Kelly was a 42 year old mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.  Kelly was the first mom we started serving in 2012.  Before her application arrived, we felt like we already knew her, as so many of her friends had contacted LTBM about Kelly.  Obviously very loved and admired, this vibrant mom to two young boys (6 and 7)  was in a fight for her life.

Scrapbooks, letters from friends and family, and thumb print charms are some of the popular legacy items Kelly selected.  She also has chosen a shadowbox project for one son to house a favorite Lego project that the two of them created together and a book for her other son, to mark one of his favorite times with her, when she volunteered in his class by reading that very book.  Bibles were purchased for the boys, as Kelly’s biggest hope was that they remain close to God throughout their lives.  And finally, to mark a special bedtime routine of a “30 second hug”  custom hour glasses (30 second run times) are being made using sand from a beach where the family vacations, along with”hugging pillows” made from family clothing and photographs, perfect for continued hugging throughout the entire night.

Kelly took her first breath in the presence of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 31.  Please continue to pray for her family and friends.

Christine (aka “Chrissy”) took up a quick place in our hearts as she tearfully thought about the future times she would be missing with her three children.  At the age of 40, this mom was nearing the end of her fight with ovarian cancer when we first met with her on October 25, 2011.  Chrissy wanted to use all of the time she felt she had left creating memories and preserving her legacy of her two daughters and one son.  The children loved when their mom made chocolate chip cookies, so cookie jars were made using their hand prints.

Recordable books were provided to Chrissy so that she could read stories to the children, a pass-time that they enjoy doing together.  The children were all given a locket so that they could keep a picture of their mom nearby. Gifts for the future were purchased, including blue earrings and cuff-links for their wedding days, and the Dr Seuss Book(“Oh the Places You’ll Go for graduation gifts (chosen because Dr Seuss books are a favorite of all of theirs).

Chrissy’s battle with cancer ended on November 16, 2011.

We had the honor of serving Jeff during the late Spring and early Summer of 2011. At 47, Jeff was battling Lymphoma of the CNS.  He had been married to his wife Gail for 23 years and was a dad to two children; his son, Jeffery (19) and his daughter, Virginia (15).

At our first meeting his spirits were high.  We laughed and cried as he entertained us with stories about his life, his children, and his faith.  It was one of the first times that a teenager sat in on the interview – typically it is thought that the parent(s) may speak more openly without younger ears around, for this dad, that was not the case.  The connection between father and daughter was remarkable.  Jeff recounted moments that he treasured with his children as his daughter lay bedside listening to her dad speak of how proud he was of her.  Truly an amazing moment to bare witness to.

Because Jeff shared such great details with us, we were able to make several unique treasures for the family.Gifts for the future, a video recording, and thumb print charms are a few of the items that were created. He told us a story about a time that his daughter had written something on her bathroom mirror, this led to an unforgettable conversation between the two of them – to help Virginia hold on to that moment we had a mirror etched with the same phrase and Bible verse that she had written on her mirror.

Both of Jeff’s children are musically gifted.  His son had written a song about Jeff’s struggle.  As Jeff played it for us, he beamed with pride.  Jeff wished that his son could have the chance to record it professionally, so as a surprise to him, Jeffery and Virginia went to a local studio and did just that.

Jeff shared his belief in the Lord with us.  When asked about his most treasured possession…he answered “his salvation”.  Jeff went home to be with the Lord on June 30, 2011.

Billy was 40 when we met him in January 2011.  With is wife Haidee by his side and their 7 year old son Lawson, Billy battled with Melanoma for many months.

During our meeting, we learned that Billy loved being a dad…when he came home from work in the construction supply industry he went straight to building Legos and coloring with Lawson.  One of our favorite projects ever was made for Lawson – a picture that he and his dad colored together, complete with a frame made from Legos was preserved in a shadow box.  We were also able to have one of Billy’s hammers engraved fro Lawson and had a wooden plaques created fr the Hammer to hang on.  A tool belt was embroidered with a special message to Lawson as well.  A book of pictures, thumb print charm and quilt from billy’s clothing was also made for Lawson.

On March 2, 2011, Billy was freed from his cancer ridden body.

Affectionately known in our office as “Butterfly”.  Karen was 40 year old wife and mother with breast cancer. She was a mom to three boys.

Karen had us create some great projects for her boys, each signifying something she felt was very important – there are gifts for the future marking significant events that Karen had hoped to witness in person, such as high school graduation, wedding, and births of first children.  These keepsakes will remain in special boxes that were created just for the boys and inscribed with a clever saying from Karen.  Each of the boys also received a decorative pillow that they can put out during Karen’s favorite holiday, Halloween – the pillows were made using materials from the families past Halloween costumes. The boys also have thumb print charms and will be receiving keepsake books of letters written to them from Karen’s friends and family.

Though she was a tough opponent, her breast cancer eventually won out on September 2, 2011.

