I am posting this again as a friendly reminder...
Our wonderful, a-MAZ-ing and completely over-achieving sister, Mindy,
has put this great event together in our behalf.
{Sigh}
The blessings just seem to have no end.
We are absolutely thankful.
(Thanks, Mind!)
.
We are also grateful
that this will provide us with a much-needed opportunity
to thank so many of you for your love and support,
and allow us to throw you a bit of a Thank-You Party!
.
.
So whether you run, or not... please
Come celebrate the gift of life with us
in honor of Bronson's second chance!
So whether you run, or not... please
Come celebrate the gift of life with us
in honor of Bronson's second chance!
.
There will be a 5K and a Children's 1 Mile Fun Run.
Starting at 9 am
Food, Games, Prizes, Raffles, Bounce Houses!
.
Register online @:
https://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1839825
.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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33 comments:
Bronsons story is amazing! I have tried my best to follow the story and the videos of Bronsons recovery bring me to tears but happy tears that you still have your precious miracle child! I cannot imagine everything you had to go through, I always tell my husband that I have SO much respect for families going through such hard medical things! We have a 11-month old and I always worry for the worst about things! You seemed so tough and strong and I truly look up to you for that! I also love that you have a strong faith, I think it is something that is lacking in families, but God was definitely there with Bronson! Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with all of us! God Bless!
I was looking at that and wondering why you would post something that is already ended??? Than my brain started working again to realize that it isn't April like I thought it was it is still March and I had to actually had to look at the top of the post to see the date there to know really what day it truly is. :) This is so exciting for you and your family and I hope that there is a huge turn out for you. We will not be able to make it due to a surgery in less than a week that my son hast o stay healthy for. But I will be thinking of your family.
Wish I could have come! I had to take pictures at the prom last night, didn't finish until midnight. Have a fantastic day and enjoy meeting all of Bronson's cheerleaders!
Wish I could make it...Idaho is a bit far, I guess. His is a truly inspiring story.
Staker Family,
The race today was so fun! So fun to see all the people out there who have all come to support you! I am so grateful for your courage to come out and tell everyone your mistake you made. I know it has to be hard but I know exactly why you have done it...to prevent some other mother the same hurt and pain you have been through. I truly admire your strength! Aren't we so lucky to have the Savior on our side always!? And not have to worry about the judgement of all the other peoples opinion. It makes me sick to read some of the hurtful comments people have given you. I just hope you never lose sight of what really is right and that only involves Heavenly Father, the Savior and yourself. For you are the only ones who know what truly happened that day and knows your true feelings inside. All we can do is pray for the ones who don't understand the purpose of the Savior.
What a special little boy Bronson is! Your family has the light of the savior glowing all about you when I saw you today! May you always feel that love!
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Amy
What an amazing event today!! Mindy did an amazing job! It was great to finally meet you, Matt and your boys in person! Bronson is so cute and I think he was loving all the hugs and attention! I am sure all the pictures from today will amaze him when he is older! To see ALL those people who came out to meet the miracle boy! Thanks again -Amy-
I wish I could have been there to meet you all. Thank you for being so inspiring. I hope It was a wonderful day for your family.
Hope the day was a massive success (I"m in England so couldn't come!)
Would love to see how it went.
Take care of yourself and your family.
Remember not to take any of the negative/hurtful comments on board.
OK, I had to check the date of the race again because I can't believe I read the poster wrong at Carrabas! Sure enough, I thought it was on February 27th *woops* Know that I would have loved to come and I am so happy that you have such a great support system around you!
I am so happy I finally had the chance to look into your eyes as we spoke, and not just on the computer :)
So sad our family couldn't come. :( Hope it was a wonderful day! We still pray for little Bronson and your family.
Much love,
The Evans Family
Rigby, ID
Wish we could have come, but we were thinking of each of you and the celebration you were able to have. Hope everything was a huge success and all the donations that came in helped! You are all truly an inspiration to us! Keep the faith!!!
