July 6 09
I hope everyone had a safe & happy Independence Day.
Chris, Ali & I went away for a few days, but before doing so, I had the opportunity to meet a new family at AI duPont Hospital. A young man named Noah (I believe he is 9) was playing baseball (All-Star pitcher, no less…sounds familiar to me!) when he fainted. The family took him to AI and, the next day, they learned that he has been diagnosed with AML (leukemia…same kind that Andrew had). Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to spend much time with Noah or his family as they were prepping him for an MRI, but he seems like a really brave young man. Noah, you’ve got a tough road ahead of you, but you CAN beat this. Please join me in praying for Noah and his family and I will share his CB URL when it’s up.
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Please also join me in praying for a brave little “B+ Hero” named Alexa Brown. Alexa is a courageous 11 year old girl from Ohio who has come home from the hospital to spend her final hours on earth at home. Short of a miracle (you never know), Alexa will be joining Andrew shortly. Please pray for Alexa and her family and stop by her site to support the family. Thank you.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexabrown
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For those of you in the Delaware area, I would like to make you aware of a young man who is desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant. Colin Hines is a senior at the University of Delaware and he, too, is battling AML. There will be a bone marrow registration drive and I strongly encourage you to consider stopping by to join the registry.
Bone Marrow Registration Drive for Colin
Dickinson High School - 1801 Milltown Road, Wilmington, DE
Sunday, July 12th
11am-4pm
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The next week is going to be a real challenge. On Thursday, Chris and I will be celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary and I’ll never forget the thoughtfulness of Ali when we were in the hospital. As some of you may remember, Ali served us a candlelight (battery-powered …didn’t want to break the rules!) meal in Andrew’s PICU room. It was very special. Five days later, on July 14th, our HERO Andrew earned his place in Heaven.
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I’m attaching a picture on the Caringbridge site of Andrew when he was just under 4 yrs old. We were at a place called Crystal Lake in Northeastern PA (near Forest City and Elk Mtn). Andrew loved it at the lake. Boy, do I miss those times!
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Finally, if there are any children that are battling cancer that would like to go to a really cool, one week, FREE sleepaway camp in Clayton, DE, please let me know. Kaylyn Warren was a special young lady who went to Heaven shortly before Andrew. It was her dying wish to start the first oncology camp for kids in Delaware. Her wish is becoming a reality next month. I am so proud that Ali is going to be one of the camp counsellors. The Warren family has everything covered…24 hr/day nursing, oversight by doctors, etc. They are really incredible people. Think about it.
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Live Like Andrew - look at the glass as half-full!
B+
Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad
www.BePositive.org