The week ahead...

Hello Everyone.

We will be having a wake for Alec on Thursday night at Bibber Funeral Home in Kennebunk. Friday morning will be a service at 11:00 am at Union Church, Biddeford Pool.

Please copy and paste the link below for Alec's obituary and more details.

http://www.bibberfuneral.com/cgi-bin/obits.cgi?Name=Alexander 'Alec' B. Cyr

Thank you everyone for everything, I could not get through this without you all.

Love,

Heather

10.23.11

Alec passed away early this morning. We were all with him, and I stroked his head and told him how much I loved him. My heart is breaking and I have never known so much sorrow. I know that God was with us because there is no way we could have gone through the last few days without him.

I feel so blessed to have had Alec in my life for 5 wonderful years. I would not trade that for the world.

Thank you all for your endless love, support and prayers. I am forever grateful.

"There is absolutely nothing to fear about tomorrow; for God is already there."

Love,

Heather

Holding On...

As I go forward step by step, the way will be opened up unto me.( Proverbs 4:12 )

We are taking one moment at a time. There is nothing right or OK about this. My heart aches and aches. I never thought we wouldn't get through this...I never imagined how much it would hurt.

Alec is my hero and I have never met anyone with such character, such determination, such spirit.

We will continue to pray for a miracle, but the nurse said earlier this week that miracles sometimes don't happen on earth.

Thank you for the endless love, support, prayers, and all the food, cards, flowers, etc. We are so touched by the Grace you have all shown. I know you want to take away the pain, and you are, even if you don't know it. My heart breaks a little less with each act of kindness.

My sister, Jill created "Team Alec" for a walk/run sponsored by the Colon Cancer Coalition. It is a 5K around Castle Island in South Boston on November 12. I cant believe all the people who have signed up and donated already. It is incredible. Jill already had to increase the donation from 1,000 to 2,000 within 48 hours. Jill did not have all your email addresses, but we want EVERYONE to be invited and to be a part of such a great event. And, if you would like to run with a number, you do have to sign up at this link and pay $25.00

http://events.getyourrearingear.com/site/TR/Boston/General/2032322428?pg=team&fr_id=1072&team_id=1531

And here is the EVITE:
http://new.evite.com/?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=invite&eml=g_inv#view_invite:eid=0329AAPMT7NZ5QB5CEPA7EDVDO65LI&gid=0329AAPMT7N2NE3T6EPA7EDV42WOIQ

"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen you heart" (Psalm 27:14).

Thank you and love to all,

Heather, Alec, Chase, Millie and our Families.

A Happy-Rainy Day

This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Alec spent the day with his college friends. All of them, caravanned up, one starting as far away as New Jersey, a couple from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Boston to spend a rainy day in Maine just to be with their good friend Alec.

I know it meant so much to him, and I am grateful for today, as he had many laughs and it certainly brightened things up around here.

We received bundles of packages today, thank you all, the King Philip family for the incredible basket and the Feehan girls for the chocolate fruit and Jill's friends for the beautiful flowers. Every time I open something, whether it be a card, text, email, voicemail, I become emotional, because we have so many people out there who have been with us, praying, supporting, loving us for two years, and you have never relented, through the good times and the bad and we are forever grateful.

Our Moms and sisters have been taking good care of us all week, cooking, cleaning, taking night feedings with Chase. Even Brian mowed our lawn and weed wacked (not bad for a Southie guy with no lawn...although I had to start the mower...haha, in his defense, its a tricky one) And my Dad chopped some wood, something old Papa hasn't done in 20 years. We love and cherish all the visits and company we have had, and look forward to many more friends and family making their way up to Maine in the future. Thank you to Jan and church and the special prayers we are receiving, I can feel them and we know that we are in good hands.

We are just taking each day at a time, loving and living and making the most of our beautiful life.

Love,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie

PS...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JILLY!!!

A Good Day...

Today was a good day.

Alec was able to stay a little more alert and he made us all laugh and we enjoyed one more day...and what more can a little family ask for?

I told him what his nurse Katie told me, that Alec has put up a fight like no other patient she has ever seen. He simply replied "Well its not over yet". My heart filled with joy, I know he will fight till his last breath and I will be right there beside him. He is right, this is not over, and we continue to pray for that miracle and we know that no matter what, God here with us.

Thank you again to all who have reached out, it means more than you will ever know.

All our love,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie

Each Day...

I do not even really know what to say tonight. I guess I will start with we are still here and each day together is a gift.

We had lots of family and friend time this past weekend and of course, that helps. We were even able to go out for a boat ride on Saturday and enjoy the beautiful weather and calm seas.

I am clinging to each moment like it is our last. My heart goes from breaking and aching to joyful and hopeful within seconds. Alec is more comfortable now, and although he still has his humor, he seems to be fading in and out. Maybe its the drugs, maybe its the cancer, but it is hard to witness. How is it that two months ago we were hiking mountains in Acadia? God works is mysterious ways and I don't think we will ever understand.

For now, we are just trying to get through each day, trying to smile, trying to stay strong for one another...for Chase.



