In mid-November, 2009, my best friend and greatest supporter, my husband, a devoted father, a trusted friend, a willing helper, was diagnosed with stage 2 Lymphoma. We experienced many uncertainties. We learned a lot about cancer, each other, our family, close friends and our community … quickly.
As Brian and I realized he was very sick, together we decided that there was no way we could expect to “pull off” the annual Thanksgiving dinner.
This is our absolute favorite holiday. Our amazing and loving FFF Board stepped in without missing a beat.
This was the initial act that showed us how dedicated our board is to the ministry and the allegiance the community feels towards FFF and our precious patrons.
This single act gave us such peace early in the diagnosis – at this point in our journey, we were so thankful of the love the community showed our “FFF family.”
Thank you for this love and dedication. Together we had to learn to let you, our community, help us out.
We have been so blessed by the cards, calls, e-mails, letters and prayers.
This support has caused us to laugh and cry together and sit up so many nights waiting for results, watching my husband sleep or praying the pain would leave his body. Thank you.
Members of the Western Meadows Church had an idea, this idea included the community and pulled together an amazingly touching “reunion,” as so many of you have described it and offered financial support, cards and an outpouring of love. Wow! That was such an unexpected blessing in a time with such immense uncertainty.
That evening and well into the following day, friends would call or text us as we were sitting together watching his chemo being administered, with news that left us speechless.
The number of people who would come out for us! The preciously kind words, notes and prayer, the understanding and compassion.We continue to be remembered by meals provided, continued hugs and prayers and an unending line of volunteers at Families Feeding Families and the Hope Chest.
Our community and school district and churches, medical staff and pharmacies, individuals and families who have given so much truly define a caring population willing to step up, whatever the need may be. Thank you.
Thank you for the simple willingness to love us and love our children unconditionally.
We have families who picked up the kids with very little notice, laughed and cried and ate ice cream with our precious children when we were simply not able to parent our children. You were so willing to accept our children into your family and remind them that they are loved and not alone.
Thank you to the teachers and coaches that did not let our kids quit. Thank you for the pictures and texts and videos that “included us” as we were unavailable. Thank you for the Christmas tree and holiday provided to our family when we were simply not able to provide due to so many different barriers.
Brian has been declared in remission. I think we initially thought remission meant “everything is great” and go back to normal. We couldn’t be further from the truth.
Everyday is a new day and brings new challenges for the day. Each challenge not only affects Brian but our entire family. Please understand that “normal” will never really be like “before cancer.”
We are fine with this, but it is something we had to learn and accept.
Thank you, wonderful community for your continued love and prayers and hugs and financial gifts and understanding you so freely have given. There are truly few words to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who prayed for and continue to pray for our family.
Thank you to each of you who have been with us every step of the way, and to those who met us along this long and difficult journey. Just being there to listen and talk with us has been and is so appreciated. This is an awesome community that we are so proud to say we are a part of.
Thank you is all we can say but the appreciation it is so much more than we can describe with words. Please continue to remember our family in your prayers…
Thank you.
Brian, Ticia, Erin, Keigan, Kiersten, Emma, Bryson and Anberlin Burkhalter
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