Bucket list for Jim Borngesser!

Bucket list for Jim Borngesser! 

Four years ago this January, our dear friend, Jim, went in for hernia surgery and woke up to find he didn’t have a hernia but had a cancerous tumor, as a result of a primary cancer in his appendix.  It was a shock to all of us who know and love him.  How could Jim Borngessser, one of the good guys, get cancer?? 

I have known the Borngesser family for over ten years and fell in love with them the first time I met them.  Their middle child, Jeff, is one of my daughter’s very best friends and has become so special to me and my family.  My story is just one of many who have been touched by the Borngesser family.  This family is one of the kindest, most generous and loving families I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Jim’s fight and will to live has been an inspiration to us all.  He, Anne and their kids have found strength through their faith, family and friends, and will continue to do so in the months ahead. 

Their Story:
Jim and Anne are celebrating 22 wonderful years of marriage this month.  They have the kind of marriage we all strive to have - loving, devoted, selfless and giving.  They are blessed with three amazing children.   Maggie, their oldest, is a junior attending the Air Force Academy in CO, Jeff is a freshmen at Florida State University, and Mac, their youngest, is a junior in high school.  They are bright, fun-loving, compassionate, hardworking kids who adore their dad!  

Because Jim’s cancer is spreading and the treatment options are limited and quite invasive, the family has decided to leave it in God’s hands and bring Jim home to have as much quality time with his family as possible.  Their son, Jeff, is taking a semester off from college to be with his dad and help out his mom.  It will certainly give Anne some peace to know Jim is being taken care of while she is at work.

How you can help?
Jim is hoping to check some things of his bucket list while he can.  One of the first ones is a walk down the aisle with his daughter, Maggie.  Both of them do not want to miss out on that experience.  They plan to do it in a church that is ready for a wedding.  We'd like to fly Maggie home as often as possible in the months ahead so hopefully the dates will sync up with a pending wedding.   There are also some other things on his list he’d like to do…..fishing with his boys, sunset boat rides, concerts with the kids and skydiving.   They can’t really travel right now but would love to see some of their out-of-town close friends.   

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this post.  It is an honor to be a friend of the Borngesser family and am grateful for the generosity of friends, family and others who are coming together to help them out when they need it the most.  We have been, and will always be, on this journey with the Borngesser family.   We love you Jim, Anne, Maggie, Jeff and Mac!