The Green Family

This is the final update for this page written by Keelan:

Well, it’s been a month since my husband and their dad…..(your sibling, their best friend, his son, their cousin, their uncle, his and her Godfather )….left this earth, to be footloose and cancer free in heaven w God, his mom, and so many others that were anxiously waiting for his arrival. God, he can be the life of a party, a very “long” story teller, a good dancer (according to him), a great listener, a good movie watcher, and has a VERY contagious laugh. FYI, be ready to hear lots and lots about his kids. And, he’ll probably fill you in on his Ben Affleck days…..he’s handsome, no doubt. You gained a good one in oh so many ways. Take things back to everything before the year 2022, more specifically before October of 2022, and that is the man and the dad the kids and I are mourning. I’m especially having a really hard time looking at pictures of him throughout all the years prior to 2022. That was my husband. That was my children’s father. That’s the person I miss SOOOO, SOOOO very much. This past month, January 2nd to February 2nd, has felt like yesterday and has felt like an eternity. Thank you all for being here for us every step of the way. All of you have been my rock when Mark found his place in heaven. All the love and support, hugs and cards, kindness and memories, have left me and Pierce and Eiley and Arden feeling like we can conquer this next chapter. The Go Fund Me page is something I struggled with having. The guilt still feels very strong for accepting to “accept it”. I just keep telling myself that people wouldn’t have participated if they didn’t want to. I am forever grateful for the Go Fund Me. It has given me comfort in knowing that my kids have a start to their college education. Mark and I have always put money aside for them, but ask anyone now what my biggest goal is….its providing a savings for our three kids to attend college. It’s my biggest worry right. It shouldn’t be, but it is. It’s so very important for me, now that Mark is no longer physically present, to keep that goal in my sight. Thank you all for helping me (us) to move forward with it. In addition, the meal trains (yes, plural….bc we’ve had two or three) have been a life saver for me, the cook! As every parent knows, bw our job, kids sports, tutoring, dr appts, etc, it ain’t easy getting a healthy meal on the table. The meal-train has been a life line for me, helping me to feel better about balanced meals 2-3 times a week, esp as I navigate going back to work. It was also such a life line when Mark was with us. He needed to eat healthy, but many nights I wasn’t able to even cook. I could (and want to) keep rambling. You’ve probably heard me say “thank you just doesn’t feel like enough”. It’s still true for me. There’s a lot of guilt about it, even trying (and not succeeding) to respond to all the texts and emails. Please, please, please know that I’ve read every card, every text, every note, and every voicemail. Every single one! It’s what keeps me excited about life. It keeps me motivated to take steps forward. I love it all!!!!! I’ll be sad when I see less, but that’s also life. Thank you, everyone, for everything. Your love and support remind me of what is still important to me….that’s my husband and our three kids (and Olive ) and the legacy they live as a part of their father. Rest In True Peace and Forever Worry Free, Mark Leslie Green. The world loves you!…and your Green Team always will! ❤️

This UPDATE is written by Keelan:

These pictures are the Mark I miss so much. I get emotional when I think of us in the Spring of 2022 at the beach. The image of his “blank” brain scan in April on 2022 Father’s Day w our dads June 2022. July 4th w friends at The Four Seasons, and his appt at Mayo in September of 2022 for a biopsy of “the speck”. ……then, BAM!!….literally….. ………the week of Thanksgiving 2022, he got out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and fell to the floor. Somehow got back up, took one step, and fell again. I remember literally feeling soooo sick to my stomach and lightheaded, while trying to help him walk. I just knew what it meant and I was honestly so scared. From that night in November of 2022, until the afternoon a few weeks ago on January 2nd, 2023, our relationship, our family, our lives were dramatically changed. The kids and I have almost blocked out that year and 2 months. The dad and husband before that this past year, that’s who we are mourning and miss so so so very much. His goofy laugh, his ease of getting the kids to shoot hoops and kick a soccer ball outside, his way of giving me better advice than I was giving myself, watching him “try” to be a disciplinarian with his kids , him always trying to find time for us…the list goes on. This past year was so hard on all 5 of us. I look back and don’t know how he and I did it, how he did it, how I did it, or how our kids aren’t in deep dark holes. These pictures bring me such happiness. He and I had so much fun, we parented so well together, and even with the normal marital issues, we really truly loved each other. I miss the real him from 2022 and all the years before, because that was who Mark was to his family. Stupid fucking cancer made our last year together so hard and so sad and so different. It just wasn’t fair. Anyway, you can definitely tell that the kids and I (especially me) miss his physical presence…..his presence before cancer took charge in November of 2022. He was our glue, our spark, our lift, and our protector. The four of us are all feeling better emotionally and physically. It’s a different kind of happiness that is so refreshing and it’s been very long awaited for me to see it in our kids. I truly forgot what their happiness looked like. And, I know for a fact that that is all Mark wanted for us, including himself. Why cancer couldn’t give that to us as a family of 5, I may never know, but I’m forever grateful for it now. We are all in better places. Love you to the moon honey. You are already the best daddy and guardian angel/husband from Heaven. ❤️

