I've never had a friend die before.
I've had relatives pass away as well as people I knew in passing or was close to at one time, but never someone whom I had just seen two weeks ago.
That changed last night when Rich Bircumshaw passed away after suffering a stroke in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The death of "the King" as he was known around the radio stations he worked for, was sudden, unexpected and knocked me off of my feet.
Rich, who absolutely hated being called Rick and was often, was one of the greatest guys I have ever met. Sure, he could be a real S.O.B. if he was pissed off at you, but if he cared about you at all, then he cared about you forever.
He had a fuse that could be lit by a passing breeze and a wit that was even quicker. Anybody who has met Rich, heard him on the radio, or attended a function hosted by him has smiled at least once because of something he said.
Whether it was hearing that Cecil Sapp was "a grown man, dog" as he scored a touchdown or he deemed someone "worth the climb", Rich always had a way with words that could leave you shaking your head while your lips creased into a grin. His voice was truly unique in its sound and the message it delivered.
Because of his work as the News Director at Clear Channel Northern Colorado and as the Voice of the CSU Rams, Rich was known and revered all over Ft. Collins, Greeley, and all points in between. He related to the big-timers just the same as the common man or woman, giving them respect if they deserved it and letting them know if they didn't.
For me, he was a mentor and an advocate.
He was a part of many memorable and funny lunches.
He was a part of many lunches that were nothing but blowing off steam.
He was a bevy of quotes.
He was a belly of laughs.
He was a true friend if you were lucky enough to call him that.
There is no doubt in my mind that Rich got up to Heaven and Peter read off the list of people as they walked in.
"Okay, next let's go to Rick Bircumshaw."
"Uh, it's Rich, Saint Pete."
"Oh, you're right, Rich."
Rich, you were awesome, man. You will always be missed and loved.
The world is worse off without you.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
East High Baseball Alums, Time to Step up Again!
Hey everybody,
It's always good to help out a fellow Angel. Below is the Denver Post article followed by a letter from a friend of the family on how to help. Thanks guys!
Squibbs staying upbeat while battling cancer
By Neil H. Devlin The Denver Post POSTED: 04/23/2009 12:30:00 AM MDT
Addison Squibbs and most everyone around him were convinced he had rolled over a baseball while trying to make a play; took a shot from one and didn't realize it; or simply bonked himself good while working out or going through the course of a normal day.
It had to be a big hematoma, in his right armpit and near a pectoral — not the Burkitt's lymphoma he was diagnosed with earlier this month But it's cancer. No one saw it coming for the East sophomore.
"You don't wish this on anyone," Angels coach Howard Karsh said. "I know 98 percent of the time if the kids are drinking or smoking. He doesn't. He works out all the time, watches his diet . . . then this happens."
The mass that attracted attention and drew various touchers (including me) to the odd lump on the 16-year-old's torso only got bigger this past month. It took a series of medical checks after Squibbs started experiencing pain all over his body to understand what was happening. "
"This just came on, I don't know, but I'm relieved that it was found," said Addison's mother, Regina Squibbs.
Now, though, is the hard part for the Angels' catcher-second baseman.
Burkitt's lymphoma is highly aggressive, affecting the B lymphocytes (B cells) and various body parts. It's treatable and often curable with intensive therapy, and reoccurrences are rare, but his life for the next several months will involve a series of chemotherapy cocktails via spinal injections, extended stays at Children's Hospital, a lack of energy and patience — something teenagers often don't have, particularly Squibbs, being away from his beloved baseball.
Squibbs had his first series of treatment earlier this month, and began another Tuesday, when he was too weak to do anything but keep his eyes open while laying in a hospital bed.
Monday, he managed to sneak out to East's nonleague victory, but he is missing the meat of the Angels' Denver Prep League schedule.
"He actually tried for a two-hour pass (to attend important city games this week against Thomas Jefferson and George Washington), but was told no," Regina Squibbs said.
So it was an apprehensive Squibbs who showed up Monday for team pictures. He felt good about putting on his uniform and joining teammates briefly in the dugout, but insisted on watching the game away from the field as well as fans.
"He didn't want anyone to see him and doesn't want a lot of attention brought to him," Regina said.
Typical teenager, one who also inquired about having a male nurse among all the females at Children's. But Addison, who displayed some pop in his bat earlier in the season, is aware of his backing.
A family friend has a salon that drew about 50 people for head-shavings that raised $500 to help combat cancer. There was the cutout of him that was hung in the dugout, the more than 100 pins with his name and photograph that quickly traveled through school. .
