Memorial Services for Aunt Barb

Barbara Williams (Aunt Barb) passed away yesterday, September 26, less than 24 hours after learning that her 32-year-old son had collapsed at work and was dead on arrival at the hospital. Nick was a chef at Sonny Williams, and despite the heroic efforts of  his co-workers and the paramedics, his life ended--hastily and inexplicably. He'd been having a rough time as he watched his mother fading away, day by day, for the last few months. Aunt Barb did not die peacefully or comfortably. Neither did Nick. He'd been unable to sleep and was constantly stressed because "peace" is something this family hasn't experienced in so long that it's beginning to feel childish that we still expect it every now and then.

I started this fundraiser as a last resort at restoring at least a little bit of peace in the minds of those who knew and loved Barbara and Nicholas -- especially Boyd, Aunt Barb's husband, and Nick's sister Jada who lives in Colorado. Jada has spent well over $1500 just on airfare, flying back and forth (this time with her husband and three young children) because she was afraid she'd be unable to say goodbye to her mother.

These last few months have taken a considerable toll on everyone in our family, emotionally and financially. My family's wealth is measured in love, open-mindedness and generosity, and only by these standards may we be considered wealthy. We are financially and emotionally spent, and we're asking for help.

Please donate if you have the means. Anything will help. Your money will fund the joint memorial service for Aunt Barb and Nick, and anything left over will go to Jada to help cover the airfare for her and her family and to Boyd, who has missed substantial time at work to be at his wife's side while in hospice care.

Every family encounters adversity of varying degrees, and we all have our own ways of finding the gumption to get up every day and carry on, often pretending to be fine while at work or with friends. When our eyes suddenly feel like a piece of gum being used to plug a hole in a dam, we tell ourselves to snap out of it -- to remember we're adults. Most often, the tears, the outbursts and the resulting runny nose are relegated to those brief moments while we're driving alone or in our room with the door shut. These moments, however, have been neither brief nor infrequent for us. And if you've been unfortunate enough to experience a string of tragedies, you'll understand my family's desperation to figure out how to make this trend stop. 

While money is unable to prevent a tragedy from having, 
your donation will go a long way toward offering peace and dignity to two family members who were cruelly robbed of them, as well as to the family members left to pick up the pieces in the wake of this week's events. 

Thank you for your care and concern.

Sincerely,
Spencer Campbell