The Day The Angels Came

The Day the Angels Came
a grandpa's prayer and poem for Kyrie Dawn

Wednesday, April 4, the day we heard of the explosive growth of the tumors

Alas! O, Lord what is it that I hear?
Is it Your angels coming for our Kyrie Dawn?
O, please Lord, keep them at bay--
If just for one more day.

Thursday, April 5, Holy Thursday

O, Lord, what is this I hear?
Is it that You need another little angel to be near?
O, please Lord, please Lord, don't take our Kyrie dear.
Could You please keep Your angels away,
and we could have her just one more day?

Friday, April 6, Good Friday

O, precious, sweet Jesus, is this the day?
No, no, dear Lord, not today--
This is Your day that You died to save.
Again, please Dear God, let us be selfish
and keep sweet Kyrie another day.

Saturday, April 7, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

Thank you dear God in heaven
for yet another precious day--
For we all know things will be done your way.
Little Kyrie Dawn is fighting so very hard--
Yesterday she three her ball three times
till her tiny arm got tired.

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love entrusts her here,
Ever this day be at her side
To light, to guard, to rule to guide. Amen.

Sunday, April 8, Easter Sunday

Dear God in Heaven, Your angels came last night,
As we all knew that someday they might.
They came around the hour of seven
to take our precious one to her
special place in heaven.
Sweet Jesus, we know that you, too, love the little ones,
so to You we give You our little Kyrie Dawn--
And in the end, it is always Your will that will be done.

Amen.

Love,
Papa

originally published April 7, 2007

Thankful Thursday

It’s been six years.

It’s. Been. Six. Years.

Six years and sometimes it feels like six days.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the adage, “time heals all wounds.” I imagine the sharp pointed hour and minute hands turning into surgeon’s needles, stitching up a broken heart, like Julia Child would sew up a stuffed duck. The punctures afflict as much as the wound, yanking at the gaping muscle. Even time itself can scratch at the injury, a reminder that we are helpless against the distance the time put between us and premature loss.

The operative here? Healing. Some wounds heal quietly, discreetly. Some wounds heal by cells feverishly working to produce a knotted, gnarly, protruding scar, a scar whose tissue must be broken again and again. Not gushing blood anymore, but deeply aching, awful-looking, knotted to the touch and often hidden under a sweater.

During the past six years, I’ve been whispering to myself, “work it for good.” And that’s what the Kyrie Foundation is all about. It’s a group of very ordinary humans working to bring about a miracle. I’ve often felt small in this work … that is until someone offers to lift with me. And then I often hear a voice say, “that’s the miracle.”

Over the years, I’ve watched what and listened to that which the general public gives its time and attention. Celebrity gossip, wasteful organizations, internet memes—any number of meaningless endeavors. I often think of Diane Traynor at the PBTF telling us that is easier to get people to care about stray animals than it is to get them to care about cancer eating children’s brains. I have found this statement to be true.

So in light of all of this, it is quite amazing that this group of supporters has raised nearly a quarter million dollars in the last six years. It’s quite amazing to consider the hospital visits and the handmade blankets to sick children. And the event sponsors, those who come to events, those who work the events, those who share an event. And the ones who come up with ideas to help, the ones who send the emails and stay up late to make things happen.

It’s supremely difficult to flip over the pain to see what's underneath. That’s probably because it takes the strength of more than one person. Thank you to each and every one of you who have made such a real and tangible difference in this fight.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for hibernation. That's what the blog has been doing the last several months and big events take precedence. Down time encourages focus and focus definitely helps restore planning skills. Here's to a beautifully focused 2013!

What are you thankful for today?

My friend B

I was talking to a friend yesterday via text about the upcoming Twilight Walk.  My friend has a son whose birthday just happens to be September 15th.  I wanted to share with you the conversation they had about the walk and how he wanted to spend his 12th birthday.  This young man has two little sisters.  One is 3 and one is nine months old.

This was the conversation:

Stephanie:  Braden's bday is the 15th...and he was asking about party etc-I said well that's the day of the Kyrie walk...do you mind if we spend your birthday there?  He replied:

"No, that is fine.  We need to be there helping do what we can.  Last year all I could think of was what if that was bgirl (sister).  I will have lots of birthdays to celebrate.  We need to celebrate that little girl and help stop this."  Braden, age 11  

This is what it is all about.  This is an 11 year old boy.  He has been moved by Kyrie's story.  He wants to help in any way that he can. He is willing to give up the most special day of his year...to help raise money to save other children.  

Please join us in our fight. Saturday, September 15th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please go to Twilight Walk Event Page 

There are less than two weeks until the 5th annual Kyrie Foundation Twilight Walk.  

What will you give up to be there?

Have a blessed day!

Amy

Happy Birthday Kyrie!

There are moments in life when you just know...God is involved.  Today was one of those days...full of those moments.

For those of you who don't know, today is Kyrie's birthday.  This day is so special for her family as it is full of memories of when she was brought into this world.  She was truly a gift from God...of this I am sure.  Last night as I was reading on facebook, I came across this post written by Lacie.

"Hard to believe my sweet little angel in heaven would have been 7 tomorrow.... Missing you like crazy here on Earth but so thankful to know we will be together again someday! Happy Birthday sweet Kyrie Dawn, not a day goes by we don't think about you! Sending a great Big I LOVE YOU to Heaven tonight!"

