Meet Liberty

Hello,

My name is Clay. I am Liberty’s Dad.

In the last couple of months, we have been on the difficult road of battling cancer. I feel strongly I need to share Liberty's story in the hopes that prayers on her behalf will continue and expand to as many people as possible. It is my deepest wish to see her survive and dance once again.

Liberty was a healthy child with no prior medical conditions. I asked the doctors why she got leukemia. The simple answer is that nobody really knows. It is not based on any family genetics. So far there is no direct connection to the environment unless you were in an atomic bomb zone. It is basically a genetic lottery and she didn’t win.

Here is what the journey has been like so far.

On January the 4th, I found out my daughter has leukemia. I was working out in the garage on Thursday, December 30th and I heard some noises from inside the house. Sarah, my wife, opened the door and said, “I need you”. Liberty was screaming in pain on the couch. She calmed down after a short bit and I said, "I'm taking her to the ER."

About 5 weeks prior to this Thursday, Liberty started walking with a limp. We thought it was a tumbling injury. Sarah had already taken Liberty to the family doctor and to urgent care. The doctors gave her antibiotics for her strep throat and a referral for an X-ray and sent her home. They found nothing on the X-ray, so they thought maybe it was a torn muscle. She wasn't getting better, so she was X-rayed again at the Instacare, but they still found nothing.

Thursday, December 30, 2021 we headed to the ER at Sunrise. The ER part of the hospital didn’t have any wheelchairs available, so I carried Liberty by the armpits (since it was painful to touch anything else on her little body) to the front desk. Liberty couldn’t be carried any other way because it hurt so badly. The receptionists were a little short. I don’t blame them. There were like 20 crying babies and toddlers in the main lobby. Liberty started to be her normal bubbly self again after waiting for 3-4 hours, so I considered going back to urgent care instead. But after calling all of the nearby Urgent Care Centers, I found out none of them had MRIs machines. (I still thought it was an injury). Liberty was losing the ability to walk I couldn’t think of anything else it could be.

We finally got a nurse to help us in the waiting room. She came out and took Liberty's blood pressure and heart rate. As the nurse was pushing Liberty's sides and back to see if she had pain the nurse asked “does this hurt” Liberty said, “No. It doesn’t hurt. I’m used to getting punched by my brothers." The nurse and I busted up laughing.

After it was deemed non-life-threatening, we waited some more. We were checked into a little tiny room. Then I went to work and Sarah took over. Liberty and Sarah waited a good share of the day for results. After her blood work came back in, Liberty was transferred by ambulance to the Summerlin Hospital (we still didn’t know what was up, but figured it was something bad since she was being transferred by Ambulance). We knew her white blood cell count was low. They switched us to Summerlin since they specialize in hematology and oncology.

The next morning I went into work for about an hour and realized I couldn’t really be much help. So I left and went to the hospital to meet up with Sarah and Liberty. That night, after blood work was done, they transferred Liberty to Summerlin Hospital and checked her into the very same room (and almost the same days) McKay was in last year for his appendicitis incident. That was freakily ironic. My good friend joked I should just book it for next year too. I said, "Oh NO THANKS!” Little did I know, this was only the start of our journey. We were told Liberty's pain could be a list of different things, but I could tell the doctors thought it was something like cancer early on. The first 2 days they ruled out some of the autoimmune diseases, most viruses, and other things. The big C was one of the only things left it could be. They drilled a hole in her hip bone and took some marrow and blood. The test was supposed to take 2 days. We held our breath and waited.

The very next morning a nice doctor who talks kind of like Gru from Despicable Me came in to see us. He asked for Sarah and me to step outside the room. He went on to explain how the preliminary results were in and that 92% of her cells were leukemia cells. I started to cry and he hugged me. Sarah took the news well and tried to comfort me. I tried to walk back into the room and almost fell down in grief in the hallway. I just cried uncontrollably for a few minutes and then realized I needed to go back into the room to be strong for Liberty.

