter Taught Me to Be Welcoming at Mass

Katie Prejean McGrady

Finding Healing and Joy through Art

Finding Healing and Joy through Art

Grotto

Coffee and Community at a Volunteer-Run Café

Coffee and Community at a Volunteer-Run Café

Grotto

Slowing Down to Find Refuge in the Woods

Slowing Down to Find Refuge in the Woods

Lucy Cobble

‘I Knew I Was the Only Poor Person’

‘I Knew I Was the Only Poor Person’

Grotto Shares

Artist Uses Work to Spark Healing Conversations

Artist Uses Work to Spark Healing Conversations

Grotto

How Beauty Gave Me Strength in Suffering

How Beauty Gave Me Strength in Suffering

Bridget McCartney Nohara

Why We are Trying to Remember a Painful Past

Why We are Trying to Remember a Painful Past

Stephen G. Adubato

A Tiny Lesson on Living Simply

A Tiny Lesson on Living Simply

Jessica Mannen Kimmet

Grotto’s Travel Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Grotto’s Travel Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Andrew Mentock

How I Dealt with Imposter Syndrome in My Faith Life

How I Dealt with Imposter Syndrome in My Faith Life

Victoria Rabuse

How to Navigate Using Artificial Intelligence Ethically

How to Navigate Using Artificial Intelligence Ethically

LuElla D'Amico

Jesus’ Favorite Podcast EP 3: Getting a Haircut with Kenny Williams

Jesus’ Favorite Podcast EP 3: Getting a Haircut with Kenny Williams

Grotto, Ebony Moxey, Javi Zubizarreta

Filmmaker with Cerebral Palsy Explores the World

Filmmaker with Cerebral Palsy Explores the World

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

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