New Prayer Request

This past Sunday at church we were introduced to a family (the Gilfillan's) that is beginning a season much like ours from year and a half ago.  A little over two weeks ago, Rob & Bre Ann (mom & dad) discovered that their 10 month old daughter, Reese, was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma - a brain tumor similar to Cash's (PNET), with the exception being the location.  Medulloblastomas are located just outside of the brain stem in the cerebellum.  Upon discovery, they immediately operated and believe they were able to take all of it out (praise God!).  She has to undergo 6 rounds of chemo to ensure that the cells are completely wiped out.

They moved to Seattle yesterday and will be living at the Ronald McDonald House until treatment is complete.  Reese had her Hickman line put in yesterday and she had her first dosage of chemo today.  Reese has the same doctors as Cash and for Wendi and I and hearing their story obviously brought back a lot of memories.  Memories that were difficult, yet both of us felt incredibly blessed to have been able to spend time with Rob, Bre, Reese, and Jase (4 yr old) at church.

We can speak from experience when we say that they will need your prayers every day - if you live in Seattle and have the ability to bring dinners to the Ronald McDonald House or help in any way please send us an email (jwparriera@gmail.com) and I or Wendi will help coordinate. 

Since hearing their story we haven't stopped praying and I would ask that as much as you prayed and supported Cash, please pray for Reese and the family.  Our heart aches for them and our prayer is that God work a tremendous miracle in Reese's life.  Thank you for your prayers!!!

You can follow Reese's story on their blog - http://prayingforreese.tumblr.com/

Relay Pics

The Relay for Life this past Friday/Saturday was amazing.  The most difficult moments for Wendi and I were during the Survivor's lap and lighting the Luminaria bags.  The survivor's lap wasn't sad per se, but it reminded us how many people have fought and are fighting cancer.  Of course we missed Cash terribly but it was very touching to see so many luminaria bags for him.  Here's a few pictures of the event (Thanks for taking them Jodi!!!).  Thank you to everyone who was there participating!  I hope to see you all there at the next event, the Seattle Children's Run of Hope, I'll post more about that event soon!

Relay Update

The Lynden Relay for Life is this Friday!  We were asked this week if our band (which includes my dad, brother, cousins, and Karl) would play Friday night at the relay and we were honored to accept.  So please plan on coming out, even if you have not registered yet!  You can register as an individual walker by clicking here.

Walk with us to honor and celebrate the lives of everyone who has had (or has) cancer.  Last year we were just returning from Houston after Cash completed proton therapy and missed this event so we're very excited to be a part of it this year.  Here's a list of the activities (taken from their website):


Friday, June 17 - Saturday, June 18

5pm-9pm         Dinner available at various venders
5pm-midnight   Silent Auction Tent is open
6pm                 Opening Ceremonies
6:45pm             Band
TBA                 Face Painting
7:00pm           Kids Free Throw contest
7:30-9:30pm       BINGO
8:00pm                 Mr. Relay For Life contest
10:00pm               Luminaria Ceremony
1:00am                 Volleyball Tournament (teams of 4-6)
2:00am                 Pajama Dance Off
3:00am                 Board Games!!!
4:00am                 Music Trivia Game
6:00-8:00am       Silent Auction Tent is open
6:00-11:00am     Firefighters Breakfast (by donation)
8:00am                 Adult Free Throw Contest
9:00am                 Cupcake Walk
10:00am               Musical Chairs
11:30am               Closing Ceremonies


Thank you in advance if you are able to join us to raise money to continue the fight against cancer and celebrate and honor Cash and all those who are fighting or have fought.  You can email me at jlcpgord@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Thank you!!!

The Relay is Coming

The 2011 Relay for Life in Lynden, WA, is around the corner!  The Relay is June 17 and 18 and they've raised over $80,000 to date!  We are walking this year on my company's team (Cargill) and are walking in honor of Cash, those who are currently battling cancer, and those who are with Cash in heaven.  If you would like to sign up to walk and/or donate, you can visit my page by clicking here: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/acashofhope.

