Desert Spyder
New member
This thread is long overdue but I have the blessings of my friend to write it. Merri is a kindergarten teacher and a Spyder owner (PE). She is a member of Spyderlovers and we met just prior or at the LA Owners event. Merri is also a cancer survivor.
Part of Merri's duties are for cancer patients who are in her charge and she keeps track of them afterwards as well. Including a 9 year old named Jayden.
Jayden has about 3 weeks to live. Here is his letter to Merri dated last May:
[TD="class: td1"]
This is a letter that was given to me today by Maverick, Jayden's little brother.
Dear Miss R***,
I am having my nurse type this for me, because I do not have enough strength left to write, and besides my spelling is not so good. I wanted to make sure I told you some things before I leave. I will never forget how much you have meant to me these past 4 years. When I first got out of the hospital and you came over to teach me, I was happy that you were going to be my teacher. I remember how we would talk about the things that they were going to do to my body and how you explained to me about how food would taste weird once I started chemo. You did not hide me from the facts or the fears that you had. We talked about how you told the doctors that they were wrong, how you would not miss your daughter growing up- you would be there for her first love, her first heartbreak, graduation etc. I thought about that when the doctors told me that the cancer was in my bone marrow and that they could not do anything more for me.
I thought about how I would miss those things, but I did not. I graduated from Kindergarten. My first love was my kindergarten teacher. She always smiled at me, sang silly songs and loved me even when I was not following the rules. She taught me how to read, to write and to solve problems. She loved me enough that when I was sick, she came to my house. She held me, brought me Ginger Beer and peanut M&Ms. She never got frustrated with me when I could not remember how to write the number 4 or which way a “p” was supposed to face.
I am now facing my first heart break. I will not be with my brothers as they grow up. I am hoping that Ryland will be a good brother to the boys and that they won’t give mom and daddy too many problems. I have to say good bye to the ones I love. Like you.
I am not afraid to die. I am ready to be without pain. I want to say thank you, not for only being my teacher, but for being my friend. I will wait for you in heaven.
What a way to end a school year!!!
Hugs,
Merri
Last year about April we started a "Fill the Frunk for Jayden" campaign which was pretty impromptu but netted $200+ plus a quantity of pull tabs. The pull tabs are used to pay for Jayden's chemo treatments. Since that date the members of SRA Inland Empire Chapter have continued to collect pull tabs (from coke cans) and giving them to Merri.
For awhile Jaydens condition improved although he is surviving with only 1/2 of one lung. The doctors gave the family some hope then discovered another mass saying he has about three weeks to live.
Thats about Christmas time.
So here's what I ask from you: #1 pray for Jayden and his family, and for all the other Jayden's of this world. Merri recently lost another student, who was 5, to occipital cancer. So pray for Merri, too.
#2 begin a Fill the Frunk campaign of your own. Its too late for Jayden but there are thousands of kids just like him...unfortunately. If you are part of a Spyder or motorcycle club this can be a worthwhile project to get involved in. If not a member then you can do it simply at home using a baggie and a refrigerator magnet. Just break off the tab before putting the can in the recycle bin. Afterwards, you can either send it to me and I will see it gets to the proper resource, in this case Loma Linda. Or you can locate a charity near you. Just google pull tab charities.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace this Christmas season. Brian
[/TD]
Part of Merri's duties are for cancer patients who are in her charge and she keeps track of them afterwards as well. Including a 9 year old named Jayden.
Jayden has about 3 weeks to live. Here is his letter to Merri dated last May:
[TD="class: td1"]
This is a letter that was given to me today by Maverick, Jayden's little brother.
Dear Miss R***,
I am having my nurse type this for me, because I do not have enough strength left to write, and besides my spelling is not so good. I wanted to make sure I told you some things before I leave. I will never forget how much you have meant to me these past 4 years. When I first got out of the hospital and you came over to teach me, I was happy that you were going to be my teacher. I remember how we would talk about the things that they were going to do to my body and how you explained to me about how food would taste weird once I started chemo. You did not hide me from the facts or the fears that you had. We talked about how you told the doctors that they were wrong, how you would not miss your daughter growing up- you would be there for her first love, her first heartbreak, graduation etc. I thought about that when the doctors told me that the cancer was in my bone marrow and that they could not do anything more for me.
I thought about how I would miss those things, but I did not. I graduated from Kindergarten. My first love was my kindergarten teacher. She always smiled at me, sang silly songs and loved me even when I was not following the rules. She taught me how to read, to write and to solve problems. She loved me enough that when I was sick, she came to my house. She held me, brought me Ginger Beer and peanut M&Ms. She never got frustrated with me when I could not remember how to write the number 4 or which way a “p” was supposed to face.
I am now facing my first heart break. I will not be with my brothers as they grow up. I am hoping that Ryland will be a good brother to the boys and that they won’t give mom and daddy too many problems. I have to say good bye to the ones I love. Like you.
I am not afraid to die. I am ready to be without pain. I want to say thank you, not for only being my teacher, but for being my friend. I will wait for you in heaven.
What a way to end a school year!!!
Hugs,
Merri
Last year about April we started a "Fill the Frunk for Jayden" campaign which was pretty impromptu but netted $200+ plus a quantity of pull tabs. The pull tabs are used to pay for Jayden's chemo treatments. Since that date the members of SRA Inland Empire Chapter have continued to collect pull tabs (from coke cans) and giving them to Merri.
For awhile Jaydens condition improved although he is surviving with only 1/2 of one lung. The doctors gave the family some hope then discovered another mass saying he has about three weeks to live.
Thats about Christmas time.
So here's what I ask from you: #1 pray for Jayden and his family, and for all the other Jayden's of this world. Merri recently lost another student, who was 5, to occipital cancer. So pray for Merri, too.
#2 begin a Fill the Frunk campaign of your own. Its too late for Jayden but there are thousands of kids just like him...unfortunately. If you are part of a Spyder or motorcycle club this can be a worthwhile project to get involved in. If not a member then you can do it simply at home using a baggie and a refrigerator magnet. Just break off the tab before putting the can in the recycle bin. Afterwards, you can either send it to me and I will see it gets to the proper resource, in this case Loma Linda. Or you can locate a charity near you. Just google pull tab charities.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace this Christmas season. Brian
[/TD]
ray:
But that would be wonderful, wouldn't it!?
