Good Morning All,
Wanted to send out an update since it has been awhile...SORRY!
Ray was released from Duke/Durham on July 9, 2012. We brought him home on his birthday July 10, 2012. We only told a few family/friends as Ray really wanted to surprise many upon his EARLY arrival home. On the night he got the call he was at a monthly meeting and the fire department, on the night he returned it was the next months meeting, he wanted to show up and surprise all the guys!
It's also been nice to show up at church and see the look on peoples faces to see that Ray was actually there. Jeff D. at church last Sunday even pointed Ray out to the congregation that this was the guy we had been praying for!
Last Friday I surprised Ray with a homecoming/birthday celebration with our neighbors and friends. He had a great time, was indeed surprised but was EXHASUTED when it was over!
This week has been a BUSY week. We did a follow up news story with channel 9, did Sunrise with Heather King and Jim Howard yesterday on channel 7 and then the Daily Reflector did a news article on Ray, our family, Red Oak FD and the fundraiser yesterday. I have tried to post all links to all news stories and article on the blogspot.
Rays blood work this past Monday was SPOT ON they said! He didn't even have to have blood work done on Thursday because Mondays labs looked to good. His billirubin on Monday was 0.9.....0.9.....that is like NORMAL person billirubin!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His weight is still 189-190...he looks GREAT!
Tomorrow is the BIG day. It is the big fundraiser starting from 10-2. We are REALLY EXCITED! Please pray for the weather to HOLD OFF and NO RAIN OR STORMS...at least until the afternoon...please Lord!!
This fundraiser has turned into SUCH A BIG event. I cannot THANK everyone enough who has helped and coordinated this event enough. Christy Hubbard and Marley Adams. WOW is really all I know to say, you are both AMAZING...THANKS girls you all rock! Jennifer Powers for setting up and handeling all the blood drive. Kim White for coordinating volunteers, dinners and donate life. Stephanie Stallings for coordinating the bake sale. My dad who is doing ALL the silent auction set up, planning, etc...it is a huge undertaking...and tshirt sales!! My mom for all her help with Ray, the kids and the fundraiser. Kevin Littleton who helped with getting donations, flyers and signs. James and Leah Lehman just for all kinds of help. Chad Singleton, Deb Himmelfarb, Rays mom Coleen Ross. Brandon Smith and ALL the signs...they are great! Bryant Beddard and the Red Oak Fire Department. Curtis James and Golden Corral, Open Door CDC who is waiting for Riley to return to school and coordinating a bake sale for their VBS week, AES friends and coworkers who are helping for events and ALL the places around the community that donating items for the silent auction...we have over 30 places that donating over 100 dollars in items.
Kim Grizzard from the Daily Reflector for her GREAT article. Channel 9 and Channel 7 for promoting Rays story, cause and the fundraiser. I probaly left someone out there are just SO MANY who helped and Ray and I are SO APPRECIATIVE. With funds we have raised thus far I was able with the Brooks Family Fund to PAY OFF the 872.00 dollars that we OWED Duke prior to transplant....paid off...that is SUCH A GREAT FEELING. Before this I would have been paying them 50-100.00 a month for however long!!
I am trying to update the blog spot pretty often. I added a "GADGET" that you can enter your email address...up at the top...you can subscribe to the blogspot and receive email updates when new post are added to the BLOG...it's a great way to keep up with the Brooks' and what is going on with the blog.
Hope to see as many of you as we can at the event tomorrow! Say your prayers for decent weather!! :)
With love-Ray and Janet Brooks
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