Please keep Chance in your thoughts and prayers (1 Viewer)

[Foosball God]

Obituary

That's beautiful obituary for a beautiful child, BB. Chance sounds like he accomplished quite a bit during his too short time on this Earth. I'm sure he's a chip off the old block in that regard.

It's pretty impressive to hear that the little guy was an accomplished bagpiper at his age. I often listen to the bagpipes when I run. I'll put a little something extra into my next bagpipe run in honor of Chance.

Thanks Jewell. Here is a photo from his regional competition solo in May 2012, just a month before his cancer diagnosis. He won his division. An unusual musical pursuit to say the least, but one he had a real talent for.

Damn, that is awesome.

 

[AcerFC]

I know Chance has been an inspiration to us, but BB if I can be half as strong as you if I ever have to deal with this, I'll consider myself lucky.

 

[simsarge]

So very sorry. May Chance rest in peace with the creator where we will all be with some day. God bless you all. ((hugs))

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

This.

 

[Foosball God]

BTW BB, how did you come up with the name Chancellor? Very unique, there must be a story somewhere.

 

[munga30]

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

This.

Ditto

 

[NCCommish]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

This.

Ditto

Yep

 

[YSR]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

This.

Ditto

 

[The_Man]

It's only natural that we tend to measure lives by their length. This thread shows just how stupid that is.

You don't measure a song by how long it lasts, or a painting by how much wall space it fills. You measure them by how they make you feel, or what they inspire you do to, or how they change the way you look at the world.

Chance's life was far too short in years. But it was so very, very well lived. It was more full of love and had more impact than many lives that stretch out five times as long.

Biggie, thanks to your courage and generosity in sharing Chance with us, he continues to touch people he never met, inspiring us to try to live a life as full as his. You are a hell of a guy, and an inspiration in your own right, as a father, husband, and man.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

BB, you have inspired me to be a better father every time i read anything you've posted in this thread.

 

[Mr.Pack]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

Damn straight

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

BTW BB, how did you come up with the name Chancellor? Very unique, there must be a story somewhere.

I wondered this, too.

 

[mr roboto]

BB, I have really been touched by this thread. I know it's tough to write here about this, tough to read the condolences and remember sadness. But your choice to expose your grief and let us in will benefit us reading it in profound ways. I want to thank you for sharing. You are a strong, courageous man.

 

[General Malaise]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

Yeah, this. Tears are still flowing in Portland, BB. :(

 

[glumpy]

eep breath:

Seriously. Thank you BB, and I hope this helps you to. This took me back to another place of my own:

But the time came when we began praying for release. His breathing was almost like he was gasping for air, and it was rattled and congested. The color had begun to drain from him. Finding a pulse had become difficult. It was time. We told him it was okay for him to go. We just didn't want him to be in pain any longer. But still he fought to live.

Love your choices of music, celebrating the life.

 

[Fennis]

BB, you have inspired me to be a better father every time i read anything you've posted in this thread.

I've got agree that BB has inspired me to be a better person. Although I haven't faced the loss of a child, I have had family members who had and have faced very serious and long term terminal illness. I wish I could have faced their situations with just some of the grace, compassion, openness that BB has demonstrated in this thread. It is amazing to me. Thank you for sharing.

I cried after reading your last post, not just for Chance and you and your family, but also for me and my family. Thank you for touching me so deeply.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

So begins the part where I ask that you all indulge me a bit.

The last day of Chance's life was an extremely difficult one. The pain had become so intense that we had to keep him on a steady does of morphine. This rendered him pretty much non-responsive. His breathing had become extremely labored, his pulse quick, but weak. Our hospice nurse told us that today was likely the day. Chance was surrounded for the endless hours of that last day by my wife and I, his brother, his two uncles and two aunts, his five cousins, and three grandparents. We took turns whispering in his ear and holding his hands.

But the time came when we began praying for release. His breathing was almost like he was gasping for air, and it was rattled and congested. The color had begun to drain from him. Finding a pulse had become difficult. It was time. We told him it was okay for him to go. We just didn't want him to be in pain any longer. But still he fought to live.

So we turned to music. Chance loved music. We thought some beautiful and relaxing piano pieces might help him transition to his next life. Satie, Debussy, Beethoven, etc. We played this soothing music for over an hour, but still, he hung on.

And then my wife decided that she wanted to play Chance a song that his uncle had once dedicated to him. And so she did.

Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter

From there, we said screw the sad piano music. We started playing a bunch of the songs that Chance loved. Rock tunes from Queen, Journey and Foo Fighters. (Bohemian Rhapsody was his favorite song of all time, and the lyrics went straight to the heart when we played it for him.) But we also played a bunch of modern pop hits that Chance really enjoyed, from the likes of Avicii (Wake Me Up), Fun (We Are Young, Carry On), Capital Cities (Safe and Sound), Imagine Dragons (Radioactive, Demons). And then there was a request to play something from Pitch Perfect. This was a movie that our family had watched and enjoyed thoroughly multiple times together. So I pulled up and played the following song. It was near the end of this song that Chance left us and went to heaven. I like to think that Chance didn't want to depart listening to dreary piano music, no matter how serene and heavenly sounding. He wanted to listen to music that he enjoyed. And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

Not sure "liking" the post up top was right but I wanted you to know I think its very kind of you to fill us in on some details no one is gonna ask about.

If this thread doesn't make you look inside yourself and start asking some really good deep life questions about what you really want to do, who you want in your life, where you really want to visit/see, not much else will. I am re-thinking a lot of things right now in my life and realizing just how lucky we all are just to have our health and we take it for granted. We should work hard to keep it and realize how lucky we are to have it.

The material things in life are nice but they don't matter in the end. I like the fact you all stopped with the sad piano music and put in some better tunes, surely Chance was happier.

I don't say this very often as I am not a good Christian and I'm not a very good person in general but God Bless you BB for sharing this and allowing us to share in Chance's joy for life. Giving us all an opportunity to re-assess what should be important. It shouldn't take something like this to make us pay attention but sometimes it does. I'm crying right now as I type because I know the pain from the loss of my loved ones to this horrific disease.

Since music was such an important part of Chance's life, I wanted to link in a song here. When my father passed away from prostate cancer this song by U2 had just come out and it really touched me. I believe Bono dedicated it to his father and while it's not specific to cancer it has some lyrics in it that ring true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDqHtAR6L8

Peace n Love BB

 

[CurlyNight]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

I was thinking that it would be really good for BB and his family to write a book about the journey. That would be a great tribute to Chance and also to BB and his family for the enormous strength it took to get through this and still does. Offering others who are or aren't in the same situation (perhaps yet) your thoughts would be a touching way to reach out to others. It would help you and others.

 

[Koya]

BB - You are a shining example to us all. Don't for a minute think you have not affected us, touched us, made us better people because of what we have witnessed through your words and with an understanding of your actions and the heart behind them.

Already I can hardly count the number of times over the past week that I have had a moment of complaining, of criticism toward others, of taking life for granted... only to be brought to balance by recalling the lessons you have, and continue to, teach us here.

Chance is doing more good than perhaps even you could know. And for that, honestly and sincerely, thank you.

Thank you, Thank you to your family, and most of all, Thank you to Chance... he is and always will be, an inspiration to us all.

 

[beavers]

BB, you have inspired me to be a better father every time i read anything you've posted in this thread.

I've got agree that BB has inspired me to be a better person. Although I haven't faced the loss of a child, I have had family members who had and have faced very serious and long term terminal illness. I wish I could have faced their situations with just some of the grace, compassion, openness that BB has demonstrated in this thread. It is amazing to me. Thank you for sharing.

I cried after reading your last post, not just for Chance and you and your family, but also for me and my family. Thank you for touching me so deeply.

This.

 

[Spin]

BB, you have inspired me to be a better father every time i read anything you've posted in this thread.

I've got agree that BB has inspired me to be a better person. Although I haven't faced the loss of a child, I have had family members who had and have faced very serious and long term terminal illness. I wish I could have faced their situations with just some of the grace, compassion, openness that BB has demonstrated in this thread. It is amazing to me. Thank you for sharing.

I cried after reading your last post, not just for Chance and you and your family, but also for me and my family. Thank you for touching me so deeply.

Couldn't say it any better, well said.

 

[Angry Beavers]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

Yeah, this. Tears are still flowing in Portland, BB. :(

In Cleveland too, where my bosses boss just walked in my office after 4 on Friday to talk about nothing and I somehow had to compose myself.........

 

[Fiddles]

Bohemian Rhspsody? Wow

Too late, my time has come,

Sent shivers down my spine,

Body's aching all the time.

Goodbye, everybody, I've got to go,

Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.

 

[Clayton Gray]

Bohemian Rhspsody? Wow

Too late, my time has come,

Sent shivers down my spine,

Body's aching all the time.

Goodbye, everybody, I've got to go,

Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.

Indeed.

Thanks for being willing to share your experience, BB.

 

[shadyridr]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

So begins the part where I ask that you all indulge me a bit.

The last day of Chance's life was an extremely difficult one. The pain had become so intense that we had to keep him on a steady dose of morphine. This rendered him pretty much non-responsive. His breathing had become extremely labored, his pulse quick, but weak. Our hospice nurse told us that today was likely the day. Chance was surrounded for the endless hours of that last day by my wife and me, his brother, his two uncles and two aunts, his five cousins, and three grandparents. We took turns whispering in his ear and holding his hands.

