Rene Wermuth: “I have never met a person who is so empathetic.”

Rene has been writing to Quin since 2017; he has saved all 50-60 very long letters. Rene reached out to Quin when he was diagnosed with cancer as he sought others who, in Rene’s words, were “awaiting death.” Rene has been struck by how open Quin was at first to writing to a gay man.

In 2017, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. At this time, I thought I would die very soon and there was nothing I could do against this awful illness. As I thought about my fate, I wondered if anyone out there understood how I felt.

I found my soon-to-be-friend Quintin Jones. I started to write to him — surely it was a bit selfish to write to him because I didn’t want to be alone awaiting for my death. I wanted to talk to someone who was in a similar situation.

In Quintin, I found a very sensitive and reflective man. I was surprised at the beginning how openly he answered all my questions about the crime he committed. In his letters, I found a person who knows what he did, does not make excuses and takes full responsibility. He is mature and sensitive when he writes to me and takes our friendship very seriously. Interested in the world, empathetic and very positive — offering so much positive energy, kindness and care. through his letters.

I have never met a person who is so empathetic.

I am a teacher, living in Germany, and I see in Quintin this little schoolboy who was not getting a chance from society.

On the other hand, Quintin became my teacher also. He teaches me how to stay happy even in my darkest hours during my struggle with cancer. He shows me what it meant to be humble.