StephenRKass

September 16th, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^

Thanks much for posting. That is a sobering and intense article really addressing what is important (and what isn't). Wish Bunting well, although I think he is going to be just fine regardless of my wishes.

Joined: 07/15/2008

MGoPoints: 22989

Seth

September 16th, 2015 at 9:26 PM ^

This happened during spring practice. His whole family came to practice so Ian wouldn't have to be separate from them. However the family didn't want to make it public yet. This led to some practice observers who didn't know what happened saying things about Ian looking distracted or not all in or confused--not their fault since he was distracted and Michigan wasn't about to go make a media thing out of it against the Buntings' wishes. One noted his family was at practice and I found the death notice in Chicago. I told Brian and the guys here of course, and Sam and Ira, and Lorenz, but it was hard not screaming at anyone posting negative practice reports about Bunting all Spring.

Joined: 10/14/2008

MGoPoints: 149089

pfholland

September 16th, 2015 at 9:26 PM ^

Wow, I lost my father to brain cancer at (almost) 19 after my Freshman year at Michigan. I guess that means I have a reasonably good idea of what he went through, and knowing that it's incredible that he appears to be handling everything as well as he is (which is far better than I did).

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 4093

Boner Stabone

September 16th, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^

I lost my dad to cancer when I was 11.  He never got to see me play in high school.  Now as a 40 year old father I cherish every moment I get with my kids.  Will be rooting hard for Ian during his UM career.

Joined: 01/06/2015

MGoPoints: 23998

RobM_24

September 16th, 2015 at 9:31 PM ^

Lost my Mom at 16, and my Dad at 20. It really makes you step up to the plate. It made me a much more focused person. Hopefully the struggle makes him stronger.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 62534

LSAClassOf2000

September 16th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^

Like some others, I actually was not aware that Ian Bunting had gone through this - belated condolences to him and his family. Definitely rooting for Bunting - in the time he's been out there, I think he's got a bright future, and even off the field, he seems like he is in the "sky is the limit" group of students from what I have seen. 

I am only now beginning to experience my own father having serious health issues on occasion, so while I don't know what it is like to lose a parent in this way at such a young age, at 37 I am finally beginning to value - more than I did - the time I have to spend with my dad. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130561

UNCWolverine

September 16th, 2015 at 10:04 PM ^

Wow, lots of cancer stories on the board. I have quite a bit of cancer in my family as well. I have since mentored a boy that lost his father at the age of 6. I matcehd with him when he was 7 and he's now 15 and we are still going strong.

Joined: 10/06/2008

MGoPoints: 23133

GoBlueTom

September 16th, 2015 at 10:41 PM ^

I lost my dad at nine years old so I have some meories of him. Then almost lost my mom at 18 when she was involved in a hit and run. Luckily, she was a fighter and had great doctors! I'm rooting for Ian

Joined: 09/02/2013

MGoPoints: 488

StephenRKass

September 16th, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^

My wife lost her mom to throat cancer when she was 8. Not a smoker, but it didn't matter. While she has certainly "gotten over it" in different ways, I can see how deeply it affected her. She is much more sober and serious than she'd be otherwise. She also has a core of steel that was forged over a long time. And she isn't particularly sentimental or sappy or sweet. It touched a chord for me to read the description of Ian Bunting in the article. He has a depth of emotional pain and experience beyond which most ever go through.

Joined: 07/15/2008

MGoPoints: 22989

Go Blue Rosie

September 16th, 2015 at 11:10 PM ^

My husband lost his father four years ago to leukemia. I never realized until I heard him give the eulogy what an amazing bond there was between father and son. He's not an overly sentimental person but not so long ago he told me there isn't a day that goes by he doesn't think about him, miss his amazing advice and desperately wish they could play another 18. I can't imagine what that would be like at age 19...with so much more life to live.

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 2761

what would Bo do

September 17th, 2015 at 9:05 AM ^

A lot of people on here have cancer stories.  My sister is fighting cancer right now and her daughter is her biggest motivation to keep fighting.  I can't imagine losing my father at that age.  My belated condolesces go out to the entire Bunting family for their loss.

On a semi-related note, I finished Stuart Scott's biography a few weeks ago.  I laughed, I cried, and I thought and evaluated my life.  Jimmy V would be proud.  I highly recommend it.

Joined: 12/27/2011

MGoPoints: 1152

VauntedD

September 17th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^

Ian has been playing like a man possessed now I see why.  He has a fine career ahead of him.  His hard work and this new staff will make sure of it.  Sorry to hear of his loss, he is a fine young man and things will be ok.

Joined: 02/11/2015

MGoPoints: 1729