We will post some things in the days to come. Presently we are coping, grieving and "doing the next thing". Christopher is working on a pictorial memorial that is beautiful but difficult to finish as you can imagine. Please check back later. The notes people have sent with memories and what Bri meant to them has been incredibly encouraging and comforting. Thank You and please send more so we can compile them.
On a personal note:
One week has passed. I have not posted as words fail me. One of my very precious treasures is gone from me and I grieve. I have never known such sorrow. At times I am comforted by Gods words and promises. Other times, nothing seems to satisfy the deep longing for my daughter/best friends prescence. Embracing the finality, the reality is excruciating. Anxiety, remorse and sorrow replaces hope. Eventually, the overwhelmingness of it all washes away as the tears stream down. I am left with nothing but God, just as it should be.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
A Grievous Loss & A Better Place
Last night, Wednesday, around 8 PM, Brianne passed away and is now with God. She no longer is in pain or hurting, and our hearts and minds are still reeling. We thank everyone out there for your prayers and support throughout all of this and continue to ask for prayer. Per Brianne's request, we will not be having a memorial or funeral service and she'll be cremated and her ashes scattered in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina in the Fall and at the first snow. In lieu of flowers, we would ask people to either send gifts to the home address below or support our friend Jon Brown who is running a marathon in honor of Brianne and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society have been very supportive, helpful, and provide an invaluable service.
Re. the Party - it was a smashing success and a wonderful time of fellowship, food, and fun. We had around 200 people that came, and we wound up running out of name stickers, had cars parked all up and down our street and neighboring streets, and have lots of leftovers. Thanks to all who helped out and especially to Liz who is an amazing coordinator, mover, shaker, and friend.
Within the next few days, we will post some pictures from the Brianne-abration, some info. about the party, and a few of the letters written to Brianne. Thanks again for everything ya'll out there have been to us and to Bri. We love ya'll.
If you want to contact us, you may write us at:
The Tsavatewas
539 Moss Hill Dr.
Macon GA 31204
call or email:
Chris (478-361-3507) & thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com
Mom (229-506-3221) & btsavatewa@yahoo.com
Joshua (478-737-4178) & jtsavatewa2002@yahoo.com
P.S. Please continue to email pictures to Chris at thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Brianne-abration!
Time: Wednesday, June 4th, AD 2008, 2PM EST-Until (staying late is perfectly fine and encouraged)
Where: Chris & Dallas' house
Who: Any and everyone
What: Party w/ Brianne and her peeps.
Themes: Come in your favorite Bri-esque attire (ie: three t-shirts, a trucker hat, or something Bohemian). Also: a theme will be to mingle and meet strangers sharing your BRI experience, because Brianne never met a stranger.
Our address is:
539 Moss Hill Dr
Macon GA 31204
and here are links to google maps for how to get there:
Directions if coming from the North (Atlanta down I-75):
Directions if coming from the South (S. GA up I-75)
Thanks to everyone who has offered to help, and if you still wish to help, but have not contacted us, please contact Liz Collins about helping out by emailing her at lizacollins84@hotmail.com or downhere4him@yahoo.com or call her @ 478-318-2714. Please continue to email pictures to Chris @ thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com.
Please direct any and all questions about the Brianne-abration you may have to Liz.
Life Celebration Party Plans
Because of Brianne's setbacks and the medical staffs information and we are currently thinking that she may not have much time left. We've moved from her having 3-5 weeks, to possibly having only 1-2 weeks and now only a few quality days. With her weakened immune system and the infections in her (the pneumonia, septicimia, & the fungal infection on her skin), in being realistic, we have to face the possibility of less time than originally thought. Because of that, we are going to move up the life celebration party to Wednesday.