Good Morning. It is with the 

heaviest heart that I tell you that on Tuesday,January 2, 2024, Mark passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family. The sadness left in all of us is only outweighed by the legacy of love,unending faith, positivity, perseverance and hope that Mark put forth throughout his entire journey here. Although Keelan, their children,and all of his family and loved ones, will feel this loss for the remainder of our time on earth, he will be carried in our hearts and memories forever. He will be seen in the smiles of his children. He will be heard in our laughter when reminiscing about past memories. He will be felt in a song,a prayer or simply in those still and peaceful moments. He is a survivor as his spirit and soul supersedes any pain,sorrow and sickness he had while on earth. He is a warrior and now we have been given the gift of his love, his protection,his determination and his presence wherever we are. He is in the breeze,in the silent spaces and in a roaring crowd. He is in the crash of the waves,in the bubbling stream and rushing rivers. He is on every mountain top and in rustling fields everywhere. We will find him sitting next to us while we wait,while we pray,when we struggle and when we celebrate. He is in every star in the sky and he resides in the crescent of the moon. He joins us on every trip and walks or runs beside us on every adventure. He will also be there to comfort us and help us to find light in all of the moments in every year to come. I don’t know much, but I know all of this. Look and you will find him and he will always find you. 

 Thank you for your love,your prayers,you gifts of service and for your generosity today and in the days,weeks and months to come. Keelan,Pierce,Eiley and Arden are all so grateful. Sending peace,love and gratitude today and always.

For those interested in attending there will be a visitation at 1pm and a mass at 2:30 pm on January 10th. Everything will take place at St. Gerard Magella church and will be followed with a reception also at the church. 

Update:

To our dearest family, friends, prayer warriors (both near and far and even those we don't know), supporters, and helping hands....... This is a long overdue update! Thank you for your patience! As you all are well aware, on Oct. 27th 2023, Mark and I, as well as our kids, received some difficult news about Mark's brain tumor. He was given 2-4 months. Even after 10 years of fighting this thing off, both surgically and with radiation/chemo, it has come back 3 times. This last time, in Oct., it grew faster than it ever has b/w the every 3 month checks. Mark is still doing his monthly infusion treatments and wants to try a chemo that previously worked. Neither of these treatments will give him back anything that he's already lost, in regards to his right side paralysis, and it will not shrink the tumor. Those things require a miracle. But, the treatments could buy us more time. Mark's right side paralysis has caused some swallowing issues, but he still hasn't missed a meal. He tires easily and is sleeping more these days. He's also happily handed over all bill paying responsibilities to me (yikes). The rest of us are plugging along. I have become his full time caregiver and am no longer working. My job has been nothing, but supportive of me and I am one very blessed person to be a part of the school. I'm thankful for our weekly meal train, but also being able to cook a few meals. I've got lots of help with the kid's sports, as well as help with Mark (esp. from his sister and other close family and friends). Mark needs assistance with all of his daily living needs (eating, bathroom, showering, calls, etc). We are waiting patiently for palliative care nurses to come and see what help they can offer, as well as parishioners have volunteered to come help. Hospice can not start until Mark is no longer receiving any treatment. The kids have their good and not so good days. Thankfully, Pierce, Eiley, and Arden have some beyond amazing teachers!! They are fully supported at school at all times, but the teachers keep things normal for them (this includes making sure they are appropriately disciplined when necessary :)). Home life is different, but they have adjusted. Any questions they have about their dad are always fully answered. Therefore, they are aware of everything going on. Crazy to think that these little humans of ours were 7, 4, and 2 years old when this all started. As for me, I miss my job as a teacher's aide for 2nd grade. But, I am beyond thankful they let me be home with Mark and focus on him and my kids. Our school/parish/neighborhood community has swooped in and taken such amazing care of us....everything from meals to rides to medical supplies to yard work to financial advice and the list is still going! And finally, the Go Fund Me page and all that YOU have provided, we are forever grateful and thankful. Obviously a lot has changed for us financially over the last year, with Mark going on long term disability, medical bills, etc.. But, because of what you all have unexpectedly given us, we have the chance to breathe a bit and be a little less stressed about it all, especially during the holiday season. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generosity. Thank you never feels like enough, but my promise has been that in my own time left on this earth, I will do my best to pay it forward and make you all very proud of your generosity that will continue to unfold.