"Our kids are very supportive," Karsh said. "This is the first time for a lot of them, something like this. It's definitely a new experience. Our program has always been about more than baseball, but this has really hit home."
And home is where Squibbs draws most of his fight. As an infant, his younger brother, Landon, was medically sedated for two and a half months with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and suffered severe hearing loss. After a seven-year quest that ended this past June, their mother was part of a coalition that helped pass a bill through the House and Senate that requires insurance to pay for children's hearing aids.
Squibbs is due to stay at Children's at least until Sunday.
His lump is shrinking.
His life isn't.
"It will be all right," his mother said.
April 25, 2009
Dear Friends and Family of Regina, Terry, Addison and Landon Squibbs,
As most of you know, Addison was diagnosed this April with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, Group C, because cancer was found in his bone marrow. The Denver Post story on the next page describes the sequence of events. Since this particular cancer is so aggressive, Addison’s treatment during the next 4 to 6 months will be very intense, including drugs injected into his spine. Many people have asked, “What can I do to help?”
Since Addison is in the hospital most of the time, it will be difficult to organize meals for the family. Gift cards for fast food are great, although most of the common restaurants are not near Children’s Hospital. Cards mailed to Addison at the hospital or at home are always welcome. However, I think that what the family needs most is money to pay for those unplanned expenses due to Addison’s illness. One expense is co-pay for every hospital visit. The doctors want Addison to rest at home for only two days a week, but then he needs to return to the hospital for spinal injections and to be monitored. Food at the hospital is expensive for the rest of the family. Another way that we can help, is to pay for the increased phone bill. Regina surpassed her limit in April and needs to increase her minutes. Options for some holistic health treatments help to support the chemotherapy would be great, but are not covered by health insurance. Regina had mentioned that Landon might spend time in CA with relatives this summer, where he could be the center of attention, rather than being at the hospital with his brother. I would like to help cover the expenses of his trip.
Regina has volunteered many hours to help others, including me. When I was recovering from a critical illness this fall, Regina stayed with me two days a week so that my husband Vince could return to work. It is time for me to “Pay it Forward.” I have set up a bank account at Wells Fargo for the “Squibbs Family.” If you would like to support the family with a donation, mail it to the address below. Donations large and small are welcome. When I set up the account, the bank shared that they don’t compile a list of donors. I would greatly appreciate it if you just emailed me so that I can provide Regina with a list. She believes it is very important to send thank you notes, and so do I.
Thank you for your support,
Mary Bartholomew
AGBell Friend of Regina’s
mbart2000@comcast.net 303-755-5183
Donations should be mailed directly to Wells Fargo or stop by any branch, checks should be made out to “Squibbs Family.”
Squibbs Family
Wells Fargo Bank
2150 S. Downing,
Denver, CO 80210
Cards can be sent to Addison:
Addison Squibbs Home Address:
c/o The Children’s Hospital 1193 S. Logan St.
13123 East 16th Ave Denver, CO 80210
Aurora, CO 80045
Care Page updates can be found at http://www.carepages.com. Register, search for BaseballAngel
It's always good to help out a fellow Angel. Below is the Denver Post article followed by a letter from a friend of the family on how to help. Thanks guys!
Squibbs staying upbeat while battling cancer
By Neil H. Devlin The Denver Post POSTED: 04/23/2009 12:30:00 AM MDT
Addison Squibbs and most everyone around him were convinced he had rolled over a baseball while trying to make a play; took a shot from one and didn't realize it; or simply bonked himself good while working out or going through the course of a normal day.
It had to be a big hematoma, in his right armpit and near a pectoral — not the Burkitt's lymphoma he was diagnosed with earlier this month But it's cancer. No one saw it coming for the East sophomore.
"You don't wish this on anyone," Angels coach Howard Karsh said. "I know 98 percent of the time if the kids are drinking or smoking. He doesn't. He works out all the time, watches his diet . . . then this happens."
The mass that attracted attention and drew various touchers (including me) to the odd lump on the 16-year-old's torso only got bigger this past month. It took a series of medical checks after Squibbs started experiencing pain all over his body to understand what was happening. "
"This just came on, I don't know, but I'm relieved that it was found," said Addison's mother, Regina Squibbs.
Now, though, is the hard part for the Angels' catcher-second baseman.
