Benefit Update

Here's a long shot view of the commons at Putnam Co. High School. It was a packed house for the soup supper and auction. We were overwhelmed with the generous donations to the auction, and the auctioneers kept busy until around 10:30 p.m.!

A friend bid on this John Deere bailer, won it for $125, then gave it to Tye! This farm boy doesn't care that is a John Deere...sorry Papa Heflin! The bailer is a great addition to Tye's farm equipment collection, albeit the most expensive!

Tye shows off his bailer to Papa Halley and Great-grandma Halley!

Brian with friend, Shannon Bradshaw
Brian tells me that he met Shannon on his first day of kindergarten. His mom said he came home from school and said he met a new friend, Shannon Bruckshaw!

Brian with a dear friend, Todd Bunnell

Brian with Brian Perkins and his daughter
Brian got a lot of great laughs while reminiscing with Perk!



Matthew, Kate, Rhonda, Nancy, Shannon, Brian, and Todd
Lots of great friends showed up from high school...we missed catching several of them for a picture, but did get a small gang together for a snapshot! Brian really enjoyed chatting and catching up with some special people from his past, and it was great for those of us who have been closest to him in this battle to see him enjoying himself and laughing.

The benefit results were astounding, and we can't even begin to express our true gratitude for the efforts put forth on our behalf. Our lives have been deeply touched along the journey, and we continue to be blessed by the support and love of so many. These efforts will greatly ease the financial stress caused by Brian's illness and our absences from school while we focus on helping Brian get better. Special thanks goes out to the head honchos, my sister-in-law, Jamie Halley, and her sister and our friend, Jennifer Stout. These two were just amazing! Also thanks to their husbands, Todd and Zach. Thank you to so many who made donations to the dinner and/or auction, and who came to share the evening with us. We also want to thank Rhonda Hamilton and Todd Bunnell, as well as Denise, Phillip, and Joni Halley, and the rest of the Halley family who helped with this event; also Grandma Rogers and Aunt Doreen, and the kitchen ladies who work with Denise for helping out so much; and to Patti and Jim Moots, who I know chipped in to help their daughters get things ready! Also thank you to the auctioneers who volunteered their time. I know I am forgetting so many. I also want to thank all the kids who helped out, especially Rachel, Amberlea, Ashlyn, and Dallas.

We also have an update tonight on the visitors on our blog. I did decide to start keeping track of the states, and these are my additions from today and the recent past.

Arkansas

Georgia

Indiana

Nebraska

Nevada
Minnesota

Hawaii

New York

Wisconsin

We also had visitors today from Norway and the United Kingdom!

We are surrounded by so much love and so many prayers. Please know this lifts us during this difficult time. I am so blessed to have this blog because it has been a way for me to express my feelings. Being a caregiver is a challenge unlike any other, and although it is very stressful, I wouldn't be anywhere else. Your support and love keeps me going.

Brian's pain is tolerable. He is not in the condition for me to be gone from home for more than about 15-20 minutes, which means I'll be staying home again tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be able to be there for Tues/Wed. before leaving for Chicago.

Best wishes for a special week,

Jenni