Kevin Pira was a strong determined young man. No matter how bad things got for him he always managed to stay as strong as he could. His head strong personality and kind heart made him very easy to get along with. We were kind of a support network for eachother, both being born with medical conditions, me cerebral palsy and him cystic fibrosis, we were able to understand one another and help eachother through the tough times. We were able to crack jokes to one another to help ease the seriousness of our situations. For eample, we began calling the hospital his “second home” since he was there so frequently for treatments. Sadly this past yr was rough on kevin as his stays to his “second home” became more frequent as his lungs, liver, and pacras began slowly shutting down. I tryed to help him as much as i could by gettung a bunch of family/friends to donate to his transplant fund which he appreciated greatly, as well as listen and offer enouragment when he felt like giving up. We even made plans for me to fly out to CA(since i live in NY) once he got better so that we could hang out with eachother. Then on Oct 15th 2008, as i was coming home from work, i reccieved the devasting news that my dear friend had passed away, He was 22 yrs. old. Even though I miss him terriably I will never forget the things he taught me and the memories we shared. Kevin was a true fighter and will never be forgotten. BREATHE EASY MY DEAR FRIEND <3
Portsmouth – Joseph Adam Holland, 29, of the 200 block of Hodges Manor Rd. died peacefully Tuesday, May 19, 2009. Adam grew up as a deck hand on the Elizabeth River Ferry where he went on to become one of its captains. Later, he captained the Virginia Jewell where he married Sherri Linn Williams. He left the water to start his own business, but the water called once more and he had the honor of engineering on the U.S.S. Sequoia Presidential Yacht, docked in Washington D.C.
Adam received his mariners license when he was only 19 and throughout his career, worked for many companies lending his expertise as a boat captain, 1st mate, mechanic, and entrepreneur. Adam was skilled and talented beyond his years on the water. He has now gone to join his stepfather Rick Benton and beloved cat Trucker.
He is survived by his wife, Sherri Linn Williams Holland; his mother, Mary Elizabeth Borum Ketchum and husband Ronald; his father, Joseph Holland and wife Johnna; a grandmother, Rosa Kittrell; a sister, Summer Marie Holland; a stepsister, Amy Lynn Wilburn and husband Earnest; three step brothers, Nicholas, Kain and Damon; a step grandfather, Carlton Ketchum; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, a nephew and friends.
This was sent to me by a very special friend, Kristin, whose daughter, Reese is a CF superstar… she missed Adam dearly with all her heart…
I have contacted by many of you about the lyrics of Telluride’s (www.tellurideband.com) song Hope Happens Here, so here you are… I suggest purchasing the song for your IPOD or buying the whole (awesome)CD… Please ask if you have any questions…
Hope Happens Here
You never get the chance to prepare yourself
Even if you had there is no way to tell
If it would be easier to know your world is turning upside down
Its just so hard to look up when you faliin
And you can’t even start til your at the bottom
Down on your knees praying you’re not alone
Asking God for a little HOPE
Then you find it
Here on a new strangers face
That just got the news they’re in the same wait
Hope happens here
In the hearts and the hands of the people doing all they can
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
So your finding that you never have to fight alone
And there’s no way to repay the love that is shown
In a hallway that feels more like a home
To always know that wherever you go
You’ll be right here
In a 10 year olds smile, that lights up the room as he walks by
Hope Happens Here
In the songs that you sing as your rockin your baby to sleep
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
When you fight til you swear that you’ve had enough
But you there no way you’d ever think of givin up
Hope Happens Here
On that same stranger face that just got the new they gong home today
Hope Happens Here
In a young mothers eyes that just realized they won
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
It went great and we are so thankful to all of you that came out and showed support, not only for the boys in Telluride, but for Breathe 4 Tomorrow!!! There are pictures and we are trying to figure out how to post them, so be patient and in the mean time, you can go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33200&id=1145256584&l=eb4554e852 and take a look!!!
Thank you to Telluride… we appreciate you guys so much and wish you all the success in this world… For those of you who have never heard them, please take a minute to go check them out at www.tellurideband.com… they wrote the song Hope Happens Here… I am going to share the lyrics with you all, please take a minute and read them… and you will understand why these guys have a special place in my heart…
HOPE HAPPENS HERE by Telluride
You never get the chance to prepare yourself
Even if you had there is no way to tell
If it would be easier to know your world is turning upside down
Its just so hard to look up when you’ve fallin
And you can’t even start til your at the bottom
Down on your knees praying you’re not alone
Asking God for a little HOPE
Then you find it
Here on a new strangers face
That just got the news they’re in the same wait
Hope happens here
In the hearts and the hands of the people doing all they can
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
So your finding that you never have to fight alone
And there’s no way to repay the love that is shown
In a hallway that feels more like a home
To always know that wherever you go
You’ll be right here
In a 10 year olds smile, that lights up the room as he walks by
Hope Happens Here
In the songs that you sing as your rockin your baby to sleep
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
When you fight til you swear that you’ve had enough
But you there no way you’d ever think of givin up
Hope Happens Here
On that same stranger face that just got the new they going home today
Hope Happens Here
In a young mothers eyes that just realized they’ve won
Hope Happens Here
Hope Happens Here
The other day I was checking our email and I received this letter from a CF wifey. It is about her wonderful son and his dedication to helping his dad, who has Cystic Fibrosis… As read this, tears streamed down my face… it is truly inspiring and days that I am having a hard time because our donations are just not coming in… I reread this… We have received $500/ $1000 donations, yet this $20 donation means more than anything to us… Thank you so much to the sweetest kid ever, Jeffery, you are so incredible and have a spot in my heart forever!!! We are lucky that there are Jefferys in this world… Here is the letter: (grab a hanky)
—————– Original Message —————–
From: &hearts Beyond Blessed &hearts
To: BREATHE 4 TOMORROW FOUNDATION
Date: May 22, 2009 1:14 PM
Subject: hi hon..