I managed to pull myself together. Over the next day, we tried to explain Liberty’s condition to her. Her first concern was that she was she would give it to someone else. What a sweet girl. She also asked if she was going to die. I told her that it was a very serious illness and that we have great nurses and doctors who will help her fight her cancer. We stayed in the hospital for another 12 days. Sarah, myself, and Liberty's grandparents rotated in shifts. We had to carry Liberty to the bathroom every time she needed to go. We didn’t get much sleep, and we had to wake up 4-8 times a night to help her. The whole process was exhausting in every way possible. Sarah and my hearts were broken and we couldn’t be together to support each other.

After those first 12 days, we got to bring Liberty home. We were trained on how to flush the picc line. We did our best with it daily and also tried to do some physical therapy. However, Liberty was in a lot of pain and very weak from the chemo treatments that had already started in the hospital. Liberty sat on the couch at home and watched some movies, played games with her brothers and sisters, and did lots of drawing and crafts. As Chemo progressed she become more and more tried and could barely open her eyes.

As her condition worsened, games and other things become less possible, and she mostly just wanted to be in a half-sleep state on the couch. I was very worried about the decline, but I had no idea what Chemo was supposed to do and if I should be worried enough to take her in. About a week in, I called the Doctor and asked if I should take in back in because she was having a hard time breathing and he said yes. So we loaded her up and drove to the Summerlin ER. They gave her some fluids and all the tests showed she was ok enough to return home. She didn’t do much better for a few days going into her next Chemo appointment on Wednesday. Sarah took her this time and then had to go to the Hospital after for a platelet transfusion. Liberty started to decline into the night when she was brought home. She didn’t drink or eat much that prior day. That Thursday morning things only got worse.

On Thursday, January 27th, Liberty was saying she had a hard time breathing in the morning again. I went to get ready and grab my stuff to take her into the ER again. Sarah gave her a shower. I heard her say through the door “I feel better maybe it’s just nervousness”. So I thought ok maybe it’s ok. But as we loaded her into the van her eyes rolled back and up (and they were super dilated) and she went limp in my arms. Her lips were so pale they were white. I told Sarah to call 911 right now. As she was talking to them, I shouted at the phone they need to come right now. Liberty was less responsive and her eyes were dilated and looked like she was out of it. I was shaking and started to cry. Sarah was keeping it together really well. I got a blanket to put on her and continued to try and talk to her. She started to respond a little. The fire ambulance showed up in less than 10 minutes. I rode in the front seat with Omar who has a brother named Clayton.

We got to the hospital and she was moved to the 5th floor. Julie Ann, a nurse we had had before was there. Liberty’s blood pressure, blood counts, and heart were all low and declining. They gave her tons of drugs to help get her vitals to life-sustaining levels. There were like 5 to 7 people working on her a lot of the night trying to save her life. She was breathing hard and saying she couldn’t breathe. This went on and off for several hours. Due to the Covid pandemic, only one could stay with Liberty until the test came back negative on COVID. Sarah and I had to decide who would stay the night. Whoever stayed wouldn’t be able to leave the room for 8-10 hours until Liberty’s COVID test came back. I said I would stay with her, since Sarah had done the day before.

I felt like the world stopped and all I could do was beg God to help her. Or beg Him to take away the suffering that no innocent little girl should have to endure. I couldn’t keep it together. I was bawling anytime I thought Liberty wasn’t looking at me. I couldn’t do anything to help my little girl. I had to just watch the suffering happen and be helpless. I tried to read to her a book (Babysitters club) and I put some Disney shows on. She continued to whimper throughout the night and ask for me to help her. Liberty asked to be put asleep. The nurses gave her morphine and she was able to rest a little. She had so many things going into her, that they couldn't fit it all in her picc line, so they had to pick her hand again for another IV. They took blood multiple times and continued to run tests to see if it was an infection.

