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...
“Where Would I Be If I Never Left?”

“Where Would I Be If I Never Left?”

Mike Jordan Laskey, Widian Nicola

What Made This the Greatest Wedding of My Life

What Made This the Greatest Wedding of My Life

Isaac Huss

The Playlist that Turned My Life Around

The Playlist that Turned My Life Around

Brandy Norton

#WhyWeLent | Lent 2019

#WhyWeLent | Lent 2019

Grotto

I Went on a Catholic Pilgrimage for the Bourbon

I Went on a Catholic Pilgrimage for the Bourbon

Mariah Cressy

The Podcast that Explores Mental Health and Faith

The Podcast that Explores Mental Health and Faith

Grace Carroll

How and Why Slow Living Makes You Happier

How and Why Slow Living Makes You Happier

Sophie Caldecott

Grotto’s Travel Guide to Santa Fe

Grotto’s Travel Guide to Santa Fe

Janelle Peregoy

Racial Justice Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Racial Justice Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

Why You Should Keep a Gratitude Journal All Year Round

Why You Should Keep a Gratitude Journal All Year Round

Emily Mae Mentock

Good and Decent: A Podcast by Grotto

Good and Decent: A Podcast by Grotto

Grotto

The El Paso Pilgrimage

The El Paso Pilgrimage

Grotto

"Chaff"

"Chaff"

Sarah Stovicek

Embracing Faith in the Midst of Doubt

Embracing Faith in the Midst of Doubt

David Liambee Gbe

Like most of us, David went through ups and downs in his faith life. For a time, he struggled with seeing God and religious figures as anything other than oppressive. While wrestling with these doubts, he encountered an example of profound faith — here’s how that experience changed his perspective.

How My Prayer Life Was Taken to the Next Level

How My Prayer Life Was Taken to the Next Level

Hannah Smith

7 Tips for Moving to a New City

7 Tips for Moving to a New City

Mike Jordan Laskey

How Remembering Your Baptism Can Get You Back on Track

How Remembering Your Baptism Can Get You Back on Track

Caitlan Rangel

How a Little Bit of Faith Can Move Mountains of Worry

How a Little Bit of Faith Can Move Mountains of Worry

Jessie McCartney

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

"Souvenir"

"Souvenir"

Judith Sornberger

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

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