  Hi, I’m Rebecca and along with everyone in the Green and Valli families, we are creating this page on behalf of Mark and Keelan Green, as well as their three children Pierce(16), Eiley(13) and Arden(11) and of course, we can’t forget about their sweet puppy Olive.

For those of you that may not be completely familiar with their story, and more specifically with Mark’s brain tumor/cancer history, here is somewhat of an abbreviated explanation. In 2014, Mark was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a very long and extensive brain surgery to remove it. Over the course of the next six years, Mark would undergo routine MRIs, meetings with renowned doctors and specialists which would show that the tumors had not returned. Unfortunately, three years ago, it did return and has returned a total of three times in these past three years. Mark has fought like a warrior and continues to do so. His faith, determination and positivity shines through every post and update that he makes. He has endured medical trials, chemotherapy, two months of radiation, a stay at Mayo Clinic,another surgery and through it all has found light and hope in some very dark and difficult moments. Despite this, Mark has continued to be an engaged, loving and dedicated father who shows his children strength,resilience, faith and love that they will carry with them forever. The light and hope that Mark continues to spread in these difficult days has been fueled by Keelan and the strongest three kids you will ever meet. This enduring support and prayers continues to come from their extended families as well from friends, acquaintances, neighbors and from the St. Gerard Majella school and parish community.

At his side, every step of the way has been Keelan, who has held down the duties at home from running a household, chauffeuring kids to games, practices, dance, tournaments and school events as Mark has been unable to drive for a year. Keelan has worked and continues to work as a teacher’s assistant at their beloved Saint Gerard Majella School where the girls still attend. Both the staff and the students have provided an unending support system for all three of them and especially for Keelan. I Through all of the have-tos and the responsibilities that Keelan has,she has continuously been there as a loving mother showing such compassion, grace, patience and an unending and unwavering dedication to Mark and her family.

Last, but certainly not least, there are the three Green children. There is Pierce, a junior in high school, Eiley, who is in 8th grade and Arden, who is in 5th grade. Through all of this, these children have grown in strength, courage and love. They are such happy and joyful humans who love and adore their parents. Pierce, Eiley and Arden have been given an example of what a loving, dedicated, unconditional partnership and marriage is as exemplified by Mark And Keelan.

All of this being said, this past week, Mark and Keelan and their children were given some very difficult news when they found out that Mark’s tumor and cancer are no longer treatable. Time is precious as we all know. For Mark and Keelan and their family, time together on this earth is now more finite and more precious than ever, hence the creation of this Go Fund Me page.

This page is created obviously to benefit Mark, Keelan and their children in the immediate days to come, as well as hopefully in the years to come. It will help them to continue to live in the home where they have created moments and memories. All that is raised here, will help them with medical expenses and assist in daily expenses, as Mark has not had the ability to work and provide financially to the extent that he normally would have. We are hoping that the money raised here will give them the promise of a more stable financial future. We all know that money is certainly not what is most important, but we do know that the peace of mind and stability that it can provide can help to alleviate some of the financial stress and burdens they are enduring, allowing them to fully focus on one another.

Hence, it is through the creation of this page that we ask each of you that sees it to give what you can and to please share it on your social media pages. To know this family is to love them, to admire them, and to be inspired by them. We hope that this inspiration will touch all of you, as well as touch those they may not know at all.

On behalf of Mark, Keelan and their children, as well the extended Green and Valli families, we thank you for reading this, for contributing whatever you can and for continuing to give them the love, the support and the prayers that you do.