Teresa Walls letter to the Family of Dr. David Busch:

I am writing to express my deepest sympathy. It is still hard to accept the fact that Dr. Busch lost his personal battle with a terrible disease. He did so much to help families with Cockayne Syndrome and other related syndromes that it seems so unfair for his life to be cut so short.

My daughter, Candice, had Cockayne Syndrome and passed away almost 6 years ago. I think of all that Dr. Busch did to make a difference in my family’s life as well as in the lives of the many families I was in contact with all the years I was coordinator of the Share and Care Cockayne Syndrome Network, Inc.

Dr. Busch was a brilliant man in the laboratory and a delightful person to get to know. He was totally devoted to his work and the families involved. All during the time he was sick, he was very concerned about his lab and the families waiting for their test results. Pat Mannix, with the XP Society, put it very well when he spoke of Dr. Busch as "the man who so matter-of-factly kept us informed about his health." We were all so sure he was going to beat this disease.

I think of the times I spoke with Dr. Busch on the phone after he was diagnosed and he was so optimistic and cheerful. He always had a joke to tell and would laugh when he referred to me as "Mother Teresa." He was certainly full of surprises. I remember when he amazed some the siblings at one of the Share and Care retreats in New York by speaking fluent Klingon proving what a true Star Trek fan he was.

There are just so many things that come to mind when I think of how Dr. Busch touched my life over the years. There’s the time that he, Jay Keating and Roberta Bliss came to our home to do some filming for the CS & XP educational CD ROM. I was just in awe of the fact that the doctor who ran the only lab in the United States was in my home. He was just a down-to-earth guy and we enjoyed spending time with him. He took time to explain how he performed the diagnostic tests, but I just couldn’t get over being so privileged to have this one-on-one lesson from a man of his caliber. It was certainly a great honor to have him as our guest.

He honored us again with another visit when he came to Candice’s funeral. I cannot begin to tell you how much that meant for him to be there for us. That really makes me regret not being able to attend Dr. Busch’s memorial service. I’m suffering from a respiratory infection and will not be making the trip.

This world will never be the same without Dr. Busch, but I like what a contributor to the XP Connection said. (The XP Connection is an online mailing list providing another form of communication for families and professionals. Dr. Busch was one of the first members.) This family put it very well when they said, "Just imagine the party at the ‘pearly gates’ on his arrival, as he sure was one of God’s gifts to us here on Earth and will just as surely be welcomed home in style."

I can just imagine Dr. Busch running and playing on those streets of gold with my little Candice and the other children who lost their battles to the terrible syndromes Dr. Busch worked so hard to conquer. The image comes to mind of the change that took place in this brilliant doctor when a "super-soaking" water gun was put into his hands at our first retreat in Virginia. He and a rather mischievous young lady with CS named Stacie had an all-out war with those water guns. They chased each other around ducking behind trees and buildings to see who could get the advantage over the other one.

To say that Dr. Busch will be greatly missed is certainly an understatement. He touched everyone he came in contact with in such a special way. I know that there is not a lot anyone can say or do at a time like this, but I hope it is a comfort to know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of people all over the world. Dr. Busch lives on in the hearts of those who knew him and his legacy continues because of the contributions he made in his extraordinary work.

With Deepest Sympathy,

Teresa Wall