In Loving Memory

I don't even really know where to start. When Brandon and I moved in with Dennis 6 months ago we had Greg Linton and my brother Ryan helping us move. As we started unloading at Dennis's house Scott and Cody Davis appeared out of no where and started helping. I didn't know them and wasn't sure how they knew that we were moving. We had to drive back down to finish off loading our stuff up. They came too and then drove back with us and helped unload again. Apparently they didn't know we were moving but just saw us and decided to stop and help. That was my first real exposure to the Davis family.

A few months ago Scott was assigned as our home teacher. I have had the opportunity to learn a lot more about him and his family. He lost his job months ago. He has interviewed and applied many different places, some even outside the state. Nothing has come to fruition. He has stayed positive. A while back his wife Lynne had breast cancer. She fought it and received a clean bill of health. She went in every 3 months and everything looked good. She was able to go in for her last 3 month check up before Scott lost his job. They told her they didn't need to see her for 6 months.

A few weeks ago Lynne's stomach started bothering her. She thought she had an ulcer or something. She went to the ER. They ran several tests. It was determined that she had stage 4 liver cancer that had metastasized from her breast. They gave her 6 months to a year to live.

A week after this diagnosis Scott came to home teach us. I couldn't believe he was coming over to visit us and asking if we needed anything at such a difficult time for his family. The previous 5 days the doctors had been giving Lynne shots to boost her white blood cell count. If that worked they could do chemo. If it didn't then basically their was nothing that could be done.

It was a very tearful visit for me. I didn't know Lynne well but knew Scott and the boys. I just couldn't imagine them without their wife and mother. I told Scott that we had been thinking so much about them but didn't know what they would need. I mentioned that I had thought about bringing over homemade bread. That put a smile on his face. He told me to bring homemade bread over. He grew up on that stuff.

That night (last Sunday-a week after finding out she had cancer) Lynne went back into the hospital. Monday night we had been told that it didn't look good. We went to the hospital to see her. She said "I love you guys" and "I'm so tired." Then she closed her eyes.

I dropped off some bread for the Davis family on Tuesday. Wednesday we found out that Lynne was gone.

It all happened so quickly. It is amazing how suddenly life can change. Saturday was her funeral. I was on reserve but was blessed not to be called into work. It was also a great blessing that Natalie and Melissa happened to be in town. It was a beautiful service. Natalie, Melissa, and Mindy all sang with a big group of friends and relatives a primary medley.

As the procession headed outside with the casket Scott saw me. He headed straight over to me, gave me a hug, and kiss on the forehead. He thanked me for the bread and told me that when they came home from the hospital he had been hungry but didn't feel like eating. He remembered the fresh baked bread and ate the first loaf pretty much all by himself. He gave others a chance to eat the second loaf. A few days later when no one had eaten it, he and his son Konner finished off the second loaf.

It was humbling to see someone so appreciative of such a small gesture when faced with such great loss and sorrow.

Lynne was an amazing woman. She planned her whole funeral. She also gave very specific instructions. She is Hawaiian. She loved volleyball. The day she died she wanted her family to go to the church and play volleyball. Then after her funeral on Saturday and after they ate dinner she wanted them to play volleyball again.

Scott left today to fly to Hawaii where Lynne will be buried. I pray the sweetest blessings on this single dad and his two sons. I hope that we will be able to help in any way that we can.