Off topic - some sad news

[JRutledge]

This is so unfortunate. I lost an aunt in 2001 to cancer and she was at the very least 50. Even though she was not very old, but she at least got the opportunity to see her children grow and get into their 20s with families and their children. This is a child that had nothing but good things in her future. I feel really sad for the family and anyone's whose lives she touched. It is very clear she was an angel to those that knew her and to those that just knew about her. For all those that have children, hug them a little extra. For those that have other close family members, talk to them a little more. This should just remind us how precious life really is and how much of a miracle our children are.

God Bless this child and her family through this very difficult time.

Peace

[JugglingReferee]

Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love given to us and which God imparts on us all, may Kassidy rest in peace and impart on Heaven that which she was Blessed with on Earth.

Kassidy and her family are in my prayers.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love given to us and which God imparts on us all, may Kassidy rest in peace and impart on Heaven that which she was Blessed with on Earth.

Kassidy and her family are in my prayers.

Amen. My prayers are with her parents and sister now, since she's in a much better place.

[piaa_ump]

In my daily devotions, I will struggle with the greater will. My heartfelt sorrow to the family from the baseball board........

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Kassidy has gone home and is now at peace. Let's all pray for her family and friends who need peace at this very difficult time. How poignant a tribute to her family's faith in the Almighty that her website describes her as "healed" this morning.

[Rich]

There but for the grace of God go I. And go all of us. It seems like yesterday I was just reading the first post from SWVAREF.

I pray for extra strength for the family and will be sending out a hug or twelve from London for my daughter.

[Texas Aggie]

Why don't we all start thinking about a donation (time as well as money) drive in her name? I know we are all scattered around the country but we can do things like:

-- suggest to our chapter we all donate game fees to Make a wish or other organization that worked with Kassidy
-- have a volunteer day as a chapter or even just a group of officials as a children's hospital

Or...other ideas?

I don't want to just talk about how sad this is for family and friends, and then go on about things. I know God has a purpose for everything and one of the ways he works is to use us who have been touched by these events into action. Actions that work to benefit others -- whether cancer related or not. I ask that we all just be open to opportunities.

Remember one thing when thinking about this: prayer doesn't change God. He's going to do the right thing (his will) regardless. We may not understand that now, but this is always the best thing. Prayer changes YOU (and me)!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Why don't we all start thinking about a donation (time as well as money) drive in her name? I know we are all scattered around the country but we can do things like:

-- suggest to our chapter we all donate game fees to Make a wish or other organization that worked with Kassidy
-- have a volunteer day as a chapter or even just a group of officials as a children's hospital

Or...other ideas?

I don't want to just talk about how sad this is for family and friends, and then go on about things. I know God has a purpose for everything and one of the ways he works is to use us who have been touched by these events into action. Actions that work to benefit others -- whether cancer related or not. I ask that we all just be open to opportunities.

Remember one thing when thinking about this: prayer doesn't change God. He's going to do the right thing (his will) regardless. We may not understand that now, but this is always the best thing. Prayer changes YOU (and me)!

Cancer seems to touch almost every family. There are very few that haven't had some personal experience with this insidious disease. My wife lost her father as a relatively young man and I had a brother stricken with cancer.

The wife of one of this site administrators, Brendan Lyons(a.k.a. BBallJunkie), is also currently courageously fighting a similar battle against cancer.
http://www.lyonsfamily.org/

My wife and I donate every year towards a cancer cure in the name of all victims and their families. Every little bit helps.

[BBall_Junkie]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Cancer seems to touch almost every family. There are very few that haven't had some personal experience with this insidious disease. My wife lost her father as a relatively young man and I had a brother stricken with cancer.

The wife of one of this site administrators, Brendan Lyons(a.k.a. BBallJunkie), is also currently courageously fighting a similar battle against cancer.
http://www.lyonsfamily.org/

My wife and I donate every year towards a cancer cure in the name of all victims and their families. Every little bit helps.

JR... obviously I have been away from the forum for awhile. I had been wondering how Kassidy was doing and my heartbroke when I found this thread.

I saw the notes from you, Chuck and the gang on my blog this am and it warmed my heart... Thank You.

There is a program through the V Foundation called "Blow the Whistle On Cancer". If people "really" want to do something as an officiating brotherhood, this is the way to go. They are fully endowed and 100 percent of every dollar goes to finding the cure. Bob Delaney (NBA Ref) heads up this program. The NFL has been participating and they just got MLB involved this year. I would suggest all that want to "help" to donate one game check to this cause... If you would like to know how, please send me an email.

As for me... I am basically taking the season off. I cant go far so did not take a college schedule and told the HS chapter I would consider working cancellations if they need someone and its relatively close to the house. My wife is fighting like hell but she has a tumor compressing her spine which has left her paralyzed from the waist down. If the tumor shrinks she will regain the use of her legs, but for now... I have to be with her to help her get around and take care of her.

SWVAREF... If you are out there, we are still fighting the battle but I know exactly where you have been. Hang in there... Kass will be helping you make the right calls on the floor this year.

Hang in there.

[dan74]

My condolences and prayers are with you SWVA family.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BBall_Junkie

JR... obviously I have been away from the forum for awhile. I had been wondering how Kassidy was doing and my heartbroke when I found this thread.

I saw the notes from you, Chuck and the gang on my blog this am and it warmed my heart... Thank You.

There is a program through the V Foundation called "Blow the Whistle On Cancer". If people "really" want to do something as an officiating brotherhood, this is the way to go. They are fully endowed and 100 percent of every dollar goes to finding the cure. Bob Delaney (NBA Ref) heads up this program. The NFL has been participating and they just got MLB involved this year. I would suggest all that want to "help" to donate one game check to this cause... If you would like to know how, please send me an email.

As for me... I am basically taking the season off. I cant go far so did not take a college schedule and told the HS chapter I would consider working cancellations if they need someone and its relatively close to the house. My wife is fighting like hell but she has a tumor compressing her spine which has left her paralyzed from the waist down. If the tumor shrinks she will regain the use of her legs, but for now... I have to be with her to help her get around and take care of her.

SWVAREF... If you are out there, we are still fighting the battle but I know exactly where you have been. Hang in there... Kass will be helping you make the right calls on the floor this year.

Hang in there.

Keep fighting the good fight, Brendan. You know that the officiating brotherhood is pulling for you and your wife.

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Bob M.

REPLY: Kassidy has gone home and is now at peace. Let's all pray for her family and friends who need peace at this very difficult time. How poignant a tribute to her family's faith in the Almighty that her website describes her as "healed" this morning.

And let us also remember that while she may be in a better place, there is no doubt that the world is a better place because of the time, tragically short though it may have been, that she was here. She truly touched many lives, both those she knew and those of us that only knew of her.


And He will raise you up on eagles' wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

[Adam]

Honestly, this is the part of life I hate. I hate having to explain to my daughter that sometimes people die young for no sensible reason. I hate having to explain to myself that sometimes people die young for no sensible reason.
It shakes the very core of who we are and what we believe when things like this happen. I want to thank her family for their gracious expression of faith in the face of all this, though. It speaks to us all.

[refin1]

as a clinician and assignor, I always tell fellow officials to put their family first always. We don't know when our last breath or the last breath of loved one will come. I tell my officials to not be affraid to say no to a game if it conflicts with a family matter. There will always be other games, family is way too important to put on the back burner for such a temporary thing as officiating. My prayers are with that family. let's all try to keep #1 #1.

[brandan89]

My thoughts and prayers go out to this family. May the grace of God be with you as you go trough your time of loss.