So, I was there stuck in the room for 8 hours until the results came back. I was supposed to use the little toilet in the middle of the room, but there wasn't a moment without nurses in the room. Plus there was a window that goes to the hallway where anyone walking by could see into the room because of a missing blind piece. I just held it for 8 hours until I finally got cleared to leave the room.

The rest of the night, Liberty continued to fight to breathe and she was semi-awake. Her heart rate was all over the place, over 160 to 170 most of the night. She was on the maximum dose of medication controlling her blood pressure. She was breathing super hard and her chest was moving rapidly. I was worried every second. The nurses were coming in and out all night. The monitors were blinking red and alerts continued to go off all night. I didn’t think she would make it to morning. I just prayed and prayed and cried and cried. I read to her most of the night. She could only talk in a whisper. She called for me and wanted me to read to her. I read her the Babysitters club book until we finished late into the morning. She asked me for help and to be put asleep. She was suffering and it was the hardest night of my life. I kept thinking of the hymn “Abide With Me 'tis Eventide”

“O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.”

The sun finally rose on the longest night of my life. The doctor and staff came into the room and asked if mom was on her way. While we waited for Sarah to come, I showed Liberty pictures of her family and told her how much each person loved her. She said she loved them too. She asked if she would be in pain when she wakes up. I didn’t know, but I told her that the nurses would be able to help if she had any pain. After all, she had been through, I wanted to tell her if she saw a light to follow it home and let go. But I didn’t. I told her I loved her so much and that she was going to not hurt anymore. I told her she was so brave. She told me, that I was too. I cried uncontrollably some more. I held her shoulder and prayed harder than I have ever prayed in my life. I asked for God to take her pain and for her to be taken care of. I told him that if this is her time, to take her quickly and end her suffering. I told Him I didn’t want her to go, but I would accept his Will. I wept.

When Sarah arrived at the hospital, they pulled us into another room next door and sat us down on chairs. I thought, ‘this is really not good”. The doctor explained that the infection was “septic” and had reached her entire body. Her organs were failing and one lung wasn’t working. Her heart wasn’t in a good spot. He said they are “very” concerned at this point. They didn’t know if the antibiotics were the right ones because they didn’t know what kind of infection it was yet. They told us they would have to intubate her to allow for her energy to not be used on her lungs. She needed to fight the infection. They told us to go talk to her for a few minutes before they put her under.

Sarah and I both felt like we were going back into the room to say our final goodbyes to our daughter. There was a team of people in the room and I told her I loved her. I told her I was grateful to be her Dad and that she was going to not hurt anymore because they were going to put her to sleep. She said she loved me too.

Sarah and I had to leave the room for the surgery. Sarah stayed behind and I went home to be with the other kids and to sleep for a few hours. The surgery was a success and her vitals started to normalize. The next day was Saturday. I took over for Sarah. The night was going OK until about 1 AM in the morning when Liberty’s vitals started to drop again and they put her back on the max dose of blood pressure medication possible. I didn’t sleep, and with every noise that beeped, I thought, “Oh no, this is it”. By morning I was a nervous wreck and was on edge. I saw and overheard a doctor talking to a nurse right outside our room door. I could hear about 50% of what was being said. I heard “lung biopsy” and “spread to whole body” and other really scary things. I started to come apart when the nurse entered back into the room. I asked what the doctor had said. I told her what I heard and she told me they were talking about another patient. I had a complete come apart and started sobbing. She hugged me and said, “Liberty is kicking butt and doing really good”. I just cried for a while. Steve (Sarah’s Dad) came to relieve me, and I went downstairs. I sat down on a lobby couch and told Kathy (Sarah’s mom) about the night and what had happened. We laughed and I cried some more. She told me to go get some sleep. I was a mess.

