Happy Valentines Day to you and yours!
This special edition of the Friday on Sunday blog will take on a personal touch. You will see the members of the Friday Harbour organization tell their own story of WHY they have joined the Friday Harbour journey. We hope that in some way, you get an inside look at why these busy, hardworking individuals chose to help Friday Harbour meet its mission of providing solace to cancer patients and their families as they journey through treatment at Texas Children’s and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centers.
We call this FRIDAY HARBOUR and ME!
Brian Hall Founder and Board President of Friday Harbour:
I’m fortunate to be a founder of this awesome Journey, which began in May of 2009. At that time, my oldest brother Melton (nicknamed Tank) had already endured 8 months of cancer treatment after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He seemed to be doing well at the time. He was undergoing chemo at Scott & White Hospital in Temple Texas where he first was diagnosed. Early on, my mom would transport Tank the 3-plus hours from her house in Spring TX to Temple every other week. Mom tirelessly accompanied Tank to Temple, leaving before the chickens got up in order to make an 8am appointment, and then returning late, late, late in the day. Having not made any of the trips myself, I had no idea what strain that placed on my brother and my dear mother. To this day, I don’t believe that I have thanked my Mom enough for what SHE went through. It wasn’t until my brother took a turn for the worse that Mom made it clear to us that she truly missed the simple comforts like a bed to relax in as she waited hours and hours during Tank’s treatment. Also, having a gift card to a TGI Fridays or something would have motivated her to leave the hospital food behind and go out and grab her and Tank a burger and fries. Well, before her next journey to Temple, mom was equipped with a hotel reservation at the Courtyard hotel connected to the hospital courtesy of my Marriott Rewards account, and several food gift cards, courtesy of the gift card rack at Walgreens. By providing my mom with these simple comforts, her motherly instincts were left to be directed just where they were needed. To Tank! It sucks that it took nearly 4 months before I made it happen. My brother went to be with our Lord on June 22, 2009.
I’m thankful that on June 15th, I sat by my brothers side on his bed, and holding him in my arms I softly whispered…Thank You Brother for inspiring me to do something to help countless others on their cancer journey. I promised him that something good has, and will continue to come from his diligent fight. Friday Harbour. And for a brief, yet moment of a lifetime, Tank raised his tired body, looked me in the eye, smiled his big-toothed smile and said Thank You Brother. Our Journey continues.
Contact me at brian.hall@fridayharbour.org