Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

First, I know many of you know me and know that Brian and I are friends, but a lot of you have no clue who I am. Because of what I’m writing today, it is prudent to give you a quick “who is this guy?” I'm an Alumni Athlete of Louisburg College where Brian is now the voice of the Hurricanes. I'm a step-father to 3 incredible children and married to one of Christ's strongest ambassadors I've ever met. My family strengthens me on a daily basis to live a life like Christ, who's set the bar pretty high, yet still forgives me when I fall short.

 

Brian and I have become good friends over the past couple months and have even started throwing around ideas of building his radio show together. I’ve been honored and blessed to have Brian want to continue sharing the story of my daughter, Kayleigh Anne Freeman, who was a miracle baby born at 1lb - 1oz and survived long enough to influence the world without even saying a single word. It is a story filled with Faith, Hope and Love which will never end and continues to touch lives all over the world.

 

I didn't create this Go-Fund-Me to simply talk about Kayleigh's story, but to share with you what one faithful follower of her story did for me. You see, when all this was going on with Kayleigh, it was during the market crash of 2008 - 2009 and if you're not familiar with the story of Job, basically God allowed the devil to take everything from him to see how faithful Job's heart was towards God. It is nearly impossible to fathom what it's like to lose a child during a time when you've lost everything else as well. The business, the house, the vehicles, the possessions, and my sweet Kayleigh just all seem to disappear overnight.

 

An Oklahoma resident who followed Kayleigh's story, and who was going through a cancer battle with his 4-year old daughter, felt God calling him to write a guest post on Kayleigh's blog, very similar to the one I'm writing you today. It was sent out to hundreds of thousands of Kayleigh's prayer warriors and the response was overwhelming. It goes to show that keeping your faith in a time of hardship is all you need to do and that no matter how bad it may seem to get in your life, your faithfulness in God will be more rewarding than you could ever imagine.

 

Everyone know's this past year has been very challenging for a lot of folks, and for those who lost jobs or their jobs just weren't thriving as they once were pre-Covid19, bills start to accumulate. Imagine...month after month with no change in sight, getting back on your feet goes from hard but manageable to a startling reality of nearly the impossible. Panic ensues as you're forced do whatever it takes to protect your family, then out of nowhere, you're being flown to Duke Hospital for emergency surgery to remove blood clots in your lungs. Can you imagine being in that position?

 

When I heard it in Brian's voice how scary his situation was but how scarier the unknown was, his positive outlook of affirmations of triumphing over his struggles through the depths to come out on top and tell the world was inspiring to me. I've ended many friendships in my life because bad habits rub off on those close to you. I knew Brian was going to be a close friend just simply by his outlook on life and the passion in his voice, when he is facing one of the toughest battles in his life. And this was all before his emergency yesterday.

 

I've seen miracles before and I know they happen every day. I also know that it takes the help of a community to set those miracles in motion. And, for those of us who believe in our Creator, we know that there IS hope. God could miraculously show up right now and heal Brian, tell him to get up, grab his mat (or hat) and go home. THAT is faith and my HOPE and prayer is that God will put into motion those who have a big heart in helping good people like Brian and Jodi relieve the one stress in their current circumstances that we can control.

 

There is simply no reason for ME, and YOU, and the hundreds of other Christians who we both know to not relieve the one part we CAN relieve: financial stress. We live in a land of PLENTY. Yes, times are a little harder right now, but I doubt many people reading this have anything much less than a comfortable life with plenty of material possessions, entertainment and leisure. I’m NOT about guilt trips. I only remind my Christian brethren of this because sometimes we lose sight of how good we really have it. And I ask you to consider how much YOU would hope and pray for help if you were in the same situation.

 

The Bible teaches us that if we have two coats, why do we let our brother go cold? If we have water, why do we tell them “God be with you” and not give a cup of water? Prayer is critical and required. GIVING puts prayer into action. There is no need for this precious family to have to endure ALL of this suffering. Can’t avoid that unless God intervenes. But together WE CAN remove the financial stress, the strain of bill collectors and relentless creditors and now a pretty hefty helicopter flight and medical bills that will follow. Sadly, and we hope it won’t be necessary, we need to remove the stress of how they might have to pay for future procedures if this mass needs to be removed.

 

Friends, as a Christian family, we get to love together, rejoice together, cry together and hang tough together. There is simply no need for the Brian and Jodi to have to endure the paralyzing stress of their current situation while we, as by-standers, give $5 to the homeless man or woman on the corner and immediately pray they don't spend it on drugs or alcohol, or spend $10 for lunch on fast-food and immediately complain how full you are or that you shouldn't have eaten it at all because it's unhealthy. We KNOW where Brian and Jodi need to spend it and it's for their health.

 

I’m not beating around the bush about my request. With the hundreds of people who we're friends with, we can all click the DONATE button, and we can almost instantly remove the financial stress so this family can maintain a positive, stress-free mentality in-order for Brian's body to fully focus on healing and recovery, and getting back out there on the radio to make a difference in this world. It would be hard for one person to give four thousand dollars, but it’s not hard for 200 people to give $20, or 400 people to give $10 dollars, or 800 people to give $5.

 

I’ve been there before and I can tell you first hand the instant relief this will give Brian and Jodi. The outreach of love felt is a feeling less than 1% will ever experience, but so desperately deserved. I see a family in greater need, and if we can sacrifice, I know you can too. Hannah and I will lead the way will lead the way by giving $100 first. It’s not much, but if the rest of you join us, it soon will be.

 

I’m not one for emotional appeals or begging, never have been. However, this is a case of people, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or of other faith...just simply caring for their own. With all the turmoil in this world right now, we should not let our fellow brother and sister suffer under so much without joining them in their trials. We all have hard times. We all experience stress, and perhaps you are feeling the financial crunch today. I understand that. We are too. But Brian and Jodi are enduring EXTRAORDINARY circumstances, and it is simply our responsibility to pool our resources together and alleviate some of their burden.

 

MAJOR UPDATE:
Well, after the blood clots, came the sucker punch of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.   Didn't know what we were to do, but Brian and his wife Jodi were told by doctors at Duke University Cancer center that the tumor would be inoperable and that Brian was going to die.  Well, they moved back to Indiana and was connected to an oncologist at Franciscan Health who connected them with a surgeon at IU in Indianapolis.  Dr. Nakeeb said let's sick em and on April 4th of this year the operation was done and the cancer was removed.   We are keeping this fundraiser going for Brian and Jodi to get back on their feet so the Snowman can fully recover and return to his family in every way.  We would so appreciate it if this goal is reached so the financial burden can be fully removed.