Request for Support

Bri's Mom here: Greetings Everyone,
I hope that this note finds you all well and enjoying our precious gift of Life. It has been a long while since I last communicated with many of you. Since Brianne passed away in June, I have struggled with all the effects that grief brings. The reality of losing Beez remains very painful. I compartmentalize; take care of my responsibilities and then when I allow myself to reflect and revisit I still grieve deeply. The loss of my girl feels like a deep hole of emptiness and sorrow. It is something that only God can touch to get through the pain but the heartache remains daily. often find myself crying out to God saying "I just want her back" knowing that is a prayer that will not be answered. I hold on to Hope and someday I 'll be with my girl again, hearing her laugh, seeing her beautiful smile and hugging the stuffing out of her. Well, enough of the sad song. Beez often pleaded with me to not remain sad after she's gone and to please live, really liveeach day. She was an excellent role model of that for me as she enjoyed life with great joy and loved completely!
I am writing now to ask for your consideration and support of a dear childhood friend of Brianne, Chris and Joshua's, Jonathon Brown. Jon has entered and committed himself to run the Marine Corps. Marathon in Washington, D.C. to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma research in memory of our Beez. We know Brianne wanted us as a family to support this cause and we are committing our future days to support research in hopes for a cure someday. Please consider sending even a very small gift to support his run. Just a ten dollar donation would help as Jon is still 1,000.00 short of his $3,500.00 goal.
Please read his web page and letter and give what you are able to give. Thank You so very much for your time and consideration. Blessings to you and your family

Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/corps08/jbrownyqag

See the letter attached from Jonathon Brown as he explains how he was lead to run 26 miles and commit himself to this cause. Again, thank you

Hard Day

Today has been a very rough day. I sense something very heavy within me physically and emotionally. I know it's there and nagging at me but I stuff it til the "appropiatte time" mostly at night when all is quiet and everyones retired to their rooms. But now I just checked the mail, got a card from a friend or two, read the words of love and beautiful memories regarding Beez and I loose it. It's a good thing, a very good thing, actually a cherished thing I treasure to read the memories that people who love her remember and share with us. I do love hearing about her escapades, fond memories, the "life and times" so to speak of "my favorite". So I wanted to jot a quick THANK YOU for all who have sent me/us a note with your fond memories of Brianne, Beez, Bri or Briannicles to some (We teased her often regarding her many names, mostly though about how those who didn't know her would call her Brianna. She couldn't stand to be called Brianna! It was worse than nails scratching a chalkboard to her). Anyway, thank you again for your very kind sentiments, memories, prayers and expressions of love. They are TRUELY helping us all.
Sincerely, Brenda

Lil bishun

That's what my girl used to say when she just absolutely had zero gumption, energy or simply very little ambition "lil bishun" to do anything. We often used different words to communicate our thoughts, feelings, etc. God I miss her terribly.
Well I am in the negative on lil bishun scale. Not feeling up to much of anything. Holding on though. Doing the next thing but nothing creative or sharing. So keep on checking the blog, maybe in the next week or two will be able to get some pics together. As I said before Chris is having a very hard time getting through the picture video of Bri, it just hurt so ---- much. We miss her beautiful smile her loving spirit her witty banter and her sweet voice. Gotta go, can't see through the tears to type anymore. Bless You and Thx for the prayers.
Brenda

A Season of Grief

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.

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

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.