John's Great Strides Story
Page Varner
Fundraising for Houston Great Strides
Page Varner
There’s never been a time in the past 29 years that I’ve missed John more than I do now. Sometimes I still can’t wrap my brain around the fact that he isn’t here. In March, Angela, PresleyAnn, Katie & I went to Texas Children’s Hospital to have lunch with the pulmonary doctors & tour the hospital. Even though the hospital & 4 North do not even remotely resemble what they were in 1996, it was still a whole lot of DeJa’Vu. I have not been back to TCH since the day John was taken over to Methodist for his transplant - August 13, 1996. Such a happy day that ended in tragedy 16 days later. At least for us on earth. John is HEALED & with Jesus! I am so thankful to be his sister & to have had a front row seat to his faith & love for Christ. What a blessing to have been a part of his journey.
John was a fighter & he fought with every ounce of fight he had until his last breath. He KNEW he would be healed – either the transplant would give him a new life here on earth or he’d have a new life with our Father in Heaven. His faith is what kept us all going – we knew he trusted Jesus with his life, so why shouldn’t we? I remember one evening, Mom, Dad, John & I were in John’s kitchen praying. John THANKED the Lord for his having CF!
Every child deserves a bright future & a chance to live a long, healthy life. With your continued support, The CF Foundation has “more than doubled the life expectancy of those living with CF over the past 3 decades!” How exciting is that!!! They have also “developed 12+ existing therapies & more than 40 therapies are in the drug development pipeline!” “While therapies have had an incredible impact on the lives of those with CF, there are still many people with this disease who do not benefit from the existing treatments. Either their disease is too advanced or because their specific genetic mutation will not respond. While these modulator therapies have been transformative for many people with CF, they are not a cure.” John’s 34 years was just not enough.
We are one day closer to realizing a dream where everyone with CF can live a life free of this horrible disease. Very soon, everyone with CF will be able to say “I USED TO HAVE CF!” Because of you, Cystic Fibrosis will be cured. For me, giving up is not an option! I am deeply grateful for every dollar that is donated to honor John’s memory. John would just be blown away by everyone’s love for him.
Please know it isn’t easy for me to ask you for money. But I will do anything to help make life worth living for those with CF. So, from the very bottom of my heart, I ask you to help. Please give what you can. Every little bit adds up to make a whole lot of difference. Your dollars could mean the difference between life & death.
I pray God blesses you & your family. Now go give them all big hugs & tell them how much you love them. You never know when you won’t be able to do that again.
To Him be given ALL the glory,
Page, Angela, PresleyAnn & Katie (John, Jim & Katie)
John was a fighter & he fought with every ounce of fight he had until his last breath. He KNEW he would be healed – either the transplant would give him a new life here on earth or he’d have a new life with our Father in Heaven. His faith is what kept us all going – we knew he trusted Jesus with his life, so why shouldn’t we? I remember one evening, Mom, Dad, John & I were in John’s kitchen praying. John THANKED the Lord for his having CF!
Every child deserves a bright future & a chance to live a long, healthy life. With your continued support, The CF Foundation has “more than doubled the life expectancy of those living with CF over the past 3 decades!” How exciting is that!!! They have also “developed 12+ existing therapies & more than 40 therapies are in the drug development pipeline!” “While therapies have had an incredible impact on the lives of those with CF, there are still many people with this disease who do not benefit from the existing treatments. Either their disease is too advanced or because their specific genetic mutation will not respond. While these modulator therapies have been transformative for many people with CF, they are not a cure.” John’s 34 years was just not enough.
We are one day closer to realizing a dream where everyone with CF can live a life free of this horrible disease. Very soon, everyone with CF will be able to say “I USED TO HAVE CF!” Because of you, Cystic Fibrosis will be cured. For me, giving up is not an option! I am deeply grateful for every dollar that is donated to honor John’s memory. John would just be blown away by everyone’s love for him.
Please know it isn’t easy for me to ask you for money. But I will do anything to help make life worth living for those with CF. So, from the very bottom of my heart, I ask you to help. Please give what you can. Every little bit adds up to make a whole lot of difference. Your dollars could mean the difference between life & death.
I pray God blesses you & your family. Now go give them all big hugs & tell them how much you love them. You never know when you won’t be able to do that again.
To Him be given ALL the glory,
Page, Angela, PresleyAnn & Katie (John, Jim & Katie)
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