Happy Birthday Sue!

Today would have been Sue's 53rd birthday. Those close to her cannot help but think of her today and again realize how much we miss her.

Please put the October 8th Brains Together for a Cure event down on your calendar. Sue was passionate about the progress and research done to help those who battle brain cancer. Purple "Sue's Crew" shirts will be available for the Oct 8th event - let me know if you want one in advance and we will try to get you set up.

Holly has been busy honoring her mother too. Check out the attached link.

http://www.headforthecure.org/foundation/memorials/sue-hruska

Brains Together for a Cure donation

For those in attendance on 10-9-10 at the Brains Together for a Cure event thank you so much for your support. And to the hundreds of friends and supporters that have been with us throughout our journey - we are forever grateful! During the check presentation from all of you to the cause I shared the following comments...I hope it stays with you as you move forward with your journey's in life. God Bless! Ed

I am proud and honored to be here today to present the Brains Together for a Cure organization a check on behalf of all the wonderful people that donated money to our family in the name of our late loved friend, wife and mother – Sue Hruska. This check represents seven “ones”. Let me explain:

1)There is only One Mayo Clinic – with the leading neurology department in the world. They gave us Sue for almost 2 1/2 more years then originally diagnosed...we were in the best hands in the World. Also, the medical insurance coverage allowed us to pay our expenses in a manner we could afford - taking away additional financial stress.

2)We are fortunate to have One Canadian Honker – with an owner like Joe Powers. Joe always is willing to help out someone in need and covered our entire funeral service reception allowing us to donate more money to the cause...thanks Joe!

3)There is only ONE team of wonderful team of people working at the Mayo Clinic from the door person to the lab techs. The folks at Gonda 8 were unbelievable - thank you all.

4)There is One group of unbelievable friends, family and supporters - folks such as our Southpark family. The thoughtfulness will live with us forever.

5)There was only ONE Sue Hruska – a person that gave us an attitude we should always take with us every day in life, not just when dealing with terminal cancer. She made us all realize life is precious – enjoy every day.

6)We all here have ONE cause – the battle to eliminate cancer but specifically brain cancer – to allow those diagnosed in the future the best opportunity for survival and/or extension of quality of life. That ONE cause is one that brings us together today and we should never give up until we defeat this disease..

7)And finally, it will take every ONE of us to carry on all that we have learned from this experience – carry a smile, love your friends and neighbors. Never let the word cancer beat you – but live every moment – just like Sue did. She was the ONE that made us realize this. Let’s not let her down.

With this said – the ONE theme here is the number One. It is my privilege, in representing my dear wife Sue and our family, to present a check to the Brains Together for a Cure organization a check for $11,111.11 so we never forget the ones we love, the ones we have lost and the ones we are here to help in the future. Thank you…

Celebrate Brains Together for a Cure

It's been a while - I'm sorry for not sharing more updates. Please join us for the walk Saturday, October 9th at RCTC Sports Complex. Check out the link for more details. At this time we will be sharing the donation that all of you helped with in memory of Sue. I hope you can join us. Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions...God Bless - Ed (picture is from the 2009 walk)

KTTC Tribute

For those of you that missed it KTTC did a nice piece on Sue Friday as part of the Relay for Life. I provided the link for you to view - just click on the KCCT Tribute above and it should play for you.

Please try to keep October 9th open as we will have a tribute to Sue at the Brains Together for a Cure walk...hope to see you there. Ed

Thank you all

After the past days we are overwhelmed by the love and care we have received from all of you - what a great honor to Sue.

Today's memorial service was moving and memorable. We would like to thank Pastor Shirley Heeg for her leadership and wonderful directing of the service. Tim Macken and the wonderful folks of Macken Funeral Home handled things so well - thank you. The folks of Church of the Savior as we as Church of the Resurrection were great in helping to assure we had a perfect service. Kim Schmidt's singing was beautiful. And, the food and service provided by the Canadian Honker was top notch!

Our friends and family members were there for us as always - thank you!

And finally - thank you to my two wonderful kids, Holly and Drew. They spoke from the heart today and did so in a manner that had to make their mother very proud!

It has been a challenging time for all of us - but together we have gotten through it. Sue is now where she belongs and while we will miss her immensely, we know she is watching us forever from above. God Bless - Ed

In His Loving Hands...

We are sorry to share that we lost our wonderful wife, mother, sister, daughter, neighbor and friend this morning. Sue passed away early today, July 11th, peacefully in her sleep.

Visitation will be at Macken Funeral Home from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Tuesday, July 13th and at Church of the Resurrection from 10:00am to 11:00am on Wednesday, July 14th. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, July 14th at Church of the Resurrection, with a luncheon to follow.

Happy Birthday to Sue!

As Wednesday, June 30th rolls around, Sue celebrates her 52nd birthday. There won't be a big party or a huge celebration - but perhaps a lot of reflective thoughts on what a wonderful 52 years it has been for all of us fortunate enough to have Sue in our lives.

Today Mayo Hospice delivered a hospital bed and placed it where Sue had previously requested it. As I gathered up some sheets (I had a difficult time finding them) and made this bed I realized what it was and what I was doing. It made me think of all the times Sue made our beds, always making sure we were taken care of - never complaining once. Yes, she spent 52 years making all our lives better.

I have not been able to get any comments from Sue that will give anyone warm fuzzies or make you laugh. It is a very challenging time for Sue...her days are long and without energy or vision she feels no purpose. I work each time we talk to keep her positive but it grows harder each day. She still has her wits about her and makes us all smile - she is in no pain. However, unfortunately, there is little joy in her days anymore.

Some friends from way back stopped by today and gave her a hug (Becca and Sally - see picture). She sat up and visited for a bit - being the trooper she always is.

I still read her all the cards, emails, blog postings and other kind words we get daily from all of you. It certainly helps makes this trying time much better. Happy Birthday, Susan Maree - you are one of a kind! Her loving husband...Ed