Regarding the party: We've had trouble finding a place to have it, so we are just going to have it at the house. Some of the specifics are in flux right now and we'll have it firmly nailed down by Monday night. We're looking to do a bunch of different stuff and have a lot of Brianne's favorites foods and activities. We would like to get some help in getting people to purchase certain things simply because it's a bit of a logistical nightmare to get together all of the stuff and we're a bit busy right now. If you are willing/able to do something please email Chris at thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com, and include your name & phone number and we'll assign something for you (of course, after conversing with you). Having the party is kind of her last wish, and we really want to have it and have many people come.
Also, please let others know about this new development and the date change. We will be emailing and calling people, and some people don't read the blog and/or we don't have their contact info. Thanks again and we need your prayers. Also, keep the pictures via email coming to Chris at thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com. If you have any old-school, non-digital pictures, bring them to the celebration party and we'll put them up on the walls.
Regarding the party: We've had trouble finding a place to have it, so we are just going to have it at the house. Some of the specifics are in flux right now and we'll have it firmly nailed down by Monday night. We're looking to do a bunch of different stuff and have a lot of Brianne's favorites foods and activities. We would like to get some help in getting people to purchase certain things simply because it's a bit of a logistical nightmare to get together all of the stuff and we're a bit busy right now. If you are willing/able to do something please email Chris at thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com, and include your name & phone number and we'll assign something for you (of course, after conversing with you). Having the party is kind of her last wish, and we really want to have it and have many people come.
Also, please let others know about this new development and the date change. We will be emailing and calling people, and some people don't read the blog and/or we don't have their contact info. Thanks again and we need your prayers. Also, keep the pictures via email coming to Chris at thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com. If you have any old-school, non-digital pictures, bring them to the celebration party and we'll put them up on the walls.
Health Update
Brianne had a setback Saturday, and we were not able to go to North Carolina. Instead, we are going to be staying in the Emory hospital until the middle of next week and will probably return to Macon by Wednesday or Thursday. We are still intending to have the life celebration party on Saturday.
Brianne's health has deteriorated rapidly over the past 36 hours and she is very weak, tired, sore, and ill. She started developing some sores on her skin on Tuesday and Wednesday and over the past 2 days, they've appeared over all of her body. The sores are due to her weakened immune system and come from a blood infection. The Doctor said the sores should continue to multiply and probably won't go away. The sores look kind of like chicken pox, but they don't itch and are just painful. The sores are not contagious and come from a fungus that every person has, that a normal person's immune system takes care of. We just want everyone to be aware of her appearance, so as not to be shocked or scared.
(Moms addition) Bri is looking forward with delight to her party and is trying to hold on. I know everyone is praying and we bear testimony to the power of prayer as it is what is sustaining and giving hope and peace at this overwhelming time. We have the rough sketch of plans for the party and will be posting the details later today. If you have pictures email them to thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com . Thanks again for everything.
Brianne's health has deteriorated rapidly over the past 36 hours and she is very weak, tired, sore, and ill. She started developing some sores on her skin on Tuesday and Wednesday and over the past 2 days, they've appeared over all of her body. The sores are due to her weakened immune system and come from a blood infection. The Doctor said the sores should continue to multiply and probably won't go away. The sores look kind of like chicken pox, but they don't itch and are just painful. The sores are not contagious and come from a fungus that every person has, that a normal person's immune system takes care of. We just want everyone to be aware of her appearance, so as not to be shocked or scared.
(Moms addition) Bri is looking forward with delight to her party and is trying to hold on. I know everyone is praying and we bear testimony to the power of prayer as it is what is sustaining and giving hope and peace at this overwhelming time. We have the rough sketch of plans for the party and will be posting the details later today. If you have pictures email them to thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com . Thanks again for everything.
Friday, May 30, 2008
A Different Phase
We've spent the last week intensely waiting and the weeks before waiting for this day. We now know where we're going and Brianne will not be undergoing any more chem treatments and will only have 1-2 good weeks and a few weeks after that. We met with the Doctor last night and he told us that her leukemic blasts in her bone marrow are at 70% and another round of chemo wouldn't lower it enough to go to transplant (it would have to be below 10% to do the bone marrow transplant). The last week has been tough as we've waited for numerous test results to come back and it's incredibly difficult to be facing the idea of Brianne dying.