Nicole is a 28 year old wife and mother who is battling AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).  Her son is just 18 months old.

At our first meeting on September 9, 2011, Nicole’s youthful spirit was evident; possessing something that people are drawn to.  She is absolutely adorable and you can’t help but smile.

With her mom by her side, we were able to find some traditions that were caring over from her childhood into her own family.  Perhaps one of the funniest is the mac and cheese casserole, and the piece that seems to go missing at each holiday gathering.  The family isn’t  always sure if it has been eaten or hidden, but they say it will most certainly disappear.  To mark this very special family “quirk”, Nicole and her son will be painting a casserole dish, using their fingers to make macaroni noodles in the bottom (and of-course, one corner will not be painted to signify the missing piece).

We have also captured impressions of Nicole’s thumb prints for charms.  Family pictures will be taken, scrapbooks will be made, and tree skirts will be created from family clothing.

It is an honor to be serving Nicole – we look forward to continuing to work with her, and pray that she is granted the miracle that could be waiting for her.

We met Shannon in October of 2011 at his home.  With his wife Julie by his side, this 47 year old Dad of two told us many of his favorite things: softball, golf, watching baseball with his son, yellow roses, Christmas, bar-b-Que chicken and Charleston.  And as you can probably imagine, his wife and two children, Claire and Nicholas top that list.

Together, Shannon and Julie, decided on the perfect projects for their children.  We will have Christmas Tree skirts fashioned from Shannon’s clothing for each of the children, gifts for their wedding day, a book of letters from friends and family, thumb print charms, a charm bracelet for Claire, a wooden box for keepsakes for Nicholas, and two unique pieces created to represent Shannon’s love of watching baseball with his son and the gift of a yellow rose for his daughter.

Shannon went to be with his Father in Heaven on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.  He will be missed by his family and friends, who despite thier grieving, will celebrate the fact the Shannon is free from the pain scleroderma brought to his body.

Keith is 46years old and battling CNS Lymphoma.  This man of Faith is married to Ruthie and dad to four boys, 8, 11, 12, and 17.

We started serving Keith in May 2011 (He was 37 at the time).  As we got to know Keith in our interview, we learned that he wanted to make video messages for each of the boys and wanted an opportunity to make record of an upcoming family vacation.  We were able to provide the family a video camera.  Keith also was interested in having his photos organized and scrapped for the boys.  With four boys, comes four sets of scrapbooks to make, our volunteers worked tirelessly to make that happen.  It was great to sit with Keith as he viewed these scrapbooks with his oldest son – they really enjoyed laughing over the pictures.

Keith also had thumb print charms made, a photo session done of the family, stepping stones capturing handprints and rocks from their recent family vacation, shadow boxes are being made, and tree skirts from family clothing.

We are enjoying serving Keith, hearing about his mission trips, and learning of his love for the Lord.

Jeff enjoyed hiking, golfing, music, crab legs, grilling, and New Year’s Celebrations, but most of all he loved being a dad and a husband.  During our meeting in September 0f 2011, Jeff told us that he was most proud of meeting and marrying his wife Diane.  Together they have three children, 17 (Jennifer), 19 (Emily), and 21 (William), who clearly brought a light into Jeff’s eye as he spoke about them.

During recent years, much of Jeff’s time was spent serving as a Scout Master for his son’s Boy Scout troop, cheering on the Auburn Tigers with his second born, and clocking his youngest daughter’s swim times.  These special moments with each of his children helped to define a direction for some of our projects.

We are sad to say that our time with Jeff was cut short (about 3 weeks), but we will continue to work on several projects that he had requested for his children including: thumb print charms, shadowboxes (unique to special times he shared with each of his children), quilts made from his clothing, and books of letters written by some of the people who knew Jeff best, his friends and family.

Jeff passed away on October 3, 2011.

Lung Cancer was Theresa’s battle. At 43, she fought hard to stay here with her three children, Kris (18), Chase (12), and Kadi (4). It was Chase’s Guidance counselor that told the family about Let There Be Mom. On November 22, 2010, we had our first visit and Theresa decided on all of the projects that she would like to have done for her children.

Her list included: a video message, thumb print charms, quilts made from photographs and clothing, Bibles (personalized for each child), and gifts for the future. We had just a short time with Theresa, but we worked quickly and she was able to be involved in all of her projects. We provided her a video camera on the day we first met with her and were able to get her thumb prints made the next day. Theresa picked out sixteenth birthday gifts, graduation presents, and wedding day treasures for her children. She was also able to select the clothing and photographs that would be used in the quilts. She chose the exact Bibles she wanted them to have and the inscriptions she wanted in them.

Accept for the quilts, Theresa was able to see all of the items and give those which she meant for her children to have now, to them.

There is no doubt that Theresa is with the Lord, as she was a Woman of Faith.

Theresa passed away January 10, 2011; she was 43 years old.