Off topic - some sad news
 

I don't know how many of you have been keeping up on the situation with SWVAREF's daughter & her fight against the cancer she was diagnosed with in late March. From the beginning she has faced it with a faith and courage that I find remarkable for someone her age.

Apparently things have now taken a very serious turn for the worse, and she may have only days or even hours left. Please keep her and her family in your prayers at this difficult time in their lives......they need it now more than ever.

Done......

My prayers are with the family. This is our community, folks.

Amen.<i></i>

For those who do not know the story, this Web site has the background and the latest information: http://www.samefight.org/index.php?pr=kassidy

Also another site with some additional information:

http://www.kassidyspage.com

Thanks Tim, I was looking for this site.

My family prayers are with Kassidy and her family.

Peace

My prayers are with Kassady and her family.

My prayers are with Kassidy.

Holy cow...I went to Kassidy's page and read the entries for the last two days and can't stop these tears...my prayers and my family's are with that family.

Ditto with everyone's thoughts so far.

It puts things like officiating, and basketball, in perspective. Many people still need to find that perspective.

She passed away this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Kassidy died this morning at 8:35.



Kassidy has received her four gold gymnastic metals and is performing in heaven! On Monday morning around 08:35am, Kassidy slipped peacefully onto heaven. She's with God now. The family held hands and prayed this morning after her passing and they are celebrating her healing.
Prelimary plans are to hold a memorial service at Faith Fellowship Church in Wirt, VA (Franklin County) and visitation at Gardner's Funeral home in Floyd. Funeral will be held at Gardner's, internment will be held at Wilson Cemetery in Check. Dates and details to follow.

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

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.

my heartfelt sorrow
 

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

Amen-from the officiating fraternity.

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.

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.

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 <b>all</b> victims and their families. Every little bit helps.

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.

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.

family first always
 

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.

Indeed.<!--/////-->

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.

from our lips to Gods ears ... had the privilage to view her web page...what an beautiful young girl...

I talked to Danny a time or two after he originally posted the news a few months ago. His family has a strong faith and my God help to comfort them during this difficult time. God bless their family and friends.

Sorry to hear of her passing. Happy to hear she is doing her part for God.

My deepest condolences, SWVA. Your daughter and your whole family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I posted on the original thread, but I think I will resolve to follow through with each Relay for Life event here in town to donate for a luminary in Kassidy's memory. My mother in law is presently dealing with her 5th bout against cancer, so this is up close and personal. Whoever calls a game with Danny has one strong partner.

Condolences and prayers for the the SWVA family. Their sharing and graceful journey is an inspiration.

Earlier, I posted about actions (including prayer) we can take that change us. I'm going to copy a picture of Kassidy from the website, print it, and have my wife seal it for me. I'm going to keep it in my (football) card holder in my chest pocket this year. Its going to remind me of what's really important and I'll see it quite often this fall.

I suggest we all do something like this.

Like so many others all my thoughts and prayers are with the SWVA family. I went to Kassidy's webpage today and read SWVA post and I could not imagine anyone reading that without wiping tears.

Like some many other I rarely post any messages but I read posts everyday. This is community is something I cherish. I know that it is doubtful that I will ever meet any of you knuckleheads (this is high praise from me) but reading your posts has made me a better official and learning about Kassidy hopefully will make me a better person. let's keep the faith and I know Sunday when I am church I will be thinking of Kassidy and her family

As said a hundred times over, my prayers are also with the family. That amazing young lady sounds like she impacted more lives than most of us can ever dream of impacting.

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.

My condolences and prayers are with you SWVA family.

As are mine. Sorry I don't know how to suppress my signature - please ignore the humor here.

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

From Kassidys father
 

wow guys, I have said in our association meetings that my fellow officials are a part of my family,I can sit in front of this computer and say that each and everyone of you are family to. To all who have family or friends fighting cancer,I say to you to spend as much time with them as you can,but dont let this be the only reason,call them tell them you love them, that is what Kassidy taught me.The time we spent with her, she taught us so much I cant type enough to tell you how important time is. I still have bad days because she is not here, butIthink back knowing how she kept a smile on her face knowing she was dying,that gives me stength because if she can do it then I have to.We have found some things that Kassidy wrote during her fight I ask you guys to spend some time one her web page www.kassidyspage.com The Redcross is setting up blooddrives in her name just to bring more people to give blood for childhood cancer, gymnastics clubs all over Va are doing cool things in her honor, Kassidys home gym www.vatechniques.com has their meet named Kassidys Rock Star invititional. It is good for us because it helps us in our healing process.
I thought about not officiating this year but I have so much support from my association and I knew Kassidy would want me to continue,she would skip gymnastic practice to see me ref. I got permission to wear a patch on my shirt in her honor,so I have done some games already. I have checked here on this forum and I have kept up with you guys also. My wife and know that if you can face and get through losing a child, there is nothing else in life that this compares to.Thank you guys for keeping my mind on basketball throughout the past 3 months. Keep Believing.....Kassidy did
SWVAREF---(Kassidys father)

What did you finally decide upon for the patch? There were many ideas tossed around for awhile?

That's awesome that you get to wear the patch. You work with a class group. Any chance of a pic of the patch?