Because her type of leukemia replicates so quickly, she will only have a few weeks, and she should get out of the hospital Saturday. We are going on a trip to North Carolina for a few days and will return to Macon by the middle of next week and Brianne asks to have no visitors at this time. We are planning to have a "life celebration party" in lieu of a funeral/memorial service and it is scheduled to occur on Saturday, June 7th in Macon. More details will follow.
Brianne is at peace with what's happening and has expressed her sense of peace numerous times. She's been incredibly strong and a calming force for all of us. We thank you for your prayers and continue to ask for prayer as we go through this difficult time. Pray for a continued peace, God's comforting hand, and for Brianne's physical comfort as her physical condition worsens.
Because her type of leukemia replicates so quickly, she will only have a few weeks, and she should get out of the hospital Saturday. We are going on a trip to North Carolina for a few days and will return to Macon by the middle of next week and Brianne asks to have no visitors at this time. We are planning to have a "life celebration party" in lieu of a funeral/memorial service and it is scheduled to occur on Saturday, June 7th in Macon. More details will follow.
Brianne is at peace with what's happening and has expressed her sense of peace numerous times. She's been incredibly strong and a calming force for all of us. We thank you for your prayers and continue to ask for prayer as we go through this difficult time. Pray for a continued peace, God's comforting hand, and for Brianne's physical comfort as her physical condition worsens.
We will also be making several requests to help out with this celebration, as many of you have indicated that you want to help, but an immediate request we want everyone to send pictures of brianne, or you with brianne, etc to one central location....Chris' email thecigarstoreindian@gmail.com thanks for all your assistance.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Waiting
We thought today we might be in a place where we could share some solid answers however, that is not the case. Yesterday we spoke with the doctor regarding Bri's decision. He said he needed to run a few tests to: 1. Determine the cause of Bri's pain (wanting to rule out pancreatitis, gallstones, liver, etc. ) 2: Stabilize her medication regime, explore options and 3: Gather some additional data surrounding her leukemic blasts in her blood and marrow. So yesterday CT's and ultrasounds were done. This morning she had a bone marrow biopsy as they want some solid data on the blast level in the marrow. The doctor indicated that he wanted Bri and us to have as much information as possible to evaluate. He is now satisfied with Bri's level of competence in decision making as she has improved. The nausea and vomiting has subsided and her alertness is increased. In a few days we will give more details but right now we are asking for continued peace and prayer for the family.
The doctor said Bri needs to remain a few more days. She can have visitors however, presently she is in need of rest to gain some strength, so right now the visits should be short. Additionally, if you have been sick or exposed to someone who has been sick (cold, flu, etc.) please save you visit for another time. If you plan on visiting call either Bri's, Brenda, Joshua or Chris by cell phone to let them know you would like to come. Also, be careful to not wear any perfumes or cologne as it triggers nausea. We are at Emory University Hospital room 622E.
The prayers and communication of love, encouragement, hope and peace have been like a "balm to our souls" We are being sustained and kept by Gods amazing Grace and we know that we know that we know "the prayers of a righteous man availeth much"
Bless you all and thank you.
The doctor said Bri needs to remain a few more days. She can have visitors however, presently she is in need of rest to gain some strength, so right now the visits should be short. Additionally, if you have been sick or exposed to someone who has been sick (cold, flu, etc.) please save you visit for another time. If you plan on visiting call either Bri's, Brenda, Joshua or Chris by cell phone to let them know you would like to come. Also, be careful to not wear any perfumes or cologne as it triggers nausea. We are at Emory University Hospital room 622E.
The prayers and communication of love, encouragement, hope and peace have been like a "balm to our souls" We are being sustained and kept by Gods amazing Grace and we know that we know that we know "the prayers of a righteous man availeth much"
Bless you all and thank you.
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