Rough week
Those of you who know me “in real life”, or who follow me on Facebook, know that our community suffered no small loss this past week. One of our own, a husband-father-son-teacher-friend-coach named John Griffis, fell from a ladder last Saturday in his driveway and suffered major head trauma. Without ever regaining consciousness, he passed away a few days later. The funeral is today.
At the top of the “loss” list for this man are the wife and four children left behind. Three of the children go to our school now; sixth grade, eighth grade, eleventh grade; one graduated last year and is now in college.
Close behind are the many, many, MANY students at our school who are grieving. Mr. Griffis had worked there for years not only as a coach of many sports, but also as our 6th grade math teacher. So pretty much every student at our school has had him for class. Brayden had him last year … Kellen had him for two classes this year.
Mr. Griffis and I went to school together, although he was a few years older than me and I’m sure didn’t necessarily remember me from way back then. His father was my high school counselor. They live around the corner from me. I was in Bible Study with his wife this spring. She works at the school, also. We attend the same church and in fact, are in the same Sunday School class.
So even though our two families were not close, we have felt the loss. There are many, many, again– MANY families they were close to, who are reeling. Our town is still in shock, I think. They are good, good people, and while we celebrate that John is not suffering and is home with his God, those left behind can’t help but grieve. My personal grief, especially, lies with his children.
All three of my children have elected to attend the funeral today. Again, not because we were particularly close to John, but as a sign of respect to his wife and kids … their classmates. We were talking as a family last night about the loss, and the funeral, and how his family must be feeling …..
Then I opened my e-mail and read more bad news. For those of you who remember, it appears Camp Jack has possibly suffered a relapse of the neuroblastoma that he fought back when Kendrie was fighting leukemia. This news is being passed along, and his mom Jen has started up a new Camp Jack website, so I hope I’m not breaking any netiquette rules by sharing the news with all of you. If you knew them from before, you know what a special family they are. If you didn’t follow my blog back then, I’d love to introduce you to them now, and ask that you visit the site and encourage them today as they wait on test results to find out the exact diagnosis. What kind of sick and twisted world is it when you HOPE for secondary cancer, and not relapsed neuroblastoma?
I am so sad for both these families. One whose fight is over but whose grief has just begun, and one whose fight is just beginning — again.
I don’t think I’ll have to look much farther than my own living room to find my personal thankfulness this week.
17 Responses to Rough week
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 1:08 PM
I am so sorry for the loss your town is feeling…I am sure his family will be grateful for the support..
I followed Camp Jack years ago…in fact, I think I found you through them…my heart hurts knowing they have the long journey ahead of them, Again. I will begin praying for his total healing…
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 1:38 PM
Thank you so much for posting about Jack. I am devastated that they are facing this again.
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 1:58 PM
So sorry for the loss in your community Kristie. And devastated to read about Camp Jack. They were one of the first families that Angels in Atlanta served. Will definitely keep them in our prayers and show support in their guestbook. cancer sucks! If only Childhood Cancer got as much attention as breast cancer, (and just a fraction of the funding!!) maybe they could find a cure!!
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 2:09 PM
The news from CampJack makes my heart ache. Thank you for posting a link.
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 2:56 PM
Kristie,
I am so very sorry about your community’s tragic loss. I will keep you all in my prayers, especially his wife and children.
~Debbie~
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 5:50 PM
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Griffis. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and your whole community as you mourn the loss of this man.
I am also sorry to hear about the possible relapse of Camp Jack. Thoughts and prayers are there as well.
Don’t we all have so much to be thankful for?
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 5:51 PM
I just have no words right now. The breath has been sucked clean out of my body. It has been TOO long for Jack; not fair, not fair, not fair. I’m sorry about Mr. Griffis; once again, not fair. But you of all people know about the lack of fairness in life, and still you do a marvelous job of living it to the hilt anyway. Guess I did have at least a few words.
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 9:25 PM
I appreciate you passing along the Camp Jack info. I have followed you and many others who were fighting back then. (I taught William Olsen) I am sure I would have heard the news at some point, but I thank you for passing along the info.
This sounds like a really tough week for you. I am sure it makes you appreciate where you are as a family.
November 23rd, 2009 saat: 9:43 PM
Kristie, have followed you since the Caringbridge days and I do remember Camp Jack. Thanks for sharing. Will add him to my prayer list.
November 24th, 2009 saat: 7:19 AM
I am so sorry for the loss that your family, town and school are facing. I don’t even know what to say, except that I hope that his family sees your entry. What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. What a senseless loss.
I found Caringbridge due to a friend with a child with neuroblastoma.. and Jack was someone I followed. This breaks my heart.
Your family is in my heart and in my prayers.. I feel like I know you (my husband just can’t get how easy it is to get to ‘know’ people by their blogs), and I feel so thankful that Blaine is working like he wants to be and all of your kids are healthy. I’ll say an extra prayer today as you go to this sad funeral.
November 24th, 2009 saat: 9:11 AM
I am so sorry for the rough week you are having. I remember camp jack from back in your caringbridge days and will be sure to pray for the family as they go through another fight. I also prayed for the Griffis family. Puts it all in perspective at this time of thanksgiving.
November 24th, 2009 saat: 9:49 AM
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of such a great community leader and family man. I’m sure all of you will rally around his family in the days ahead.
Hugs!
November 24th, 2009 saat: 9:58 AM
Kristie -
So sorry about the great loss your community is dealing with.
I saw on Kristen Connor’s facebook this morning about Jack and it made me immediately tear up!
The first funeral that my daughter Rebecca went to was Carter Martin’s. She chose to go out of respect for the Martins and in support of her friend Candler, his brother.
May we ALL hug our loved ones a little tighter and let them know that they are loved, as we never know when it may be the last time we have the chance.
May the Lord wrap his arms around your community and give you all a much needed comfort!
November 24th, 2009 saat: 12:27 PM
it’s beginning to become a time where i don’t open my email, turn on the tv or read the internet. too much tragedy going on ALL THE TIME!!!
November 24th, 2009 saat: 7:43 PM
Kristie,
So sorry to hear about the loss in your community. Things like this are always so hard to understand. My prayers are with the family as well as all of those in the community.
I have often wondered how Jack was doing – this was not the news that I had hoped to hear.
Thank you, as always, for your honest words.
(I know that you probably have not noticed, but I have been incommunicado in guestbooks lately. I hope to be better about that now. Even though I have not been leaving guestbook entries, I still pray for your family daily.)
November 25th, 2009 saat: 11:11 AM
Sorry to read about your town’s loss of Mr. Griffis, Kristie. He’s sounds like quite a man. I’ll definitely be praying for his loved ones. And, Jack….. so, so sad for him and his family….. I can’t even begin to imagine….. I haven’t “met” him yet, but will definitely be praying for him too.
November 25th, 2009 saat: 11:42 AM
Ugh —- my heart breaks for both families…….
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