Richard and Amber Burch are a true testament to the power of love and destiny. From the moment they met, a spark ignited between them, leading to their fairytale wedding on December 1, 2001. A few years later, they welcomed their precious daughter, Cassidy, into their lives, cherishing every moment of their love story.

Christmas 2025 unfolded like any other holiday for the Burch family. Richie celebrated his 57th birthday on Christmas Eve, and they spent the day opening presents and enjoying each other’s company. However, as the holiday drew to a close, a devastating turn of events unfolded. On December 28, 2025, Richie suffered a fall that resulted in a head injury. He was promptly rushed to the emergency room, where he received a devastating diagnosis: Glioblastoma, grade four.

Richie’s condition is grave, with three inoperable tumors spanning both his right and left frontal lobes of his brain. The treatment for Glioblastoma is grueling, involving daily chemotherapy and radiation for six weeks. While there is no cure for this aggressive form of cancer, the Burch family holds onto hope, believing that they can extend Richie’s quality and time of life.

To know Richie is to love him. He is a devoted and dedicated husband and father and a friend to all. I met him over 30 years ago and instantly formed a friendship. When Amber, and then Cassidy came into his life, they too, became some of my favorite people on this earth.

Richie and I share a love of all things Star Trek and one of the highlights of our friendship has been taking Star Trek cruises together! Watching him interact with other “Trekkies” will be something I will always cherish. He’s a regular Spock when it comes to knowledge, but it’s his Captain Kirk charm that always makes him a favorite around the ships bridge.

It’s this passion to provide, care for and support his crew that has proven to be the hardest aspect of this diagnosis for him. Unfortunately Richie began having seizures and can no longer drive or work. Always a top salesman, his loss of income will be felt significantly. He has reached the max on his paid leave and will only have a portion of his income available through his disability insurance.

Amber is working when she can, however she has also become a full time caregiver. Her Richie, always willing to roll up his sleeves and pitch in, can no longer do the day to day tasks that lessened her load.

Fairly new to their home in Colorado, and both without large extended family, they are navigating many new realities and responsibilities alone while also working through the process of grieving the life they had planned.

Cancer does not have sympathy for bills, or the needs of its victims and its families. That’s where we all come in. When we all come together giving what we can to one another, the loaves and fishes multiply. Give what you can, and if you can’t give, please pray.

As Mr Spock would say:

“We will do what we have always done, Jim. We will find hope in the impossible."