August 21, 1999
Dear friends and family,
It is with deep regret
and sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of our beloved son,
brother, and most importantly friend, Ivan.
For those of you not
fully up to date on the happenings of the last year, we’ll start at the
beginning.
Ivan fell into some bad
health the summer directly before he and the rest of tuned
intended to leave for college. His doctor diagnosed it as nothing more than a
virus, and put him on a schedule of IV antibiotics. While everyone suspected
that it was more than that, Ivan declined to have any cancer related tests.
With Ivan’s prodding, tuned decided to continue with their plans and go to
college. Things went well there, and everything seemed “normal.”
When the group returned
home for Thanksgiving vacation, Ivan was again feeling pretty sick. He went to
the doctor and allowed him to run a full compliment of tests, only to discover
what everyone had already suspected. The Monday after Thanksgiving Ivan was
again diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The disease had come back, for a third
time, quietly and in full force. The doctors recommended, as usual, intense
radiation and chemotherapy, and Ivan, optimistic as he always was, agreed and
the process began. This was the most intense round of therapy Ivan had been
given, as compared to his previous rounds of treatment. Somehow, he managed to
return to school for the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
By the time Christmas
came, Ivan had had enough. After intense contemplating on his part, and some
fervent “God talks,” as he called them, Ivan gathered his closest family and
friends and announced his decision. He did not want to continue therapy. The doctors
informed him and his family that this decision meant Ivan would have three to
six months, at best, for which he would likely continue living. We all accepted
this, or at least tried to, somehow, and began to relish our remaining time
with him.
Tuned, including Ivan, returned to school after the
semester break and were able to finish out the school year. Ivan proposed
marriage to Kaitee that April, hoping that perhaps it would give him extra will
to hold on longer. His goal was to beat the doctor’s odds and make it a full
year, at which time they would be married. Later that month they learned that
Kaitee was pregnant, adding extra incentive for him to hold on.
As soon as school
concluded at the end of May, things began to take a turn for the worst. Ivan’s
health deteriorated more by the day, and by August it was all he could do to
sit up and converse with friends. Seeing that he was reaching the end, we again
called in all friends and family, for a final time together.
In the evening of
Thursday, August 19, Ivan passed, with his closest family at his side... To try
and explain our sadness would not be possible, but we could not lay aside the
fact that we had been given an unprecedented six extra weeks of precious time
in which we could enjoy each other’s company. For this, each of us will forever
be grateful.
Everyone who knew Ivan
was better for it. His gentle soul and cheerful demeanor made him a joy to be
around, regardless of who you were, or what your story was. He brought life and
happiness into people in unexplainable ways, but usually through his loving
example and overall Christ-like way of life. Ivan loved people, and his
greatest delight came from sharing love with people, especially the love that
he himself had from building an impeccable relationship with Christ. It was
Ivan’s one life goal to return to his Father’s arms and hear the words, “Well
done, good and faithful servant...” May us all continue to walk in His, and
Ivan’s light.
A memorial service for
Ivan will be held Sunday, August 22, 1999 at...
Internment will be at ...
following the memorial service.
Following this there will
be an open house for close friends and family at his home.
Rest in peace, dear
brother.
Ivan Andrew
December 29, 1979 -
August 19, 1999
With love,
Chris Bl.
Kaitee Br.
Tommy F.
Tony F.
Braedon N.
Heather “Moma” K.
Marcus “Papa Marc” G.
Angelo A.
William, Victoria, Ashlyn
& Amy Bl.
Bruce, Jean, Tonya &
James Br.
Brent, Kelly, Mitch,
Julia & Jim F.
Cory, Jason, Max &
Jerry N.