I really enjoyed the race on Saturday. There was a great turnout and it was fun to see your family in person. Hope life is getting back to normal :)
We were so excited to come and Friday night Kade's baseball coach called and we had 3 games that morning. We tried to get out of them but couldn't as Kade is the new kid on the team and has to earn a position. We heard it was a HUGE success.
XOXO~The Kallas Family
I am so sad we missed it! Curses to having to be in SLC by 9:30 am. I'm sure it was phenomenal!
I have been following your amazing story and am in love with your cute family. (A friend in Utah gave me your link). I think you are strong and courageous just like this years YW theme. Thank you for being an example to me and so many others. You have four boys and I have four girls. They are such handsome little guys. In fact my 2nd oldest saw your oldest sons picture and she said "who's that? he's super cute. She's already in love with boys and she's nine!! What am I going to do?
undisputed champion of the world, huh?
would be interested in making a donation. What charity is the money going to?
Julianna~
To be clear, while at the hospital, Bronson received a T-shirt that said, "The Undisputed Champion of the World" as a gift from a dear friend. We did not have any other clothes for him with us at the hospital. We dressed him in that just prior to his Physical and Occupational Therapy Appointment the morning he was discharged to come home. The Nurses and Therapists joked that it must be true because of how well he did at his appointment.
Our sister, Mindy, who organized and coordinated the B Strong Benefit Race thought it was a cute, clever description of how Bronson overcame the odds and used the saying on the poster she created to promote the event. There was no ill-intent on our part. We apologize if it seemed insensitive or boastful.
As for the proceeds from the race, they will all be donated to several different families. One family we became close with while at the hospital and two others we have been made aware of since being home. Two have children who will require ongoing medical care and one who lost their daughter. We hope to help them create a nice memorial. As we have not contacted these families yet to inform them of our intentions, we do not feel comfortable sharing their stories but hope to do so at a later date after receiving their permission.
We hope to reach out to many other families with children in need over the years to come and are discussing ways to do so appropriately.
Thank you for your inquiry. We hope you will find this reply and understand that we felt most comfortable responding here, rather than on your own personal family blog, as per your request there.
The Stakers
hi there!! i have been missing your posts but can totally understand the break when i read the negative comments coming from some people! it is really disheartening!! we have followed little bronson's story from the beginning and have been such big fans of the little guy!! thank you, thank you for sharing his miracle with the world!
Sara,
Thanks for the update about where the money goes. As it's not going to an organization, but rather families you guys are choosing, I believe I'll pass on donating right now.
I have to admit that the "undisputed champion of the world" thing is a little, well, I suppose it's an inside joke I'm not a part of.
You're welcome to visit my blog as often as you like (as I visit yours to find updates) but I do ask that if you have comments on my comments then please comment in the blog that is about your situation as opposed to the innocent blogs about my children.
I am genuinely happy for your son's wonderful recovery and wish the best for your family, despite my opinion on your publicity tour.
"Publicity Tour" Bore!! Really? I don't think you would be willing to go public with some of the "mistakes" you have made to remind people to slow down in life and remember the small important moments......
To the Stakers:
I have been following your blog since I saw you on The Today Show. I actually went to H.S. with Mindy (although I don't think we ever crossed paths or anything like that--hung out with different groups! But definately a small world!) I just wanted to tell you how incredible it is that you are willing to share your raw, true and deep emotions to not just your family, but strangers. I've read through some of the comments and I am just so ashamed at how we are so desensitized to being HuMaN. We are all HuMaN and there shouldn't be any shame in making a mistake, learning from it, and moving forward with love for what we have been given. Your family has been so honest (I personally don't think I could ever do this) with every step you've had to take during this turmoil and above everything else, you have given yourselves to serving others in need....
To those who wish to leave a comment for this family.....PLEASE take the time to think about your personal life and what mistakes you have made in the past and maybe just today....would you now be so quick to pass judgement on the Stakers?!?!? Be more positive about life -- don't we all deserve to have that much for ourself and others?
