Oh my goodness, my head is still spinning from the events of last night. This act of kindness has left us overwhelmed and speechless. You took something that was heartbreaking for us and you pulled together as a group of our friends and family to make this into the best thing Ive ever seen. Talk about a sense of community. Ive never seen a town pull together as amazing as red deer has for us. Friends family and even strangers have taken a little piece of our sorrow and given us a little piece of hope instead. I will never be able to repay what this community has done for us and in that respect it takes a little bit of pride to accept what we have been given but we are forever grateful. There are a few people I need to thank individually. Samantha Firth thank you for being the first to start posting and setting up the online auction. For being so organized, for collecting donations and being the go to person for most of my friends, for setting aside time and energy to have donations brought to your house Tammy Wickins and Melissa Wickins for contacting the media and getting results by being tenacious and the freezer meals, for letting me vent and for helping Cherise. And calling people and picking up donations Tara Morrison-Yasinski for listening to me vent, for organizing, for emailing and calling, and picking up countless donations, for setting aside time in your day to just check on me. Joanne Hudson for bring letters into everywhere, getting shirts made, for helping Cherise, for organizing and helping drop off and pick up donations. Kel-Cie Terpstra Fercho for writing about us in your blog, for donating your time to make kookies and watch my kids, for telling momstown about us, for being a shoulder for me and for getting me to and from the event. Tenessa Harvey for taking the time to organize surprises with Cherise and your friends to help make our Christmas brighter. And finally. My sister Cherise Verbonac for organizing, for putting her life on hold to get everything ready for this hugely successful event. For going out of her comfort zone, for working with all of my friends, many whom she had only met a handful of times, for the great surprises and everything she did behind the scenes that I didnt see. Thank all those who so willingly give their time for this cause... To individuals who gave up their lunch hours and countless other hours for the past month or so to type names; assemble bags; solicit stores and manufacturers for donations; post signs; assemble goodie bags; pick-up donations late at night; email people, contact the media, people who dropped of freezer meals to us as well as presents to help make my kids Christmas a little brighter. Thank you for helping to raise thousands of dollars to fight this horrible disease that has taken so many lives; and to the countless other individuals who helped make this day possible. Thank you all In case you missed my terrified speech last night, this is what I said. Hello all, first off I want to apologise for not being here in person. I have been through a lot lately and now is no different. Currently I am in Vancouver getting test done for an experimental immunotherapy treatment that will block the cancers hiding marker so that the bodys own immune system will recognize that it is cancer again and attack it. Right now, we are waiting to see if jason can get immunotherapy vs chemo therapy. For every three people in this test two get the immunotherapy and one gets chemo. I am obviously hoping for the immunotherapy but if they issue the chemo this will be a different kind that I had in the past….. if I get that it will be the typical chemo, the one where I will lose all my hair and nails, and will get sick as a dog....where the side effects really kicks your ass. I can’t believe how many people have come together to look out for me and my family. This couldn’t have happened at a more needed time. To be perfectly honest with you the last couple months I started to lose my fighting spirit. Now those of you that know me that’s never in my game plan. Every time we seem to turn around there has been bad news or another wall to have to try to get over. But when these charity started to pop up for my family, not only did it ease my mind a lot financially but also made me realize that so many people are here for my family. Now I realize that not only do I effect my immediate family but this will also affectmy true family……… all of you that care about us. This event does mean so much to us financially but more importantly emotionally please take a look around and see what true love of o friend or family member can achieve. When I got sick I did try to take this load on myself and for the first 9 months I like to think I held it together but deep down inside I was struggling. It was then when I realized you can’t do this on your own and that I did need help…………. And honestly everyone’s true colours came out. I can’t thank everyone enough for your help and support through these times and from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for supporting me and my family during our time of need From all of us in the Kom-Tong family we want to thank you and for you to enjoy your night and stay safe.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 17:27:45 +0000
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