As I was driving home, I felt prompted to go to church and give an update. The church family members had done a fast on Saturday for Liberty. They broke the fast together at 6 pm at the church. Over 70 people showed up. Most of our church family was there. I really wanted to thank them because I felt that Liberty was turning a corner from not having much hope to making improvements. I felt this was a miracle of prayer. I called the bishop and asked if I could sit with my kids and share a brief thank you over the pulpit. I'm glad I went even though I had only slept a few short hours over the last 3 nights, and only had a short time to get ready and go. I really felt I should say something. I got up and gave a brief summary of the events of Thursday to Sunday. I thanked everyone for the prayers and told them that I felt that we were seeing a miracle. I felt that even a chance to speak to her again would be a miracle. I said I think her life has been a miracle. And finally, that her improvement, in such a short time, since the fast and prayer was a miracle. I shared the story of Jesus going to Mary and Martha (John) to help Lazarus, but he was already dead. I shared that even though Jesus knew he was going to heal Lazarus, he didn't try to tell Martha and Mary that he was in a “better place”. He knew that Mary and Martha were weeping and he felt great compassion for them and simply wept with them. I thanked the Arrowhead ward family for weeping with us. I bore a short testimony and sat down.

February 15th

The last week has had a lot of ups and downs. We have had some minor improvements, only to have major setbacks. Now, Liberty has been asleep for over 2 weeks. Our little girl is facing some tough odds. The lung machine created a tear in one of Liberty's lungs. This would normally require emergency surgery, but she is just too weak. The wound on her bum has gotten worse and worse and is at a life-threatening stage. The pseudomonas infection that went through her whole body has done a number on her lungs. Liberty has three tubes connected to her lungs filtering out liquid and air that shouldn’t be in certain places. She has a breathing tube and is connected to 9 lines of different IV fluids. Her little body couldn’t process the amount of fluid she was getting so she had to be put on dialysis over a week. If the infection, lung tear, and wound don’t end her life, the leukemia test showed that she still has .8% leukemia cells and eventually that would. We were told yesterday that Liberty is just too weak to continue chemo for now. This means her leukemia will come roaring back in the coming weeks. We need a miracle!

We know that so many people are praying for her and these prayers have sustained her and us throughout this journey. We really would like to ask for your help in continuing to pray for Liberty. Please ask everyone you know and anyone you can to share in the quest to make Liberty a walking miracle. Please share her story and ask others to pray for her!

We want to thank everyone for countless meals, gift cards, caring texts, phone calls, check-ins, and support we have received from our friends, neighbors, and family. The support has been overwhelming and appreciated. We also feel grateful for the great care we have received from the nurses and doctors at the Summerlin Hospital. They are true heroes and we will forever be grateful for their kind service and incredible work!

February 17th Update

Liberty continues to fight on. Our little one was running a fever part of yesterday. The nurses and doctors are continuing to test to see if the infection is impacting her in different areas. The many different tubes and IVs in her body are all risky and can create another infection. Her heart rate and blood pressure continue to fluctuate in unhealthy ranges that require medication to regulate. Last night, they were able to dial back the dialysis levels and hopefully will be able to remove the machine altogether soon. Liberty has improved in her overall color as her jaundice levels are decreasing. Her wound on her backside has not improved and is slightly worse. This is very concerning. Sarah and I have knots in our stomachs and wait for updates like we are waiting for rescue while lost at sea.

Thank you for the prayers! I know they are helping!

Liberty has been our joy to raise and I wanted to share some of her pictures with you all.

February 18th Update

Liberty had to have another small straw inserted into her side to help remove an air pocket in her lung today. She now has four small tubes coming out of her sides helping remove fluid and air from her lungs. The procedure was a success and it helped her breathe better today. Liberty's jaundice continues to improve, and the need for 24 dialysis has been reduced to just four hours a day. We continue to hope for small improvements and are so happy to see that thousands of people have seen her story and are praying for her. If she were awake, she would thank each of you very enthusiastically and want to talk to you all about it for some time (She is quite a talker:)

Thank you!

