Some of you know I had an older brother that was put up for adoption when my mother was 17. My mother came from a very strict Catholic family, and at her age and not being married, having a child was forbidden. So, my mother was forced to put my brother up for adoption, and it was through the Catholic Church that the foster family was found. Eight years later, my mother had me. My brother and I are full biological siblings. (Yes, 8 years later, she was still with the same man.) My mom had searched for my brother for years, and in 2001, my brother actually found my mom! It took 28 years, but they were reunited, and they stayed very close. My mom used to say she finally had the missing piece to her heart. She loved Mark so much, as do I and my brother and sister, who would be Mark's half-brother and half-sister, but that never mattered to him or to us. We were all a family.

Unfortunately, I got a phone call where I was informed that Mark passed away in Tulsa. Mark's adopted mother and father are both deceased. He does have his adopted brother that lives in Texas, and me and my brother and sister. As far as family, that's all he has to try to arrange and fund a memorial for him. Honestly, it's a lot on all of us, as I'm sure it would be for anyone. My brother is going to be laid to rest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he grew up. However, we would still like to have a service and the cremation done. As of now, we are not sure if it would be the 14th or 21st of June when we would be able to have this memorial. A lot of that hinges on money, unfortunately. My brother, of course, did not have any type of insurance, so the financial responsibility is upon us. If anyone could help with any amount, it would be greatly appreciated!!

Any funds that are left over after we pay for the cremation and service are going to be donated to a couple of different animal charities. My brother was a huge dog lover and had two of his own when he passed, and I know that's where he would want the rest of the money to go!