Monday, November 16, 2009 

Basket of Hope Dinner

Good Evening,

Ken and I had a wonderful experience Saturday night at the Basket of Hope dinner/auction.  You may remember back in 2001 when Jeff was first admitted to Cardinal Glennon, he went for a biopsy in the morning.  When he returned to his room, he found a huge basket filled with a Bible devotion book plus items to entertain him along with a note of encouragement and prayers from Angela Brunette.  Again in 2006, Angela and her organization supported Jeff with another basket and ongoing prayers.

Angela and her husband, Paul, began Basket of Hope in response to the prayers and support from family and friends when their daughter, Christina, had childhood cancer.  This organization has grown around the country and includes famous helpers such as Kurt and Brenda Warner.  God has blessed Basket of Hope and the Brunette family.  Christina will graduate from college in the Spring and be married next July.

One of the fund raisers to continue the ministry of BOH, is the annual dinner/auction.  A former family who has benefited from the program is selected to tell their story at the dinner.  Angela asked if we would be the family for this year.  She felt it would be especially appropriate since the national spokesperson, Tom O’Neal, would be retiring.  Tom is the local StL Fox2 anchor who visited Jeff at Cardinal Glennon in 2006.  Tom and his wife are very familiar with Cardinal Glennon as their son passed away over 20 years ago from Leukemia.  We agreed to help our friend Angela and she was very gracious to include our friends the Rusks from Chicago who happened to be with us for the weekend.

So on a gorgeous Fall evening at Windows on Washington on the 10th floor above the City Museum in St. Louis, we enjoyed the pre-dinner silent auction and were also able to visit with some doctors and nurses from Cardinal Glennon.  After the delicious meal but before the live auction, Ken and I gave our talk.  Of course, Jeff could not be present but wanted to be a part of the evening.  He decided to make a video that would include his being able to speak and give his thanks to Angela, Tom, and the group of people in attendance.  

Steve Rusk brought his camcorder and taped our presentation and Jeff’s video talk.  You can watch the videos below.  We were very happy to give back to Basket of Hope by sharing God’s help to us through these many years of Jeff’s life.  Ken and I continue to give to BOH so other children can receive that basket and prayers at the time of their diagnosis.  

Thank you again, Angela, for asking us to be a part of your amazing organization.  May God continue His blessings upon you.

Love,

Marcia