Burkitt's lymphoma is highly aggressive, affecting the B lymphocytes (B cells) and various body parts. It's treatable and often curable with intensive therapy, and reoccurrences are rare, but his life for the next several months will involve a series of chemotherapy cocktails via spinal injections, extended stays at Children's Hospital, a lack of energy and patience — something teenagers often don't have, particularly Squibbs, being away from his beloved baseball.
Squibbs had his first series of treatment earlier this month, and began another Tuesday, when he was too weak to do anything but keep his eyes open while laying in a hospital bed.
Monday, he managed to sneak out to East's nonleague victory, but he is missing the meat of the Angels' Denver Prep League schedule.
"He actually tried for a two-hour pass (to attend important city games this week against Thomas Jefferson and George Washington), but was told no," Regina Squibbs said.
So it was an apprehensive Squibbs who showed up Monday for team pictures. He felt good about putting on his uniform and joining teammates briefly in the dugout, but insisted on watching the game away from the field as well as fans.
"He didn't want anyone to see him and doesn't want a lot of attention brought to him," Regina said.
Typical teenager, one who also inquired about having a male nurse among all the females at Children's. But Addison, who displayed some pop in his bat earlier in the season, is aware of his backing.
A family friend has a salon that drew about 50 people for head-shavings that raised $500 to help combat cancer. There was the cutout of him that was hung in the dugout, the more than 100 pins with his name and photograph that quickly traveled through school. .
"Our kids are very supportive," Karsh said. "This is the first time for a lot of them, something like this. It's definitely a new experience. Our program has always been about more than baseball, but this has really hit home."
And home is where Squibbs draws most of his fight. As an infant, his younger brother, Landon, was medically sedated for two and a half months with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and suffered severe hearing loss. After a seven-year quest that ended this past June, their mother was part of a coalition that helped pass a bill through the House and Senate that requires insurance to pay for children's hearing aids.
Squibbs is due to stay at Children's at least until Sunday.
His lump is shrinking.
His life isn't.
"It will be all right," his mother said.
April 25, 2009
Dear Friends and Family of Regina, Terry, Addison and Landon Squibbs,
As most of you know, Addison was diagnosed this April with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, Group C, because cancer was found in his bone marrow. The Denver Post story on the next page describes the sequence of events. Since this particular cancer is so aggressive, Addison’s treatment during the next 4 to 6 months will be very intense, including drugs injected into his spine. Many people have asked, “What can I do to help?”
Since Addison is in the hospital most of the time, it will be difficult to organize meals for the family. Gift cards for fast food are great, although most of the common restaurants are not near Children’s Hospital. Cards mailed to Addison at the hospital or at home are always welcome. However, I think that what the family needs most is money to pay for those unplanned expenses due to Addison’s illness. One expense is co-pay for every hospital visit. The doctors want Addison to rest at home for only two days a week, but then he needs to return to the hospital for spinal injections and to be monitored. Food at the hospital is expensive for the rest of the family. Another way that we can help, is to pay for the increased phone bill. Regina surpassed her limit in April and needs to increase her minutes. Options for some holistic health treatments help to support the chemotherapy would be great, but are not covered by health insurance. Regina had mentioned that Landon might spend time in CA with relatives this summer, where he could be the center of attention, rather than being at the hospital with his brother. I would like to help cover the expenses of his trip.
Regina has volunteered many hours to help others, including me. When I was recovering from a critical illness this fall, Regina stayed with me two days a week so that my husband Vince could return to work. It is time for me to “Pay it Forward.” I have set up a bank account at Wells Fargo for the “Squibbs Family.” If you would like to support the family with a donation, mail it to the address below. Donations large and small are welcome. When I set up the account, the bank shared that they don’t compile a list of donors. I would greatly appreciate it if you just emailed me so that I can provide Regina with a list. She believes it is very important to send thank you notes, and so do I.
Thank you for your support,
Mary Bartholomew
AGBell Friend of Regina’s
mbart2000@comcast.net 303-755-5183
Donations should be mailed directly to Wells Fargo or stop by any branch, checks should be made out to “Squibbs Family.”
Squibbs Family
Wells Fargo Bank
2150 S. Downing,
Denver, CO 80210
Cards can be sent to Addison:
Addison Squibbs Home Address:
c/o The Children’s Hospital 1193 S. Logan St.
13123 East 16th Ave Denver, CO 80210
Aurora, CO 80045
Care Page updates can be found at http://www.carepages.com. Register, search for BaseballAngel
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