Kyrie Dawn Thome was more than a special little girl.  She was a special little girl with a mission.  A mission bigger than Jordan and Lacie could ever imagine.  Kyrie was sent to be loved and to inspire.  I know this as I was inspired by her.  I was inspired by a little girl I had never met.  I was inspired by a little girl whose story wouldn't reach my email until almost a year after she'd gone to be with Jesus.  I was inspired by a little girl's parents and their battle with her cancer.  I was inspired by the true love that encircled the people in her family and in her life.  I was inspired by the group of people who stared the Kyrie Foundation in Kyrie's memory to help save other babies and their families from ever having to go through what they went through.  

I can't thank God enough for allowing me the opportunity to be touched by Kyrie.  She touched my life and the lives of those around me in ways I can't explain.  I know those of you reading this post can relate.  If you are a part of this foundation, you have been touched as well.  

Today, we celebrate Kyrie's 7th birthday.  She is loved and missed beyond all comprehension.  She has two little brothers and a baby sister who will sing Happy Birthday to her tomorrow at a family gathering.  There will be pink cupcakes...and most likely balloons.  There will be laughter...and a few tears.  But there will be love and a lasting memory of Kyrie and how she touched their lives and continues to do so every, single day.  

With every smile from a child...remember Kyrie.

With every donation...remember Kyrie.

On September 15th, 2012 at Bishop Carroll High School...with every step...remember Kyrie.

With every candle that burns on a birthday cake, be grateful...and remember Kyrie.  

We are so very thankful for Kyrie Dawn Thome...the life she shared...and the story God continues to write.  

And...as a friend, I thought it only right that we share "our" news.  Seeing how this is a family matter...I decided to let Jordan's post on facebook do the talking.  

"A very special Happy Birthday Today! My sweet princess Kyrie would be 7 years old today. Sept 1st has always been a happy day for me. And this Sept 1st, I get to Welcome a new little niece Emerson Grace into this world. Congratulations to Megan and Chad on your sweet baby girl! Today has been very special to us, and now you have this day to celebrate too.! And Really........What are the odds of that happening, today was meant to be the day. :)"

Today was full of those kind of moments for me.  I hope it was for you too.

Have a blessed day!
Amy Nelson

This is why you should come to the Twilight Walk.

Written by Jordan, April 2007

Oh, God, where do I even start.

Kyrie is such a blessing to our lives, though we only her for such a short amount of time I am forever touched and changed having been her father.  Even through all this pain, I still thank God for every moment I was allowed to be with her.  Lacie and I really believe that every day is a gift.  Lacie lay with Kyrie last night sleeping on “Dog” with her, watching as she struggled to breathe.  We watched Kyrie until our eyes wouldn’t allow us do it any longer.  With every short breath, we wondered if it would be her last.

            I can’t even describe the pain we feel right now deep in our hearts.  Being her “Dadda” has forever changed me.  Her little life has touched us both in ways only a parent would understand.  As we spent the early morning talking last night, we remembered all the special times we shared with Kyrie.  Kyrie use to make it a game to sneak under the counter and pull Daddy’s toe hairs while I would try to eat at the counter.  I would let out a little squeal, and it would make her laugh so hard.  Or the many mornings I would wake up to a little set of fingers pinching Daddy’s “ouchy." Well she quickly learned that Daddy’s ouches were “boo-boos."  Lacie thought it was the funniest thing how I would wake from a deep sleep to her pinching, and they would both giggle. 

            There are so many precious moments that we shared with her, and I can truly say I don’t regret any time we had with her.  From the time Kyrie was born, she was our entire life.  Lacie and I both wanted to spend every moment we could with her.  I would hurry home from work to play with her, and even got in trouble a few times for getting her wound up.  Once Kyrie started walking it wasn’t long before she began running.  Every where she went, Kyrie would run.  And it was so cute to watch her run behind me every where I went.  Run, half hop—it was adorable.  Since Kyrie’s first surgery she hasn’t walked or even crawled. 

            When the time comes for her to leave us, I believe she will be running to God, and He will accept her with wide open arms and show her the love that Lacie and I have for the last 19 months.

There are soooo many things Kyrie didn’t get to do.  Like lose her first tooth, or skin her knee learning to ride a bike, prom, children of her own.  Life just isn’t fair.  My heart is so heavy, I cannot write any more at this time.

Thank you to all who have been praying for Kyrie, and to those who have left comments for our family.  It has really lifted us up knowing that so many people care and have been touched by Kyrie’s little life.  

Jordan 

And this kind of story is being felt by nearly a dozen families each and every day in the U.S. because of pediatric brain cancer—the #1 cancer-killer of children. This is why we do what we do. Please join us September 15! http://kyriefoundation.dojiggy.com

Thankful Thursday: Sponsor-style

We are SO INCREDIBLY grateful once again as we work to plan the 5th annual Twilight Walk!!! Every year is a simply a leap of faith: Will we be able to pull this off? Will people help? Will people come? Will people care?

And each year as the event gets closer and closer, and stress builds and builds, there are plenty of moments that completely bowl us over. Today we are acknowledging a special group of do-gooders—the sponsors. These businesses, these people who said yes, make the impossible possible. They are the ones in the community who deserve your business because they are so much more than "just business."

EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS to those who have generously stepped up to support the Kyrie Foundation 2012 Twilight Walk!!!

Family Church 

Jayhawk Oilfield Supply 

Valley Center Christian Church