Tomorrow, 3/23, marks one year from the death of my oldest son, Jesse, from brain cancer. He died the day after returning from several weeks at St. Jude where we received excellent care and felt a lot of love. The purpose of my post is to encourage everyone to be saving for the upcoming auction, and to thank everyone on this site for all they do for St. Jude. We know first hand what a great cause it is.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/Talondale/Jesse/Leaves.jpg)
God-awful hard to follow that post.
Message received and (partially) understood. From what I have learned in my journey, losing a child is the hardest. Saint Jude's can help keep more people from learning firsthand what that entails.
Killdeer
Chuck I feel so sorry for you.I have a grandson and grandaughter very young.I cannot imagine losing them.No parent should outlive their children in your case much too young.I will shut up now said too much.Kip
God's peace to you and Jessee. May the rest of us never need that kind of courage. Brady
That right there,is as good of an excuse,to participate in the auction,as ive ever heard.
I will Most definetely be participateing.
Thanxx for the wake up.
God bless you Brother. May you see Jesse again in Heaven.
Major hug from your Tradgang family!!
There is not a word I can say that could ease the hurt you live with every day. All I can do is give you my promisse to do everything I can to help St. Jude's continue to do what they do and maybe we can help make a difference in the lives of others. Your post helps us all to remember that the St. Jude's project far more important than anything else we do here on Trad Gang.
There's got to be a special spot, in that special place where we all eventually end up, for those innocents who have been denied a long full life here.
Thanks for the reminder about St. Jude's Talondale.
I dont even know what to say. Dang man, god bless you and you family.
I just got my guts kicked out !
My wife and I both shed a few tears on this one. We have a grandson that could pass for your boy's twin. I have no earthly idea how I'd feel, during or after an ordeal like that.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, even a year later !
I thumbed through last years auction the other night and thought, some folks got some good deals, for a worthy cause and it looked like fun. I'm sure it is fun, but now it brings a whole new meaning, to me any way !
God be with you Brother!
Chuck, i can't imagine what it must be like. with 3 boys of my own i pray i never have to feel the pain that you must have still to this day. nothing i can say or anyone else for that matter will ever be able to ease that. just know we here to help in any way we are able and St. Jude's is as good a place to start as there is. best wishes always and god speed.
God Bless you Chuck,
Frank and I both did not know this and we both could'nt even imagine your pain.
We both will be contributing this year too but this post really hits home like the others have said.
I also had a cousin who was a St. Jude's patient with spina bifida who passed at the age of 14 from it's complications, this organization has done so much for those who are in need of it and well worth every contribution.
Praying God will comfort you and your family always.
Man, what a strong person you have to be. God bless you. Justin
I always wondered about your sig. Now I know. I have young children of my own, and like the others this has touched me to tears. I will definately be participating. Thank you.
Derek
God Bless and Amen.
Im so sorry,dont know what else to say.
I hope all of us here can do a little something for the auction this year.
Whew....that post belongs at the top of the St. Judes forum when it opens.
My heavy heart goes out to you Talondale...thanks for helping put our purpose for this benefit firmly in perspective.
I agree Joe!<><
I agree also with JC, that's where it belongs, at the top of every St. Judes Auction !!
Jerald Eyer
Sorry to hear this that is the first Ive heard of this.I hope God is with you and your family on this difficult anniversary and in the future as well.Hope you are all right.
Chuck, there's no way I can tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I can only imagine the depth of your grief, but I get a real sense of your strength. Your story is a reminder not to take any of these days for granted. I'm going to roust up my three little ones and hug them til we're all hugged out.
I look forward to meeting you one of these days.
Wow so sorry. I know that there's one more little angel in Heaven. Bless you and your family.
Chuck,
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I can't imagine being without one of my two girls or my son.
Thank you for the tough reminder of what St. Judes is all about.
Wow .... that's a tough one.
From one Dad to another you have my support.
