Posted on 10/27/2012 1:22:49 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts
Well....what a Saturday night we had last night.
My friend Scott is back from Germany and is continuing treatments in New York. Last night, there was a benefit held for Scott to help his family cover some of the huge expenses that insurance doesn't cover for his treatment.
Friends and family gathered at the local Portuguese club. Over 1000 people were there for dinner, raffles, silent auction and dancing. It was a sellout. There were no tickets to be had even a month ago. The Portuguese club donated the use of the hall for the night!
A friend of Scott's family is an event planner and she donated here time and resources to organize the whole thing. Decorations were donated. Over 50 local businesses donated items for raffle...wine baskets, a Boston sports memorabilia package...and so much more. These businesses and other folks donated about 130 other packages, event tickets and things like...250 gallons of home heating oil...for a Silent Auction.
There is a local business the does all sorts of Italian and Portuguese food and catering...they are famous all over this region and have been in the same spot downtown for over 50 years. To walk into their shop is a slice of heaven as you smell all the wonderful dishes cooking in the back. These folks donated almost all the food for this event. A chicken parmesan dinner with all the fixins. A Porketta dinner followed after all that.
Forty seniors and juniors from the local High School donated their time and energy to serve the food and bus tables. What a great group of kids they were. They really made the evening.
A friend of Scott's owns an Entertainment company. He donated the lighting, sound systems, music and the band for the evening's entertainment.
There was practically nothing that was not donated for this benefit event. Half of the the "potent potables" were donated by a local liquor store. That was a huge thing. The out pouring of support and love for Scott and his family was amazing.
The highlight of the evening was when Scott made an appearance (against doctor's orders) and took the stage to say a few words of thanks to all.
He said, "Here is what a 6 month cancer patient looks like! I feel great and have very few symptoms anymore. I feel ready to shovel snow and split a cord of wood."
He stated he could not...would not...try to thank all individually for this because it would be impossible. He would surely miss someone and that would not do.
He looks great, says he feels great and if he had followed the recommend course of treatment, he would not be standing before us tonight.
I can't even guess how much this benefit raised for him. My best guesstimate would be in the high 5 figures. And everyone was glad to do it for Scott. He is such a great guy that everyone who knows him would gladly do more.
Just thought I'd post an update to show how much can be accomplished through love, faith and when a community pulls together for one of their own. It really can make a huge difference.
What a stunning display of humanity, thank you for sharing.
I don’t know how I missed this when you posted and pinged but am thrilled beyond words to see it now. I was updating my prayers list and decided to check the thread to see if you’d posted an update; it turned out to be more than I could have hoped for. Bravo for Scott, his friends and neighbors. Very heartwarming story. (and this was in NY? Upstate, I assume?)
Nope. Massachusetts. Central.
oh, ok .. guess parts of MA/NY border so in some circumstances it make more sense to X the border for treatment. My nephew who lives in NY always took his daughter to a hospital in Boston. It’s wonderful the way the town came out for Scott. Once we get beyond the big cities, *even* MA and NY have terrific people.
I want to thank you all for sending your prayers and best wishes during Scott's ordeal.
But I felt it incumbent upon me to update you all (and forgive me if I missed anyone)...my best friend Scott...'hiramknight' here on FR...passed away last night.
We who knew him and loved him are crushed. He was doing well and was looking fit as a fiddle when I last saw him in August at the grocery store. But lack of any news or updates to his CaringBridge web page gave me a sense of dread. This news has affected me deeply.
Like the warrior he was, he gave this fight his all. He kept telling us he was not going down easy and would keep swinging as long as he could.
I have no more other than an Airman's Prayer...the kind that Scott would have liked.
I hope there's a place way up in the sky, A place where a guy can buy a cold beer, A place where no lawyer can tread, Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke, The kind of a place where a lady could go, There must be a place where old airmen go, Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young, Where you'd see all the fellows who'd flown west before, Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad, And then through the mist, you'd spot an old guy, He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear, For this is the place where true flyers come, They've come here at last to be safe and alone, Politicians and lawyers, the Feds and the noise, Can relax with a cool one, and well deserved rest,
Where airmen can go when they die.
For a friend and a comrade, whose memory is dear.
Nor a management type would ere be caught dead.
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
And feel safe and protected by the men she would know.
When their paining is finished, and their airspeed gets low.
And songs about flying and dying are sung.
and they'd call out your name, as you came through the door.
And relate to others, "He was quite a good lad.".
You had not seen in years, though he taught you to fly.
And say, "Welcome my son, I'm pleased that you're here,
When their journey is over, and the war has been won.
From the government clerk, and management clone,
Where all hours are happy, and these good ole boys,
This is heaven my son ... You've passed your last test!
So sorry to hear the news about this valiant fighter. May his family and many friends be comforted, and may he rest in the joy and eternal peace of our Lord’s love.
Prayers up and on way, Sam.
God bless.
Prayers up, of course. Keep us posted on-thread as well if you can, please.
I am very sorry to hear this news. Deepest condolences to Scott’s family and to you in the loss of your friend. Thank you for letting us all know. Rest in peace, Hiramknight.
Prayer for you and your wife as you pursue answers. May the Lord accompany you on this journey.
I’m sorry about your best friend. I only found out about this tonight, so it’s too late to offer prayers for Scott. But I do offer them for you, Scott’s family,and anyone else affetctd by this.
I am so sorry to hear this news and join with all the others here lifting Scott’s family and loved ones up to God for His peace, blessing and guidance as they deal with his homegoing.
Prayers up.
Praying!
Prayers up!
Prayers for God’s blessings on all.
Lord Jesus Christ, our Healer and Redeemer, be with this man Thy servant Scott, and grant him complete healing. We pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in the company of St. Jude, worker of miracles. Amen.
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