Victory for Colin

Never forgotten ❤️ forever in our hearts
Colin Isaiah
Days pass, months pass,
Somehow even years
But love remains
And a lifetime of memories

Since it’s almost Giving Tuesday, I thought I’d share some thoughts, needs, and gratitude on behalf of the families in the pediatric cancer community. Funds and fundraising are crucial for families facing pediatric cancer. We are instantly immersed into a realm where little in life makes sense, all while facing fears of an uncertain future and so desperately trying to make it all disappear. Sometimes even now, 6 months after Colin finished his 13 month battle with leukemia, I still cannot believe it really happened. We were thrust into navigating a complicated medical world, trying to maintain employment, and still being present for our other children and families. All any of us want is a cure and hope for our children’s future.

The lives of pediatric cancer families are impacted in many ways. There are the obvious needs of medical care, babysitting, and meals. But many families need funding for gas, supplies, equipment, travel, bills, and lost wages or employment.

I would like to offer some suggestions and links for different fundraising platforms, local and national. Some are concerned more with the specific needs of the families, some focus on emotional support, some on financial needs, and some offer reprieve from the battle like camp and wish organizations. Still others exist primarily to fund research. All of these are extremely important to pediatric cancer families.

I would also like to highlight my friend Maria Ines and her work in honor of her son Jorge. She tirelessly supports other families through their darkest days while grieving her own loss. This year, like last year, she would like to bless pediatric cancer patients at St Luke’s Children’s Hospital. She is collecting toys, gifts, & gift cards in honor of some of our local warriors who were taken too soon, including my son Colin.

I would like to thank all of our family, friends, and community for your support while Colin fought so hard. He is at peace now and healed in heaven and yet there are many others who still need our help. Please consider the needs within the pediatric cancer community as you decide where to share your gifts this Giving Tuesday.

JorgeStrong Foundation

Make-A-Wish Idaho

Shinecology

Camp Rainbow Gold, Inc.

Boise's Got Faith

Team NEGU: Never Ever Give Up

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Our long wait for Colin’s headstone is over. His grave is now marked forever in Meridian Cemetery in Meridian, Idaho. The wait was not just due to the monument company and production time, but rather our own desires that it match perfectly to the stone right behind his, the one that marks the grave of his oldest brother.

Colin’s oldest brother Josh passed away when Colin was only 3. They didn’t have much time together on earth, but Josh was always an important part of Colin’s life. His older brothers Garrett and Sam were faithful in sharing stories and memories of Josh with Colin & Trevor, passing on his legacy of love. The deep, abiding love my sons share is forged not only in brotherhood, but in faith and laughter and hope and loss. We have been here in the valley of the shadow of death before. We already know the agony of losing a son and brother. This could be why my sons cherish the times they have together and love and care for each other so selflessly.

Colin visited this cemetery many, many times as he grew up, never expecting how soon he would be laid to rest in the row in front of his beloved brother. Meridian Cemetery was incredibly accommodating to us to get a spot so close. We tried to buy the spot adjacent to Josh, but it was already purchased by another family. They graciously added a space in the row right in front of Josh’s marker so the brothers could be close. Now in heaven, they’re getting the time together that life didn’t provide, and we have this place to visit the two brothers. There is a strong, thin thread reaching from heaven to earth that ties all of our hearts together and we yearn for the day when we’ll see each other again.