Sad news

My family received some devastating news yesterday, and it's all I've really been able to think about. I've written a few times here about Mark, a friend of our family who has special needs. He's been pretty sick, and went into the hospital a couple of days ago. Well, he just found out that he has lung cancer, and it's terminal. It spread to his liver, his brain, his spine--basically all over.

Until I was 15 years old, my family lived in a small town about 20 minutes away from where we are now. There is a group home for adults with special needs there, and one of the residents, Mark, could always be seen out walking through the neighborhoods, getting some fresh air. My dad befriended him (about 35 years ago), and several times a year, picks him up from the group home and takes him fishing, or to Cabela's, or just to my parents house to hang out. His birthday is on Halloween, so every Halloween, we have a small party for him at my parents' house, and then he sticks around to help pass out candy.

Jerry, Mark, and me, this past Halloween

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, mainly for the fact that it's also Mark's birthday. Mark is the very definition of the word "grateful". Whenever we ask what he wants for his birthday, he just says, "Oh, any old thing, I don't need anything. I got everything I need!" In terms of possessions, he really doesn't have much of anything, but he is SO happy. It's such a joy to give him a gift, because he is just so grateful, and will thank you a dozen times, like it's the best thing he's ever gotten.

Unfortunately, Mark only has one living relative, a nephew who he only just met recently. He was orphaned when he was very young (I believe he was eight years old). That was also the extent of his education. He was passed around to different homes for a while, and then was placed in his current group home. He's been living there for nearly his entire life, so it's really the only home he knows. Which makes this whole thing even harder, because Mark will have to spend his last days in the hospital, or a nursing home, which could be for a year! From what my dad told me, they can't take him back into the group home, the home he loves, because they aren't equipped to handle his cancer.

When I heard the news of his cancer, I was so heart-broken. I think it's so unfair that it had to happen to him. He's only his his mid-50's, and he's so content with his very simple life. I wanted to do something for him, and since he's so happy with what he has, giving him things isn't going to help.

I decided to rent a P.O. Box, and ask for your help in making him feel cared about. I'm not asking for donations, but I am asking all of you to please send him a "get well soon" card. We know that, short of a miracle, he's not going to get well; but I think he would be overjoyed to get cards from all over the world, wishing him well. He has no idea what a blog is, so he doesn't know about Runs for Cookies; but I'll explain to him that you're my friends, and I told you about him.

Here is the P.O. Box address where you can send cards. I'll collect them, bring them to the hospital, and read them to him (he's not able to read).

(Update: I've removed the address. Mark passed away in March 2014. Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for every single card, drawing, picture, letter, gift, and well-wish you sent! Mark really cherished them, and his bed was surrounded by the cards and pictures you sent.)

I would absolutely love for him to receive hundreds of well-wishes, and I thank you in advance for doing this. It means so much to me! If you pray, please say a prayer for him; and if not, please send some positive thoughts his way.

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My brothers and sister are going to be in town this weekend, so I probably won't get a chance to write tomorrow. I'll resume with Motivational Monday, if I don't write tomorrow. Have a great weekend!