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Motorcycle Benefit Run planned to aid Lansing Sparrow Hospice Services

By: Randy Jones

In January of 2006 my brother, Kirby, collapsed at work and was taken to the emergency room. We soon discovered he had esophageal cancer and his prognosis was very bad. The news of his illness was catastrophic to me. I had struggled with maintaining a good relationship with my brother our entire adult life due to Kirby's alcoholism which was a result of severe childhood abuse and a stint in Vietnam. I was incredibly saddened to learn that my brother who has struggled so much in life was now going to lose the chance to improve his life and live to be an old man. I would no longer have him.

It didn't take long for us to discover that Kirby was in the final stages of his cancer. As a family we discussed all of the options. The doctors pushed for medical treatment even though there was a good chance Kirby wouldn’t make it through chemo for very long. He had lost a considerable amount of weight for his small frame and was very weak from the disease. We were all also concerned about the fact that we would have limited access to Kirby because of the threat of passing infection to him during his treatment.

That’s when Kirby decided on Hospice and comfort. As a family we supported his decision all the way.

The Hospice environment was wonderful. The nurses were incredible in their caring and empathy. Where Kirby was restricted at the Hospital he was encouraged at Hospice. My sons and I even took Kirby on an outing to his favorite spot in the woods up north. We all shared in a final goodbye to our favorite hunting area with Kirby.

During the three weeks Kirby was in Hospice family was there most of the time. We visited with food, stories, laughter and love as much as we could. It was comforting for all of us to have those final weeks to be fully present to each other as a family. It’s during those times you realize how important family is in comparison with everything else we put so much significance.

In December 2007 I was introduced to Landmark Education. My wife received an opportunity to attend a class called the Landmark Forum in the city of Livonia (Detroit Center). Little did I know how much of an effect that class was going to have on our family. She thought the Forum was amazing and I quickly signed up. I came out of the experience a better person, a better friend, a better parent, a better spouse, a better family member but mostly, a better human being.

Because of the excitement I felt in that class I continued on farther into their “Curriculum for Living” and had a wonderful learning experience in the advanced class and then finally in the third course, “The Self-Expression and Leadership Program” (SELP). It was in the SELP that I learned that it isn’t about us as individuals but rather as community and how we can all help make planet earth a better place with bringing about amazing projects to help those in our community seeking a better life, or in our case, a better death. It was also in this course that I had the opportunity to do a community project. Of course, I chose Hospice. I made that choice because I wanted to pay back the organization that had done so much for me and my family (my mother passed away 11 months after my brother, also in Hospice).

I'm still in the process of planning this motorcycle benefit run. It's taking more time than I thought it would. But I'm working very hard to make sure it's very special and raises alot of money for Hospice. My goal is to have this be a yearly event. This run will take place in Saint Johns, MI. It was originally intended to take place in September 2008 but will now take place in June 2009. You can reach me at rejonz2002@yahoo.com if you would like to help with this program.

If you are interested in making a change in yourself AND/OR in your community please contact LandMark Education at (248) 427-3000 or you can find them on the web at www.landmarkeducation.com.

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