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Show THE Page 12 OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume XI Issue IX February 15, 2005 STARNES FAMILEY cont. from page 1 looked around, the entire chapel was full to capacity and the overflow and gym areas were just about full too. Everyone imaginable had turned out to share in a moment of peace and faith. This was the last time that Karen was able to sit in the chapel with her sweet family. After the fast, friends and family came and greeted the whole family with hugs, kisses, and well wishes. Karen had surgery about a week later to remove as much of the tumor as possible. By the time she was released from the hospital, a ame plan was in place. A new FDA approved clinical trial at the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, treatment. After another week, Marlene’s husband Chris flew down to help Marlene. Karen had been using a wheelchair and, by this time, needed a hospital bed and transport to and from the clinic. As things progressed, the clinic decided to let Karen come home to Utah and continue her treatments from home. As a family, we struggled with developing a viable plan to get Karen home. She had ridden to Texas in a van, but could no longer sit to be transported in this way. She could not fly commercially, and the cost of an air ambulance was too prohibitive. After many phone calls and much fasting and prayer, the answers came again, pa the communiocal businessman S icered to fly his pri- vate jet to transport Karen home; the cost of the copilot and the fuel were covered by other community and extended family members who came forward, donating the needed funds. Kevin and Kurt Motta flew to Texas and drove the children home. Jeff and Julie flew to Texas and brought eee and Marlene home. 5 : et i was uncomfortable for Starnes family with Tami Creamer (second from left) and artist Kena but, as always, she John Schmidt (center). was a trooper and didn’t complain and did the best she could. Chris Texas had been located and Karen had been stayed behind to wrap things up, leaving for accepted as a patient. The only problem, the Utah the next day. insurance would not pay for any of the treatOn the way home we had a medical emerment. But it was decided that this treatment gency so Mike met us at the airport with an would be pursued and a plan to finance it would ambulance and Karen was taken straight to the be dealt with later. What we didn’t know, or McKay Dee hospital. After a day in the hospifully realize, was fundraisers had already begun. tal, and through the involvement of Hospice, Several of Karen’s close friends had already Karen was brought home by medical transport. been met and planned a series of fundraisers. The physicians at the Burzynski clinic and the Residents of the Valley, and even those who Hospice physicians conferred and decided it was were just visiting, pulled together and hosted time to stop treatment. The focus of Karen’s two well-attended and very successful events. care changed with the help of a wonderful hosThe first was a yard sale held at Snowcrest. pice nurse and member of our community— Only planned to last about four hours, it ended mith. In a heart wrenching moment, the up continuing for most of the day. Members of children were told of the severity of Karen’s illthe community brought items large and small ness. Close friends and family were encouraged from their homes to sale, donating the money to to come and say theirgoodbyes and, 5 again, the Karen Starnes donation fund. The second the Starnes household was filled w food, event—an incredible carnival—was held on friends, cards, flowers, beautiful music, and Halloween at the Red Moose Lodge in Eden. many, many tears. There were always people at Again, there was an amazing turnout and show Karen’s bedside and quite often the children of support from the community. The proceeds were right up on the hospital bed with her. They from these events paid for the first two weeks of sang to her, they kissed her cheeks, they played Karen’s treatment in Houston. the piano for her, and they cried for her. Jeff and the kids went with Karen and stayed Ina very peaceful moment in the early mornwith Jeffs brother in Houston. Jeff was able to ing hours of November 24, the day before stay and help Karen with her treatments for the Thanksgiving, Karen Starnes passed on to the first two weeks, but then had to come home for next life. She waited until everyone was gone work and Marlene, Karen’ s sister, went down to and quietly slipped away. It had been only six Initiall days since her arrival home and only ten weeks well but‘then Karen’s body started deteciosating, from the day of her diagnosis. The viewing was Another fundraiser had been planned; while held the day after Thanksgiving and the funeral the family was away, a wonderful dinner, dance, was held the next. The Liberty chapel was overand auction was held at the Ben Lomond Hotel flowing and the gymnasium was almost filled. in Ogden. Many items had been donated for The funeral was very emotional, but also very auction and, again, the community was very spiritual. Karen was buried in the Liberty cemegenerous in their bidding. The night was an tery not far from the grave of her mother and incredible success and enough money was grandparents raised to pay for two more weeks of Karen’s The community continued to help with meals, laundry, rides for the children, cleaning, and many hugs. The children were enrolled in Kimber Academy, and the public schools parttime. Since the children had been taught at home their whole lives, they were nervous and worried. However, on their first day of school, they were surrounded