On Thursday, our son turned 8 years old. 8 is an amazing age....you think that
your child's life will never end.
Today, I found out that our friend, Janessa "Boey" Byers, an amazing little
girl, passed away. She was also 8 years old.
Boey was lovingly known as the "Cancer Warrior"...she was battling a rare
form of childhood cancer. She went into remission once, and we were praying
for the same results again. Instead, her body gave in and after receiving brain
surgery, she passed away from pneumonia on Friday 12/28/2007.
I cannot imagine how horrible Rachel, Rob and the two boys feel.
This family, the Byer's family, received the Extreme Makeover House in July.
Their show was aired in October. They are from Corvallis, OR.
When Boey was diagnosed in 2006, this little girl took cancer by the horns and
did not just lay around and do nothing....no, she fought back and even has a Childhood
Cancer Bill waiting to be signed in DC.
Please everyone, say a prayer for this amazing family tonight. They will need all
the stregnth they can to get through this. One of Boey's brother's has Asperger's and
is probably having a tough time with this...as is the rest of the family.
Rachel and Rob, please know that you guys are in our prayers.
I know Boey was an Angel in life....I am for sure she is one in death.
Love,
Jeanette
your child's life will never end.
Today, I found out that our friend, Janessa "Boey" Byers, an amazing little
girl, passed away. She was also 8 years old.
Boey was lovingly known as the "Cancer Warrior"...she was battling a rare
form of childhood cancer. She went into remission once, and we were praying
for the same results again. Instead, her body gave in and after receiving brain
surgery, she passed away from pneumonia on Friday 12/28/2007.
I cannot imagine how horrible Rachel, Rob and the two boys feel.
This family, the Byer's family, received the Extreme Makeover House in July.
Their show was aired in October. They are from Corvallis, OR.
When Boey was diagnosed in 2006, this little girl took cancer by the horns and
did not just lay around and do nothing....no, she fought back and even has a Childhood
Cancer Bill waiting to be signed in DC.
Please everyone, say a prayer for this amazing family tonight. They will need all
the stregnth they can to get through this. One of Boey's brother's has Asperger's and
is probably having a tough time with this...as is the rest of the family.
Rachel and Rob, please know that you guys are in our prayers.
I know Boey was an Angel in life....I am for sure she is one in death.
Love,
Jeanette
17 comments:
My heart goes out to them. Rose
Will do. Prayers and hugs sent.
I was very sad to hear of her death. I feel pain for the family and will defiantly keep them in my payers. she was one amazing little girl.
Cancer is a horrible piece of work.
I had two grandparents die from two different types of cancer, and I'm at risk as a result.
Life is unfair sometimes.
She is now in a better place. May she rest in peace.
she was such a beautiful little girl.. so tragic, i'll keep them in my thoughts
This is so sad. This little girl was such an inspiration and my heart goes out to her family.
What is also sad is this post from a blog of a mother who is from Texas (she has since moved) where she refers to her autistic boy as her "sick little boy." This is so completely offensive to parents of children who really ARE sick. This woman also writes on another post that her child has a "brain disease" and she won't accept that. People like this should wake up and realize just how ridiculous and selfish they sound.
By the way, the name of her blog name is Autismville. Maybe someone can tell her that her son is NOT sick and have a little respect for the children who truly are "sick."
From (Texas)Autismville's blog from July 2007, I believe:
We have moved quite a bit over the last decade. Every locale has its pros and cons. Texas, as they say, is a whole different country. When we moved here three years ago, we moved with much anticipation. Low cost of living, exemplary school district, great-big house, two kids. The American Dream was no longer a dream --- it was our new reality.
After much research of school districts and commute times, we decided on a community known for high academics, a number one football team, and beautiful, blonde women. Our move here was calculated. We wanted that perfection for our kids.
Only the best.
Better than we had growing up.
You get the picture.
Jack would be number one in his class and captain of the football team.
Seriously.
But of course, everything changed.
As I look back on those early mind-blowing, post-diagnosis days, the emotion I recall most vividly is that of sheer isolation. I felt completely disconnected from the world I once had walked so comfortably in. The dream was dead.
Some of the saddest moments I had were driving from one therapy appointment to the next, thinking about how I should be on my way to soccer and t-ball practice, while I looked at my sick little boy in the rear-view mirror. I hated going to Target. I would see a mother pushing her interactive toddler around in one of those bright red carts and would have to fight to keep myself from running over, invading the unappreciative stupor she was living in, and saying, “Do you realize how lucky you are!”
I was completely alone.