So sorry about Jesse. What more can a person say ? :(
God Bless ya Talondale..... We lost two of our Hunt of a Lifetime kids last year...They weren't my flesh and blood but damn if I don't have an empty space in my heart from the loss..... ... I hope and pray St Judes one day eliminates the need for our organization and prevents the heartache your loss brought you....... Terry
Woody, you should have had the birthday party at the WMA...you would have met Chuck at the TG Squirrel Hunt. :D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/TG%20Uploads/VA%20Squirrel%20Hunt%2007/Img_4314B.jpg)
Killdeer :wavey:
Chuck'
I saw this when you first posted it and was afraid to be the first one to post as i feared that i would say the wrong things. I looked at the photo of your son Jesse and thought what a beautiful child how could it be anything could happen to him and how could any one be as brave as you to continue on. I just love that photo of you and your son there is nothing like having your kids that close to you when they are young. I'm glad you made this post to remind everyone how important a place like st. Jude's is, a lot of families hopes and dreams rest on the treatment those kids get. My heart goes out to you and your family and so do my prayers.
There are no words powerful enough to convey how sorry I am for your loss. It makes me weak throughout my body to even think of this.
I personally believe we are not here by accident, and all things happen for a reason. Someday, all
will be revealed, and it will all make sense.
My heart goes out to you and yours.
Talondale,
Your post floored me. As a father of 2 and a grandfather of 2, soon to be 3, I cannot imagine. I am so sorry for your loss.
God bless you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Ed & Georgia
Chuck, my heart goes out to you, and on this day especially, the anniversaries are very, very hard, we're coming up on the 2 year one ourselves on April 25th, and it hit me about 3 days ago, I sure wish I had some magic words to take the pain away, but after talking with hundreds of parents who also lost thier children over the last 2 years and hearing their experiences , well... there just aren't any, but I can offer you my friendship, and my phone #,1-765-728-5523, it really does help to talk, and I would be more than willing to listen, anytime, 2,3,4 in the morning, those are the roughest times and I'm only a phone call away, please don't hesitate to call. also I've been working on a very special project I would like to speak with you about, and it is important, so please call me.
Also where Jesse is, there is no pain, he's a perfectly happy healthy little boy, his suffering is over, be glad in that, and today when I "speak" with my Dusty, I'll ask him to look him up, everyone needs a friend even in heaven...........................Steve
Chuck, I am VERY,VERY sorry My Friend.
I have 2 boys Kevin 17, and Tyler 8, They are my life.If something happened to one of them the grief would be unbearable. Personaly,I don't think I could handle it,I don't know how you do.
You are a much stronger man than I could ever be,God Bless You My Friend.....
Thanks everyone for your kind responses. I was offline for the weekend because my server wouldn't point to the new location and my wife and I were on a weekend getaway celebrating our belated anniversary. As I told one of the members here: my wife and I have been amazed at the level of peace we've had due to our faith in God, and the knowledge that we will see our son again as a whole healthy man from whom we will never be seperated again. This year has been hard and sad at times but not as hard as we imagined and we are certain this is due to the many people who pray for us. I have never been the type who has taken life for granted, I've tried to see the wonder of everything and enjoy my family to the fullest but I have been altered, hopefully for the better, by this experience.
My main purpose for posting, besides remembering my son, was to let you Tradgangers know that I have first hand experience with St. Judes and we have nothing but positive thoughts for such a great organization. Not only is it's goal laudable, but the practicle application of how every individual goes about their daily job there just shows how much they love children and believe in the mission of treating and finding a cure for the children. Awesome place and incredible people worthy of our efforts and monies. I salute all who work to support St Judes with their donations and time. A heart-felt thank you for making our time there possible.
Looking forward to a cure,
Chuck
(PS - Make-a-Wish and Give Kids the World were also two great organizations that blessed us with great memories, a different type of healing but well worth recognition as well.)
At this difficult time, for you and your family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Your post will be fresh in my mind when the auction begins...God's Peace, Frank
I feel unworthy to even post on this thread. People like you are heroes among us mere mortals.
I trust you have the faith to know that you and Jesse will be reunited one day.
I sure do!