Author: integritivity

Julie Riggs, from Omaha, Nebraska is a beautiful, hardworking mother who has spent the last five years working as a 911 dispatcher. Julie has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which has spread throughout her body through her lymph nodes all the way up to her neck. She was given 2-9 months in March, but is still going as strong as she can, besides being exhausted and short of breath most of the time.

When Julie was healthy, she and her daughter spent 3 years volunteering their time at the local humane society as canine companions, working with dogs from all situations! Julie is a huge animal lover and would love to spend a weekend at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanub, UT, volunteering one more time with all the beautiful animals. Julie talks about going there all the time and maybe staying in one of their cabins or cottages they have, which is a short distance from their rescue center.

Her daughter requested the opportunity to spend a weekend up there together (with her sister as well) to be able to spend time together and make an amazing family memory together. Julie’s wish was granted and she traveled from Nebraska to Utah to the Best Friends Animal Society.

 

Sandra is from Monroe, Georgia and has Stage 4 NSCLS. Her family is having a difficult time accepting her prognosis and she wished to leave them with good fun memories of their time together. Sandra had always dreamed of a cruise and would love a cruise for myself and husband and the two grandkids that live with them, ages 18 and 11.

Sharon’s wish has been granted to go with her husband and 2 grandkids on a cruise and they are booked on Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas.

 

Sharon Williams lives in Clanton, Alabama and on June 11th was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that has metastasized to her brain, liver, and lymph nodes. She has completed radiation and is just starting chemo but the doctors are not hopeful that the chemo will do much.

 

Brian Kelleher’s wish has been granted to take his wife and two young boys to attend the Patriots training camp or other event, and meet some of the players. They are tremendous Patriots fans and this is a wish come true. They even ended up being on TV (see last photo).

“I just wanted to take a minute and once again say thank you so much for helping to provide such a wonderful experience for me and my family last night. It was just incredible being on the field before the game, getting to see all the players running around and getting ready for the game was truly a once in a lifetime experience. 

Not to mention wonderful seats for the game. This was my two boys’ first Patriots game and they are now completely spoiled. As they should be. 

Anyway, thanks again for all that you did. We are truly grateful for your help in making our night a rousing success. And the Pats clobbered the Eagles, which made it even better.

Ever grateful,

Brian Kelleher

Erica Chase-Solerno’s wish has been granted to take her husband and kids ages 14 and 12, to a beach vacation before she passes, just to relax without any other obligations. Erica is trying to infuse LIFE and FUN into her remaining time with the family, and feels that “a plain old beach vacation to a town we feel comfortable in” will be a gift they will treasure for years to come.

They will stay at the Crest Motel in Old Orchard, Maine, a driving distance away and the first place the family ever vacationed in. That summer, her son’s knee injury and my husband’s back injury limited their experience there and Erica has wanted to return ever since. She is looking forward to one more chance to stay there and create new memories with these loves of her life. In addition, a week away will give them a respite from the stress of navigating my terminal cancer and mounting responsibilities for elderly parents.

Lisa Overton is now battling lung cancer after enduring many hardships as a single mom in Indiana. Her wish has been granted to make some nice memories with her kids (ages 20 and 26) and now grandkids. They will spend time together in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Billy Gross was granted a wish for a heated recliner so that he could sit with no pain.

 

 

The family will travel to DisneyWorld to enjoy some family time away from hospitals.

Dionna’s wish has been granted to travel to Florida to watch her son play in a baseball tournament.

Megan is 42 years old and at 40 was diagnosed with stage 4 mucosytic colon cancer. She just had her third surgery and has failed two different chemotherapy regimens. Her sister said she has been so positive during everything even though she has gotten nothing but bad news for two years and has been struggling to make it on her own as a single woman. Megan is “an amazing aunt and sister”. Megan lives in Maryland and has been granted a two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in Chesapeake Bay to enjoy some time with her nieces and nephews.