Tonight, Chase, Millie and I went for a walk on the beach. It was such a beautiful night and I noticed a little rainbow in the sky, one similar to one I saw when this entire journey began. I took a picture with my camera phone and when I downloaded it my computer, I immediately noticed not the rainbow, but the light from the sun next to it. Upon realizing what I actually took a picture of, without even knowing it, I felt warm and my heart fill up with joy. I do believe that this was the light of God, telling me, that no matter what, things are going to be OK. We will get through this, and whatever tomorrow brings, he is there beside us. That life on this earth is just a small piece of it all, and there is so much more. We are the unfortunate ones...the ones who have to stay behind
.


We will never, ever, give up. We are fighting this until there is nothing left of us, I can assure you that we are still giving it our all.

We are so touched by the outpouring of support, love, prayers. We seriously could not do this without you all. I am so grateful.

Love and God Bless,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie

One Day at a Time

We learned on Thursday that Alec did not qualify for the clinical trial. His liver is not functioning like it should be and therefore he is unable to take part in this trial, and perhaps any other trial. It was devastating to hear, especially on October 6th, exactly 2 years since he was first diagnosed. Usually we leave MGH with some kind of Hope, and there was always another option, but this time things are grim.

We have not, and will not ever give up. I have started to research alternative treatments, and Alec has an appointment on Friday with a holistic healer. He is as stoic and strong as ever and we are trying to take it one day at a time.

I am truly touched by all our friends, family and the church who have reached out, it is amazing and we are so, so blessed. It makes this a little bit easier, knowing we have so much support and love. Thank you.

This weekend we will be surrounded by family and we will continue to pray and pray for a miracle.

Love and God Bless,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie

2 years

So after waiting and waiting, it looks like we will have to wait a little longer. Although Alec got the "slot" for the new clinical trial, he has to have another round of pre-trial screening tests performed. Today was a CT scan, blood work and and an EKG. Later this week will be a biopsy, eye exam and a few other tests that I am not even sure what they mean. In order to be eligible for the trial, he must again have decent blood counts, normal EKG's, etc. We are trying to be optimistic, but Alec's over all health has obviously declined within the last couple months and we are really praying he is well enough to be part of this trial. We should hear within the next few days, so in the mean time, we will be praying for Alec to be healthy and strong enough for the trial.

Tomorrow will be two years to when Alec was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer. We have taken our life together and made each moment count, making the best of every day and living life to the fullest despite the multiple challenges we have faced. It has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least...happy and carefree one day, to hopeless and devastated the next. Looking back at the last two years I can hardly believe all we have been through. I know that we did not face this alone, that God carried us through the difficult moments of hopelessness and sadness. And, of course he gave us our beautiful baby Chase, a blessing and a miracle beyond comprehension.

I can look back at the last two years with confidence in our decisions and with no regrets. Despite the numerous times we have been knocked down and cancer has tested our Faith and Spirit over and over again, we continue to fight back and it has yet to break us. I would and will continue to do everything humanly possible to keep my husband alive.

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers and for sticking by us for these 2 years. We could not have done it without you.

Love and God Bless,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie

Another Chance...

Today our prayers were answered. It was a long time coming (waiting a little over a month felt more like 2 years). But Dr. Urich called and told Alec he is back in and although we don't know much yet, our HOPE has been renewed.

The last couple weeks have been extremely hard. We were both hurting, Alec physically and I could feel my heart literally breaking every time I looked at him. He has been taking a lot of meds to stay comfortable which means he is not himself and not able to do much. Chase and I try to keep his spirits up, but each day with no hope and no word from MGH it was getting harder and harder. I think we were both slipping into a dark place however, today we are back.

It feels good to know we are going to start this trial soon. I think the hardest part is doing nothing, which has pretty much been what we have done for the last 4 or 5 months, once the chemo stopped working, waiting a month, and the clinical trial drug having no affect, then waiting another month. And it gets in your head, knowing nothing is being done and that the cancer must be spreading, and of course, the waiting in itself can drive you insane. The other hard part is Alec in pain, because it is a constant reminder that he is sick. The past two years he has never had a day where he felt like he had cancer, sure the chemo and surgeries happened, but that pain went away and he was strong and healthy once again. This time, it was not getting better.

Alec's Mom saw a rainbow on her way home and thought it might be a God Wink. I told her we needed some winks,it had been a while and sure enough, the next day we got the call. We were sad to hear that one women from church lost her battle to cancer last night, we have been praying for her and her family. Cancer affects so many and we pray so hard for a cure.

I don't even have any fun weekend updates...it rained (poured) both Saturday and Sunday and we had a quiet house. Chase and I went to a boring craft fair and then to Mardens (because what good is a rainy day without a trip to Mardens!) poor kid, I think he needs his Daddy to feel better to have some man time...enough of this shopping stuff with Mommy. Sunday Chase and I met Auntie Charlotte at church and as usual, it was lovely and it and everyone there made us feel better.

Chase and Daddy

Chase watched some NASCAR with Daddy on Sunday.

Chase looked like a little prince, wearing his first crown made by his friend Luke at church. I love my little prince...

So again, we thank you for the prayers. We feel so blessed and so fortunate to be given yet another chance. God has been good to us.

Love,

Heather, Alec, Chase and Millie