Also, mark your calendars for the 2011 Seattle Run of Hope.  This fundraiser is to raise money for pediatric brain research and all of the money raised go to Seattle Children's Hospital to help them research and find cures for pediatric brain tumors. This year the event will be on Sunday, September 25, at Seward Park (same place as last year).  Mike N set up the team again this year (Thanks Mike) - To JOIN please click here: http://www.firstgiving.com/process/teamarea/default.asp?did=0&teamid=143177.  If you would like to DONATE you can click here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/acashofhope. Last year we raised over $5000 and had over 130 participants on our team.  It was an amazing event and this year we are walking in memory of Cash.

Please join us to continue fighting - while not a minute goes by that Wendi and I don't think about Cash, we know that Cash was given to us for a short time to change our lives and we will never forget that and continue to fight for a cure.  Thank you in advance for your help!!!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

My cousin, Jodi (a Snapsister), recently entered a picture on Pioneer Woman of Jack, Cash, & Kingston.  Due to the fact that I have such a difficult time looking at pictures of Cash, I had not posted the picture on the blog.  I still struggle to look at it without getting very teary-eyed, however, the comments generated on Pioneer Woman on the picture were extraordinary and brought Wendi and I great joy and sadness.  The picture is beautiful and says more than I could ever write...Thank you Jodi for taking it and we will cherish it forever...

Upcoming Events to Fight Cancer

Good morning everyone!  It's been a long time since the last post and I wanted to provide an update on events that are coming up this summer that we're participating in to continue the fight against cancer.  First, an update:

It's still hard to believe it's been almost 3 months since our precious Cash began his eternal journey in heaven.  Time keeps moving on and we continue to miss him tremendously and not a day goes by where we don't thank God for continuing to carry us through the next season.  Jack Jr. prays for Cash each night and thanks God that he's in heaven playing, but last week he said something that really struck Wendi and I.  We were coming back from church when he said, "Mom, it's been a long time since I've seen Cash and miss him."  It's almost like he knows where Cash is but doesn't realize that it's permanent - when he asks when he will see Cash again we always say, "When it's your turn to go to heaven."

We are continuing the fight against cancer by participating in two upcoming events.  Our hope is that you will continue to join us in the fight. The first event is the 2011 Relay for Life in Lynden.  Last year's relay was ocurring just as we were returning from Cash's proton treatment in Houston.  Here are pics from last year:

You can support the 2011 Relay for Life by donating or signing up by clicking here - http://main.acsevents.org/goto/.   The luminaria bags we are making this year are for Cash, Alyce Yonkman, and Christopher Hartley.  acashofhope

I will blog more about the next event in a few weeks, but we are once again participating in the Seattle Run of Hope to raise money for pediatric brain research.  Last year we had over 130 people walk with us in our fight and this year I'm hoping to have at least that many join us in honor of Cash.

Thank you for continuing to check up on the blog and we are thankful for your prayers, cards, and ongoing support.  May you have a blessed Easter weekend!

The Slideshow

I finally was able to load the slide show from Cash's memorial service up to youtube.com.  I'm sorry it took so long, the file is very large and without a solid internet connection it proved to be a challenge.  Anyhow, if you were unable to attend Cash's service, the slideshow is below (and available in HD on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x0R6jnIU3E)



I still have difficulty watching it, however, I listen to the music from the slideshow almost every day.  The music was taken from Johnny Cash's 'My Mother's Hymnbook', which was released in 2004. The music was recorded when Johnny was late in his years and has a beautiful, somber tone, that draws me closer to God and at the same time reminds me of our son, who was named after Johnny Cash.  I think back to the service and probably could have watched it and listened to the music two or three more times.

Please forward this to anyone who wasn't at the service that may want to watch it - Cash was a beautiful little boy and we continue to be thankful he's with Jesus and cancer-free.