When you are 63 years old it’s very likely a family member or friend has had to deal with the ravages of cancer. It’s less likely the family member or friend was an accomplished, full of life 33 year old niece. This was the case when our niece Meg was diagnosed with a very rare cancer in 2014.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a dual Masters Degree in Psychology and Counseling, Meg’s career as a Board Certified Activity Therapist was just getting started. Everything from a career perspective would have to wait as Meg battled her cancer. With the support of her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, Meg would make weekly trips to Yale New Haven Hospital and eventually Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City for treatment. With each treatment, we were both encouraged and concerned as her cancer would find another place to hide.
Despite the efforts of some of the best and brightest care givers, Meg was moved to hospice in July 2016. With each visit, Meg would ask me various questions about our horses. After awhile she would apologize for asking so many questions. I would continually reassure her I enjoyed her curiosity. On one of my last visits with Meg she asked if I would buy her a gray filly. While my response was “I promise”, I knew the gray filly would have to be something special.
In April I received a call from a good friend asking if I would join him in purchasing a horse. My response was “send me any information you have” and I’ll take a look at it. As soon as I reviewed the information I knew this was the horse Meg would want me to buy. She’s a gray 2 year old filly with a wonderful pedigree. We have decided to name her, “Scattered Mist” which I think Meg would have enthusiastically approved! The name is a play on the filly’s sire (father) Scat Daddy and reminded me of the drive down the Taconic Parkway to visit Meg. The Taconic Parkway runs North and South through New York State among rolling hills, often fog covered in the morning.
Scattered Mist will be trained by Christophe Clement and should begin her racing career this Summer at Saratoga Race Course. She will have many followers, one that is particularly special.
