Dear friends and family,
As most of you know, my precious sister Vickie Gove is nearing the end of her journey in this life. It is almost unbearable to type those words. But what has come over us all during these painful days is the true beauty and grace with which Vickie has lived her life. She has faced every challenge in her life with strength and resilience. She sees a cup half full as a cup overflowing. She loves deeply and fully. She gives of herself, her talent, and her treasure to ensure others are blessed. It may sound like exaggeration, but I think we can all agree it's not.
Over these last few days since things shifted so abruptly and extremely with the onset of seizures and brain metastases, we've been inundated by messages and stories about how Vickie has affected, blessed, strengthened, supported, touched, encouraged, changed, and graciously, genuinely loved every single person she's encountered on her journey. One of her friends recently said, "If someone wasn't lucky enough to meet Vickie in their lifetime, they really missed something special." I think everyone who knows her just said, "Amen!"
So many of you have asked how you can help and, as hard as it is for us to be in this position, we feel like the very best way you can help is to help Denton.
As a single mom, Vickie worked her TAIL off to provide for him, protect him, and give him every opportunity for success. However, the severity of her cancer required her to stop working in early 2019 and then to take early retirement in order to bring in enough monthly to maintain their home. When her journey here ends and she passes into the glory of heaven, the remainder of her retirement won't be accessible to Denton for 8 more years--and the life insurance she funded with grit and grace is sadly inadequate for his living expenses. Denton's desire is to remain in their home, with Vickie's God-send of a boyfriend, Tim, and finish out high school, enter the Reserves, go to NMSU, pursue a career in law enforcement and one day marry and raise his own family in this very house.
If you are looking for a way to help Vickie's family or express your appreciation for the mark she's made in your life, please consider donating. We will humbly commit any and all donations received to a fund to keep Denton in this house and cover the monthly mortgage and utilities payments.
Thank you all for loving my sister so deeply. I've always known what an angel on earth she is, but it warms my breaking heart to hear from all of you how much of an impact she's had on this world. Our cousin said today that "Vickie has impacted eternity" because her grace and love has touched so many who will now go on to touch others as she's taught us to do. The whole world is better because Vickie is a part of it.
Love to all,
Rhonda