Anonymous,
The woman who blogged about her son being "sick" is expressing her own feelings in her blog.
Although I do not agree with her comments, she has the right to express her feelings on her blog.
Alot of people do not like the way I blog....I always comment, it is my blog, you don't like what I write, DON'T READ IT !!!!
I try to practice what I preach,
So to speak...
As for Boey, I understand her family is having a really rough time of it...please pray for them. I hope they know how many people are pulling for them.
Jeanette
I agree with you and I'll not comment again on this, but in this post where she talks about brain cancer and autism together, well, I think that's just wrong. Her son is autistic, he does not have incurable cancer like his grandfather had as she points out.
Wonderful families like Boey's unfortunately know what true illness is and what it can do. Thoughts are with the entire family.
From an October 2007 post:
Irony of ironies, decades later my son Jack's brain was invaded by an incurable illness too. Just like his grandfather before him, after many doctors’ exams and extensive testing, the neurologist diagnosed him and sent us on a journey I was already all too familiar with.
I know, like his grandfather, he just wants to live.
Be independent, have his heart broken, backtalk his nag-of-a-mother, savor the satisfaction of a job well done.
Simple things.
Never in a million years would my dad's cancer be "accepted as part of the human condition" as some in the autism community have been known to declare. Fortunately over the decades since my father’s death, much progress has been made in researching and treating brain cancer. (Just ask those at the Live Strong Foundation or the American Cancer Society.) Survival rates are higher than ever before. I suspect that if my dad were diagnosed today, his outcome might be very different.
My hope for Jack the Sequel is much the same.
Research, progress....
Never, ever acceptance.
Hi there. It's Judith from Autismville. Just wanted to say that this is such a sad story. My heart truly goes out to this family.
If you would like to comment directly on my blog, please feel free to do so. I know we all have different perspectives. I've lived and breathed having a loved one die of terminal cancer. I've also lived and breathed having a son severely affected by autism. In my personal experience, the similarities are sureal...
My personal feelings though are not ever meant to take away from tragedies such as this. Sadness is not a competitive sport. My thoughts are with this family...
Not surprised from this Autismville. After reading on her blog about the importance of shoe shopping and making it clear that she loves to shop and let everyone know that she is wealthy, I would rather read blogs written by people who really understand autism and have some substance to them.
Interestingly, I didn't see a shoe shopper, rich person on the autismville blog.
But, really does it matter? This is post about Boey.
HUGS once again to her family and friends.
I love you Boey. Your show was aired again tonight. When I saw your little face, I was overcome with how beautiful you were; angelic to say the least. I can't stop thinking about you and your family. If this gets to them, I would say that they were so lucky to have YOU as a daughter and that they were wonderful, caring and loving parents. XOXO
I am a huge fan of Extreme Makeovers Home Edition.But I particularly enjoyed Boeys episode throughout,and I was so happy for herand excited that she had beaten it. I was smiling and laughing at how happy she was that she got her manakins and wigs. Then I saw the R.I.P notice at the end. I must admit, I cried. Alot. I was so proud of that little girl. How strong she had been, not just for herself but for everyone. I would like to say that I would like to name my second child after her, and decided this as soon as I had saw the show.
i watched extreme makeover home eddition yesterday, 26/12/08 and i saw boey. she looks like such a happy little girl even though she was ill. she is such an inspiration to everyone, especially her parents, 2 brothers and other children who are ill with cancer. i cried when i saw the RIP part at the end, i thought she had got over it and was ok. RIP Boey, you are in all of our thoughts. A boy who used to go to my school died of lukemia nearly 2 years ago, he was such a lovely boy, he would do anything for anyone and didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. joe please look after boey.
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We love you and thank God for bringing you into our lives. We will always be eternally grateful to you for your support, prayers and love. Thank you to all your friends who have prayed for us. God is doing amazing things through our family. Boey's legacy of love, faith and hope will live on for eternity:)! God Bless your beautiful family.
Blessings,
Rob and Rachel Byers
Wow I just seen boeys show for first time. She was such a brave little girl and so generous! Im glad extreme makeover came and helped give her the dream bedroom before her passing! Im sure it helped her be happier in the end! Thoughts and prayers def going out to the family my heart breaks thinking of how they can even begin to cope with the lost of their beautiful daughter!
To lose your child at 8 years old
With her future ahead and so many dreams. Losing a young child would be the hardest to do. She went through so much pain, and still she died at 8. God bless you Boeys family, be with you and know others found Boey as strong, smart, thoughtful, and loving. You raised a beautiful child. I'm so sorry to hear she passed. Prayers & love always, Mom in S.C.
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