But the time came when we began praying for release. His breathing was almost like he was gasping for air, and it was rattled and congested. The color had begun to drain from him. Finding a pulse had become difficult. It was time. We told him it was okay for him to go. We just didn't want him to be in pain any longer. But still he fought to live.

So we turned to music. Chance loved music. We thought some beautiful and relaxing piano pieces might help him transition to his next life. Satie, Debussy, Beethoven, etc. We played this soothing music for over an hour, but still, he hung on.

And then my wife decided that she wanted to play Chance a song that his uncle had once dedicated to him. And so she did.

Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter

From there, we said screw the sad piano music. We started playing a bunch of the songs that Chance loved. Rock tunes from Queen, Journey and Foo Fighters. (Bohemian Rhapsody was his favorite song of all time, and the lyrics went straight to the heart when we played it for him.) But we also played a bunch of modern pop hits that Chance really enjoyed, from the likes of Avicii (Wake Me Up), Fun (We Are Young, Carry On), Capital Cities (Safe and Sound), Imagine Dragons (Radioactive, Demons). And then there was a request to play something from Pitch Perfect. This was a movie that our family had watched and enjoyed thoroughly multiple times together. So I pulled up and played the following song. It was near the end of this song that Chance left us and went to heaven. I like to think that Chance didn't want to depart listening to dreary piano music, no matter how serene and heavenly sounding. He wanted to listen to music that he enjoyed. And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

reminds me of the day my mom died of cancer. She was in the hospital for a week and basically going downhill everyday. Finally on the saturday she was really laboring breathing as you describe. I was there with my father and brother and two aunts. My other brother was working and we texted him to try and leave soon cuz we dont think she has much time left. After an entire day of this my brother finally got there and she passed a half hour later. She was clearly holding on for dear life until we all got there. And now im sobbing like a baby again.

 

[shadyridr]

Your son had great taste in music. That avici song is the ####

 

[Guest]

Indulging you?!! Beautiful stories, BB. Please keep sharing.

 

[satch]

I imagine Chance sitting with Stevie Ray and Jimi, and they're teaching him how to play the most beautiful blues ever created. One day, Chance will play that song for you BB.

 

[Reaper]

So sorry BB....haven't Read the ffa in a while and just caught this and my heart is heavy.

Stay strong.

 

[RBM]

BB, you have inspired me to be a better father every time i read anything you've posted in this thread.

Same. Unbelievable stuff.

 

[Jewell]

And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

I've never heard that song before, but after listening to it, I'm guessing that if you had any tears left in you, BB, that very fitting refrain brought them all out.

Thanks for sharing the uniqueness of Chance with us.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Can't stop crying every time I enter this thread.

BB, you're a good man.

 

[prosopis]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

So begins the part where I ask that you all indulge me a bit..

.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Zegras11]

If you sent me a PM about donating and the conversation between us in PMs shows as "deleted", consider that acknowledgment that I received your payment. There's one I couldn't figure out, but I think I know who that is. If our conversation does NOT show as deleted but you believe you sent me money, please let me know and double-check your payment.

Thanks to all who donated. We're over $1k already.

Wow, this is so amazing. I can't thank you guys (and gals) enough for your thoughtfulness and generosity. For those still interested in donating, I would encourage you to continue to direct your contributions through Bobby Sac so that we can keep a tally of the donations from our FFA community. That said, if there is anyone who does not want to forward donations in that manner, and would rather donate directly on-line, we've confirmed that donations can be made to Texas Children's Cancer Center at the link below. Please be sure to complete the Tribute information at the bottom of the page to provide that the donation is being made In Memory of Chance Davidson. Thank you all so much, and thanks to Bobby Sac for coordinating.

https://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1064

Thanks for posting this link.

Honored to donate.

 

[Abraham]

I am without words. The picture of your son playing bagpipes is the kind id put in a frame forever. It shows something special and unique and even though I obviously never met Chance, that picture is revealing about the type of person I imagine him to be. Odd and surprising that a picture of a stranger could seem so...complete. Hard to describe.

Bless you bb. I wish we could have done more. I'm sure the people around chance feel the same way, you included. But what more is there to do but love and be loved? We should all be so lucky.

 

[Henry Ford]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

So begins the part where I ask that you all indulge me a bit.

The last day of Chance's life was an extremely difficult one. The pain had become so intense that we had to keep him on a steady dose of morphine. This rendered him pretty much non-responsive. His breathing had become extremely labored, his pulse quick, but weak. Our hospice nurse told us that today was likely the day. Chance was surrounded for the endless hours of that last day by my wife and me, his brother, his two uncles and two aunts, his five cousins, and three grandparents. We took turns whispering in his ear and holding his hands.

