Richard Kozar felt Chad Scanlon's story needed to be told.

So the freelance writer from Latrobe has done just that with a book about the Stahlstown boy.

"The Book of Chad" describes Scanlon's battle with the brain tumor that took his life in May 2007 at age 12. It tells the story from the original diagnosis through his bravery and courage in dealing with the tumor to the outpouring of faith and support displayed by so many.

"We wanted to help other parents out that were going through a situation like ours," said Jim Scanlon, Chad's father. "That was the original intent of the book. The book is basically the story of how the whole family and friends and everybody else dealt with the whole thing from beginning of the diagnosis to the end."

Kozar, a family friend, wanted to share that story, including the day Chad was initially rushed to the hospital, subsequent hospital stays and treatments, an impromptu prayer service that attracted about 300 people to the Scanlon home and some of the final moments before Chad's death. Mainly, he wanted to share the story of how a family dealt with pending tragedy through faith, love and laughter.

"Watching them as a bystander, but still knowing them very well, it was just inspiring as a family to see them go through this -- Chad as a boy and his courage and the response of the community, and I mean the broadest community from locally to statewide to globally. It was very moving," Kozar said. "I just don't imagine you see this kind of scenario -- I know lots of children, lots of people get terminal illnesses and deal with them in different ways -- I thought theirs was somewhat unique. I think it was worthy of a book."

"The Book of Chad" is available for purchase online and can be ordered through bookstores. The list price for the book is $14.99.

For Marie-Paule Scanlon, Chad's mother, reading the book generated several emotions. "It was like spending time with Chad again, being right there with him again," she said. "It was a good feeling, but sometimes you just cried, because you could feel the pain."

"Every time I read it, I had wet eyes," added her husband. "I'm hoping (readers) understand the strength this kid actually had and the faith in God he actually had. As his father, it was completely remarkable the way he handled everything. He cried (just) two times through that whole ordeal."

A chapter titled "Memories" shares anecdotes from many who knew Chad. An epilogue was eventually added and described what many came to regard as a miracle: Unexpectedly, Chad awoke from a coma after surgery and lived another 10 months.

Proceeds from the book will benefit the Chad Scanlon Memorial Fund, developed to commemorate Chad and to help others deal with similar heartbreak.

In recent months, money has been donated to the Children's Hospital Fund to help families with travel expenses. Other donations were made to Make-A-Wish; the Holy Trinity jump-rope team, of which Chad was a part; and a hunting trip for Tanner Adams, 13, of Port Matilda in Centre County.

Tanner, who has Hodgkin's lymphoma, will go to Iowa this month for an archery-hunting trip for white-tailed deer.

While proceeds will help the foundation, there is a another simple goal for the book.

"You hope somebody, somewhere, picks this up, and their pain will be eased," Kozar said.

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