Honestly, Julianna, is your life really so boring that "undisputed champion of the world" would irk you? In reference to an 18-month-old child? Really? Sounds like you need some excitment in your life, girl!
Dear Staker Family,
I too have been following your blog since I saw you on the Today Show. What I want you to know is that you have made a difference in my life and the way I make my way through each day. My husband and I were blessed with a beautiful baby boy in August. After reading about your journey I have made a choice to never leave (not even for 1 second) my son when he is in the bath. I can understand how this can happen...how everyday life can make you loose focus for what can only take one second to happen. Please, please, please listen to all the good that people post on your blog and dismiss the negative. Focus on how many people you have touched positively and let that lead you. I believe that you are a very blessed family and I can help but smile when I visit your blog and see all of your beautiful boys faces! I live in Colorado and was hoping that my husband would travel to Layton (as he does often) for work around the time of the Be Stron 5K but no such luck! God Bless. One more thing - I would be interested in giving a donation and in buying some of the B Strong braclets. Would it be possible that you could contact me and let me know how I can go about doing that? You can contact me through my blog. Thank you.
Sara-
I have followed your blog since February 1st. I want you to know how your example has directly changed me. I had not fasted in many years as I have diabetes and I get very ill. However, I wanted so badly to fast for Bronson in February that I prayed for strength to fast and I did. It was a deeply sacred experience for me.
I have six children and regularly have the "it can't happen to me" mentality. Just today I was tempted to run and grab my laptop while my 2 year old was bathing. I thought of you and stayed. She and I had a great time playing and singing instead.
Your story has directly helped my life. I hope that makes it worth it...
Dear Staker Family,
I recently came across your blog....thank you for sharing your story of faith, it is inspirational. Our family has also experienced trials as our daughter has battled leukemia. By "divine default" (as i call our trials, if there really is such a thing) testimonies are strengthened and we grow a little closer to heaven. Keep smiling and live happy!
Leslie
I was bummed that we couldn't make it to this event. It would have been great to meet sweet little Bronson and your dear family. I hope it was a great success and that you were able to see the love and support you have from people all over the world.
Sara,
I just want you to know, after following your blog on a regular basis since reading this story about Bronson, that I truly do feel like your family is an inspiration. And, do not let negative comments bring you down, because those people are silly... So silly. Your story is a true inspiration, and we can all learn from it... and your little miracle is something to share! I am truly inspired, and happy to learn about your story. It really is incredible. Whether or not I beleive in the same things as you or not! don't let the silly people bring you down!
:)
Keep inspiring, your family is awesome!
I just want to know why Julianna thinks her kids are any more innocent than yours?!? I love your blog, and check it daily, but I am inclined to agree with past comments about making your blog private. Your family is sacred, and some people just don't seem to understand that. You have been so gracious to allow anyone to comment on here, and they have clearly abused that privilege. Your children deserve to be "innocent" as well, and free from the judgments of others. God bless your dear family.
Sara-
You have an enormous support system that seems to only grow in numbers as certain people's ugliness comes out. Don't let them get you down. Their hate is their own problem, not yours. I will pray for them just as I continue to pray for you.
Bronson's story is just outstanding. I have done some work in the pediatric unit of our local children's hospital, and I don't know who to feel more for: the children who are ailing or their parents who are such strong pillars of support and hope. You are an amazing bunch!
I hope it went well. We were thinking of you.
just watched the piece from the "Today" show...wow!!!! So great to see ya'll and I am just in awe!!
Hope you have a wonderful Easter.
I found your blog through the segment you did several weeks ago on The Today Show. I am so happy that Bronson had a happy outcome to his story. I think it is way past time to make your blog private, though. Friends of mine who read your blog have negative opinions of this situation and though they would never actually post them, I hate to see that people DO. You don't need the stress. Plus, reading all the comments takes time away from your precious boys, I'm sure. I have enjoyed reading it, though and will miss it....Salt Lake City Mom
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