But the time came when we began praying for release. His breathing was almost like he was gasping for air, and it was rattled and congested. The color had begun to drain from him. Finding a pulse had become difficult. It was time. We told him it was okay for him to go. We just didn't want him to be in pain any longer. But still he fought to live.

So we turned to music. Chance loved music. We thought some beautiful and relaxing piano pieces might help him transition to his next life. Satie, Debussy, Beethoven, etc. We played this soothing music for over an hour, but still, he hung on.

And then my wife decided that she wanted to play Chance a song that his uncle had once dedicated to him. And so she did.

Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter

From there, we said screw the sad piano music. We started playing a bunch of the songs that Chance loved. Rock tunes from Queen, Journey and Foo Fighters. (Bohemian Rhapsody was his favorite song of all time, and the lyrics went straight to the heart when we played it for him.) But we also played a bunch of modern pop hits that Chance really enjoyed, from the likes of Avicii (Wake Me Up), Fun (We Are Young, Carry On), Capital Cities (Safe and Sound), Imagine Dragons (Radioactive, Demons). And then there was a request to play something from Pitch Perfect. This was a movie that our family had watched and enjoyed thoroughly multiple times together. So I pulled up and played the following song. It was near the end of this song that Chance left us and went to heaven. I like to think that Chance didn't want to depart listening to dreary piano music, no matter how serene and heavenly sounding. He wanted to listen to music that he enjoyed. And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

My grandfather passed to the Mountaineers version of Miss Me When I'm Gone. That song slays me every time the new version comes on the radio, but it's nice to be reminded of him so often, all of a sudden.

The music you listened to that day will be a gift the rest of your life, filled with very special remembrance of your son.

 

[Zegras11]

And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

I've never heard that song before, but after listening to it, I'm guessing that if you had any tears left in you, BB, that very fitting refrain brought them all out.

Thanks for sharing the uniqueness of Chance with us.

 

[Wrigley]

I gave my girls extra long hugs tonight thinking of what you've gone through

I'm not the best at articulating my feelings, but I'll try

Everytime I see this thread bumped, I can't help but read it.......it always brings me pain and sorrow, but in the end it makes me want to be the kind of father you have been

Good bless you, and everybody else.

 

[AAABatteries]

Your son had great taste in music. That avici song is the ####

Agree. I heard it for the first time on the radio a week or so ago. Thought it was a great song and had my wife looked it up for me. I will never listen to it again without thinking of Chance. And I plan to listen to it often.

 

[cubd8]

If it has come up in this thead, I apologize, but what cancer charities/medical research, etc.are the best ones to make a donation to?

 

[dancingbones]

Been out of the FFA loop for awhile & just saw this thread.

So sorry for your loss BB. My heart goes out to you & your family. May your son rest in peace.

Much love,

db

 

[3C's]

If it has come up in this thead, I apologize, but what cancer charities/medical research, etc.are the best ones to make a donation to?

If you so choose, Bobby Sac is collecting donations for a mass donation from FBG's. You can PM him.

 

[krista4]

And it was during this song that he wanted to say good bye.

Cups

I've never heard that song before, but after listening to it, I'm guessing that if you had any tears left in you, BB, that very fitting refrain brought them all out.

Thanks for sharing the uniqueness of Chance with us.

I'd never heard it before (nor of the movie Pitch Perfect), but it was beautiful, as was the whole story told.

 

[glock]

 

[Tick]

BB, my wife and I were feeling devastated when our son was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of weeks ago.

Your thread was important for us - we're back to being thankful, and this helped a lot. Thank you.

 

[RBM]

Your son had great taste in music. That avici song is the ####

Agree. I heard it for the first time on the radio a week or so ago. Thought it was a great song and had my wife looked it up for me. I will never listen to it again without thinking of Chance. And I plan to listen to it often.

Heard it in the car today with my two girls and had a whole bunch of emotions come out for same reason.

Awesome song

 

[shadyridr]

BB, my wife and I were feeling devastated when our son was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of weeks ago.

Your thread was important for us - we're back to being thankful, and this helped a lot. Thank you.

my brother was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was 9. This might not mean much but your son will be fine. My brother is a 33 yr old personal trainer right now and lives a pretty normal life.

 

[Otis]

I may spend some time over the coming days and weeks recounting a few of the more amazing moments of this journey. I hope you will indulge me.

you all indulge me

Nonsense.

If you wrote a book filled with these kinds of details, I'd buy it. I'd read it in a room alone, and I'd have to stop about every 5 minutes, but I'd buy it.

This.

Agreed.

Beautifully told BB, thanks for sharing with us.