i just made a payment to the power of one.
i wanted to tell you about why its 20 dollars.
my son Jeffrey is 10 years old and he has diligently been working on a CURE for CF. everything from adding more pepper to Alex, and good ole sunshine in a glass to water and god knows what…
i was going through your site in December and i started crying when i read one of your testimonials..Jeffrey of course does not like to see momma cry.. asked me what i was crying about. i told him what your foundation did and why i was crying… and he said momma i have a dollar. i told him that i would match his dollar and we would send it in. everything happened at once.. Alex went into the hospital again, we had to move .. bla bla bla… and i forgot about the dollar.
a couple weeks ago i was called by the office at school. (Jeffrey goes to a special ed day school as he is developmentally disabled, has Asbergers syndrome, a seizure disorder and is emotionally handicapped amongst other issues)
anyway Jeffrey was in an argument with some boy in his class about money. the boy said that Jeffrey was panhandling and that made Jeffrey a bum. and Jeffrey said no he was collecting money for the breathe for “yesterday” foundation. for Cystic Fibrosis so that his dad did not die and so that other people would get there telephone bills paid so they can call their family when they went into the hospital.
(yep i cried.. he ALMOST had it)
i explained to his principal what the breathe for “tomorrow” foundation was and what he was trying to do.
Mrs. H (the principal) asked me to come into the class and explain it. so i showed up the next day and told the class of 5 that Jeffrey was raising money for the power of 1 program. that it only took 1 person and 1 person and 1 person to give a dollar and by the end, we would have a million dollars. i explained that Jeffrey daddy had Cystic Fibrosis and brought in pictures of his scars from his double lunge transplant and spent about 30 minutes explaining what cystic fibrosis was and that it affected anyone, that it was like a huge bully that did not care who you are. that was that.. and i was free to go.
this was on a Friday. on Tuesday Jeffrey came home with a yellow envelope and said momma Mr Hewitt (his teacher) told me to give this to you and no one else.
he handed me the envelope and on the front of it was written. this is from our class. hope it helps.
enclosed were pennies, nickles, dimes and i think 50 cents in quarters. their was 11 dollars total. it was for your foundation. and i enclosed the orig. dollar that jeffrey promised and my dollar that i promised him too (thats 13) the 2 more for Alex and my son charlie, making 15. ( i sent the other 5 because it took me a bit to send it in.. i kept forgetting… maybe ill get the pennies to the bank now that i made the payment.) lol
anyway, i thought you might want to know how much my son (who is again proved himself to be my hero) cared. 11 dollars to 5 kids with all kinds of disabilities, and behavior problems is a lot of money. and by the money that was given, you can tell it was not just mom sending a dollar to school.
it touched me.. and i knew you might enjoy the story. when i called Mr. Hewitt and asked if i could have the names of the children that donated… he said nope. they just wanted to give money. none of us want recognition. so that’s how we would like to keep it. we sent it in dedication of everyone that has CF.
hope your day is great! i wish i could do more… but things are tight here… as always you have made mine great! thanks for doing what you do…
WOW!!! We have had a really busy few days coming up… We are launching a toolbar that Yahoo has donated as a way to help us fundraise through searching the internet for all our friends and family… We recieve $1 for every bar downloaded and 10 cents for every search and find when we use our toolbar!!! http://www.benefitbar.com/benefitbar/subscribe/toolbar.php?toolbarId=3368
We are throwing out the first pitch at the Mariner’s Season Opening Series on Wednesday and we are so excited about it!!! It is so big for us to have this opportunity and we feel so blessed…
We are still raising funds through our Power of 1 Person, that is going well… We are at about $2000!!! Which isn’t close to a MILLION, but we are getting there!!! I just wish people realized how easy it would be to help us… all they have to do is donate their dollar and then find TWO people to do the same!!! and we would be there… so THAT is what I am working on…
B4TF also has a benefit concert with Nashville’s Telluride! It is going to be July 31, 2009 here in Olympia! We are so excited about this as well… We all are so grateful for all the opportunities our Foundation has been blessed with! Last, but certainly not least, we are planning our Promises Kept Gala for September 26, 2009. It will be a black and white attired dinner and auction. We are so busy procurring items and getting everything lined up!
If you have any questions, please make sure you send me an email
