Make A Wish Foundation

We are going to see Ben next week in Seattle. This will be the first time since he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma over two years ago. Patti saw him about a year ago at a relay for life event in Nebraska but even tho I bic'd my hair in his support, I haven't seem him.

The Make a Wish Foundation got a hold of his story and raised a funds and awareness for Ben. He was asked was his wish was. His reply? "I want to meet Tony Hawk." Sweet.

Ben is a skater and when he was receiving treatments, he played a lot of Tony Hawk Pro Skater in the hospital. I personally really like that game.

So, Ben's time has come for his wish to come true. There is a Tony Hawk thing in Seattle next week and we are going to meet up with Ben and his family.

Should be a great time. Ben has his flow back and is doing great.

Just Skin For Ben

Ben's chemo treatments are slowing and he is functioning normally. He's even on the baseball team. Ben has now lost all his hair due to the chemo, so after the first buzz we knew it had to happen. So yesterday afternoon Patti pulled out the razor and we went down to skin. It took awhile to get it all smooth. It feels numb, vulnerable and just odd.

Matt is getting involved. He will be taking part in the Relay for Life in Chilliwack. On Saturday night he and his friends held a fund raiser to generate cancer awareness and raise funds. If you want to sponsor Matt, you can do so here and enter Matt Vanderkwaak for participant's name.

Open Letter To Ben Vander Griend (the hair guy)

Hey Ben,

I hear you've been in the hospital quite a bit these days and that you'll be there a bit more. We've been praying for you a lot.

I also hear that the doctors are going to help you, but that you might loose your hair.

Rumor has it that you're a hair guy and you've been trying to grow your hair long. That's pretty cool. I'm a bit of a hair guy too. Being a pastor, most people think I should have neat, nicely combed hair off to the the side. But I've had long hair, bleached hair, spiked hair, mullet, surfer hair, I've even had a pony tail. I'll tell you a secret that I've never told anyone -- I wish I could have dreadlocks -- but that's just between you and me, k?

I was thinking that us hair guys have to stick together. If you are going to shave your head, then I'll shave mine. That way we can both have the same hair. I've been told yours might grow back purple. That would be sweet!

Let me know when they are going to give you a shave, ok? Then I'll get mine done too.

Any other hair guys out there going to join in?

From one hair guy to another,

Uncle Mike