Life Lessons Learned from Iona Stewart (2018 – 2026)
Iona Stewart (2018 – 2026)
Professor Joe Goldblatt
Once upon a wet, cold, and windy day in the doggy paddock of the Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home a beautiful wee seven year old lassie named Iona rushed to give me a warm cuddle. We had not seen one another in some time and I was helping the Edinburgh Interfaith Association promote our upcoming annual Blessing of the Animals service at Greyfriars Kirk. Although Iona had been very unwell with leukaemia for some time, the smile on her face and the strength of her affection suddenly made me feel that all may be right with the world.
My task that day was to hand out hundreds of leaflets promoting the Blessing of the Animals service and I quickly enlisted Iona as my aide de camp. I handed her a stack of leaflets and told her to follow me and observe as I handed them to hundreds of total strangers who were attending the September Community Day with their dogs and cats. Within seconds Iona was handing her stack out and soon she had surpassed my own distribution rate of this unending stack of leaflets.
When we finished our job we sat down together under the marquee covering our stall and chatted with volunteers and guests. Despite the tube in her nose, no one would suspect that Iona was extremely ill. Her enthusiastic wide smile made friends everywhere she went and that day I was amazed at how many new speople were now interested in the work of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association that her daddy has brilliantly led as our longtime and highly respected executive Director.
A few months later my wife and I were invited to dust off our old clown costumes and perform at Iona’s seventh birthday party. Once again I marvelled at how she never once let on to her schoolmates and others that she was unwell. She wore her best dress, a stylish wig, widest smile, and greeted all who attended with love and affection.
During one of my hospital visits with Iona I noticed that she was growing both physically and intellectually. I brought a black velvet bag of colourful magic tricks to try and amuse and distract her from the fatal illness that was slowly ravaging her body.
As I performed a card trick she raised her eyebrow sceptically and said “I know how you did that one!” Then she explained in detail how I performed the trick. I was gobsmacked but undeterred.
I then quickly reached intp my bag and selected a colour changing handkerchief trick. I made a few passes over the green silk hanky and it transformed into red and finally yellow. Once again her eyebrow shot up to the ceiling and she said “I know how you did that one too!” I handed her the green hanky and to my amazement she rapidly made it change colours. Then she looked up and smiled at me triumphantly!
Iona was very unwell for over two years and during this time I was amazed at her ambition, graciousness, and fortitude as she struggled with chemotherapy and other very intrusive treatments. She never once complained to me. Instead, she continually raised her head high, looked at me with her big brown eyes, and challenged me to see in her, a wee girl with big hopes and dreams.
After all, despite the cold, rain, and wind within our daily lives that occasionally seek to limit our hopes and dreams, a wee girl has taught me that during our precious lives, no matter how long or short, there are opportunities awaiting for us to help others and as Iona did so well, to also figure out how to work a magic trick to amaze and amuse all who are around us and even those who follow us by the example set by this beautiful, brave, and bold lassie whom I shall always remember and treasure with infinite joy and heartfelt gratitude.
Sadly, on 7 April 2026 we learned that she would not be able to fulfil many of those hopes and dreams. However, I am convinced that although she never became a teacher like her father, she would have been a mighty force within this esteemed professional vocation. She was a natural leader and teacher who led and taught me to look beyond my current troubles and seize every day with ambition, kindness for others, and curiosity.
Whether it was enthusiastically handing out leaflets to total strangers, warmly greeting her closest friends at a party, or challenging my magical illusions, she lived her brief life to the fullest and my life is so much better and sweeter for having had this precious time together. The major lesson we might learn from this wee teacher is that no matter the obstacles or challenges we face in our life, nor the length of our days, our attitude towards one another and our ambition may provide new energy to help us achieve our future hopes and dreams.
After all, no matter the intensity of the cold, wind, and rain we encounter in our long or short lives, each step is an opportunity to demonstrate unbridled ambition, boundless kindness, and try to fulfil our hopes and dreams. I certainly witnessed this over and over again as I observed this beautiful young lass amaze and amuse me by figuring out my magical secrets.
She also, despite her youth, figured out time and time again the secrets to life and living. I only hope and pray that I was a good student of this gifted teacher and that I learned her lessons well. In fact, perhaps that is the ultimate magical secret to all of life itself.
One thing I have learned thorugh the complex journey of Iona’s illness is that we must work harder to learn from other lives, such as this wee brave girl named Iona. We also must fully live every day as best we may, and remember and cherish each day and the friends and experiences that fill them as they are not mere illusions, rather, they are all priceless treasures.
Professor Joe Goldblatt is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University and Co – chair Emeritus and Ambassador of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association.