by loving children who took care of them and made sure they felt welcome. Christmas was coming and through Weber High Schools Quarters for Christmas program, the generosity of Boeing’s employees, and many individual families, the Starnes family was outfitted with Christmas trees, decorations, food storage, clothes, diapers, car seats, and so many toys that it took them most of Christmas Eve and all of Christmas morning to open them. After Christmas, Jeff was presented with money raised by students at Weber High School that he didn’t even know was coming. This money helped Jeff make up income he had lost for all the time he had missed from work, money that was much needed to catch up on bills and to pay for funeral costs. es family tried to settle into a routine of some sort, it was decided that the best thing would be to hire a nanny to help with the needs of six children. However, this seemed to be financially impossible. Then a family friend recommended a close friend in the Netherlands who wanted to come to Utah; she would be willing to come and work for a very fair price. In the process of getting her Visa, the nanny was told she would have to work through an agency. This increased the price, and Jeff was told that he would need to pay an January 27, Tonya Papanikolaus from KSL News came to Liberty to interview the Starnes family. Our family had contacted KSL to ask if they would come and cover the story. We didn’t really think they would come, but our request was very sincere and they consented to come and see what our community is all about. The whole purpose of the interview was to try, in some way, to thank each of you who live in this incredible Valley for the loving service that we have received at your hands. We have strongly desired to let all know how appreciated you are by our family. We sat down to write notes to try to thank each of you individually but found that this was a daunting task, and that we didn’t even know half of the people who had helped us. So, the interview, which aired on January 31 during the 10:00 p.m. news, was a tribute to all of you! As a final thank you, Jeff has written the following thank you note that he wishes he could deliver personally to each of “Thank you so much for the efforts and love expressed to Karen and our family. Since her passing, I have still been amazed at the amount of support for her and our family from many we do not even know. My children and I have been overwhelmed with love and prayers. Even through the tragic and unexpected death of my wife, | am amazed at how supportive this community has been to me. I am so blessed to live in such a community where people truly care and have gone out of their way to help us out during this time. The residents of the Ogden Valley have shown a true love that binds together people for a common cause. Before Karen passed away, she told me that if her death brings people closer together and to God, then she is OK with her death. Thank you for not letting her down. This is her home and I know that she is so proud to have lived here with such wonderful people. Thank you again for everything that you have done for us. I cannot put into words all the love and appreciation I have for all of you.” God Bless, Jeff Starnes and Michael, Abby, Anna, Chloe, Isabel, and Sara Jane too! Jeff Starnes » bein interviewed by Tonya Papanikolaus from KSL Channel 5 News. entire year’s salary in advance. n the meantime, planning for another fundraiser was well underway; it was held on February 5 at Weber State University’s Val Browning Center in Ogden. This time it was a benefit concert that was graciously performed by John Schmidt, one of Karen’s piano idols. The concert was incredible. Michael was able to play the piano and the Starnes girls sang as part of the pre-show. Mr. Schmidt was very tender and dedicated some of his songs to the children. He also stayed around to mingle with those who attended and he stood by the side of the Starnes family, thanking those who attended. It is estimated that about 800 people attended the concert, and when all the money was tallied, the total was just a bit more than Jeff needed to cover the costs of the nanny. We truly live in a community full of miracles that are brought about at the hands of our friends and neighbors! Just prior to the concert, on Thursday, From all of us, thank you for the endless fundraisers, the many financial contributions, for the meals, phone calls, visits, flowers, cards, rayers, rides for the kids, hugs, attendance at the funeral and the viewing, and for doing the teaching your children to be so generous and kind. Thank you for continuing to care and for continuing to help in so many wa 1 don’t ink we will ever feel that we have suffi iciently thanked everyone, but we also know that you have done these things without expecting anything in return. Because of your unselfishness, Jeff and the kids can continue to live in the home that Karen designed and planned for her family, and they can have peace of mind knowing that the medical bills will not devastate them financially. Please know what an impact you have had on all of our lives. We will never forget your kindness and generosity. Please know how much we love you and how grateful we are to be a part of this incredible community. WANTED! on .92 acres. 3 BD, 3 BA. Exquisite 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, in Fairway Oaks More Reduced to $249,900! Beautifully Updated 2 story home bedrooms possible! $250,000! Radford Hills executive home w/ Beautiful home on 4.89 ac. Over incredible views! 2 BD, 2BA, office, 3-car garage on 4 acre $325,000! 6500 sq.ft. 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