February 19th Update

I am just sitting here in the Hospital watching our nurse draw some blood to check Liberty’s oxygen levels as her levels have been low today. Liberty’s wound on her bum continues to expand and not heal as we hoped. Little Liberty keeps on fighting, but her rate heart was up above 150 part of the night and some of the morning. We asked to meet with all the doctors treating her together so we can have the whole picture of what we are facing and ask more questions about her life support options.

We got permission to have our kids come visit Liberty again. As a family, we all sat outside the Hospital in a little garden called the Cycle of Life. We prayed together in the warm sunshine and then went upstairs to visit Liberty. We gathered around her and told her how much we loved her.

Right now, the days for me just run together like one giant nightmarish dream that I hope to wake up from, but never do. I feel overwhelmed by grief while also trying to hold on to the smallest bit of hope. It feels like somebody keeps punching me in the gut and no matter how hard I try I can’t catch my breath. I want to be by Liberty's side 24 hours a day, however, I dread facing another minute in the Hospital. My family’s life has been turned upset down. I am so grateful for the support of my wonderful wife and her parents and my parents. I really could not do this without them.

The nurses continue to be amazing and I am so grateful for them. They are the true heroes in the world, saving lives and giving 100% each and every day.

Thank you for all the prayers on Liberty's behalf!

Update February 21st

I am sorry I didn't update yesterday. I was feeling pretty tired and not a ton has changed. Liberty had a couple of moments where her oxygen levels were low again and her heart rate was elevated. Today, Sarah and I are meeting with some of the doctors. We were hoping to meet with them yesterday, but it didn't work out. Our nurses have been so great, but we are at a point where we are running out of options for Liberty. We want to pursue anything that may help her.

Little Liberty's three biggest issues, as we understand it, are that her lungs are failing, her wound continues to worsen, and her Leukemia is going to come back. Leukemia will block her from recovering as well if left untreated. Our wish for a miracle continues, but we understand that God may be calling her home. We are so grateful for the time we have had with her and the joy she has brought to so many. The love we feel from so many is sustaining us and we are grateful to each of you. The world can be a dark place, but when others reach out and show care and concern, it makes you feel like you can in fact face one more day.

February 22nd update

Liberty returned to her heavenly home in my arms at 9:59 AM this morning. She died peacefully and quickly. My heart is heavy and my soul feels like it is broken into a thousand pieces. But I feel at peace.

I believe that our miracle was feeling God’s love through so many others. Sometimes pain and suffering are not taken away, but a loving God provides a way to support you through it all. Liberty was an absolute joy and her story is inspiring others. I am grateful for the outpouring of love from so many.

Thousands of people have read her story now and have united with us in prayer. In a world where belief systems and politics can easily get divisive, Liberty’s story has inspired unity, compassion, and faith. And In moments like these, differences seem to just melt away to only the things that matter most.

Our lives will never be the same. There is a huge hole in our hearts. Although I intensely mourn the loss of Liberty, I rejoice in the knowledge of Liberty's destination. I know we will see her again and that families can be together forever. I believe in Christ and his ability to heal our hearts and our souls.

My hope is that each of you takes a moment to pause today and tell your family how much you love them. Life is too short and each moment is precious. Live like Liberty and dance like no one is watching!

Sometimes people look to star athletes or celebrities for heroes. But the reality is, our heroes are the ones who quietly serve the most vulnerable among us. The nurses and support staff members in the Emergency Care Unit at Summerlin Hospital are my heroes. Despite everyone’s best efforts, they have to face losing a patient and still be able to come back to give 100 percent to their next patient. They are all in and each of them cares for their patients like they are family.

Just a word of encouragement to all my nurses, doctors, and support staff. Even though Liberty’s outcome is not what anyone wanted, I still want to encourage everyone to fight just as hard for the next child. I pray for your strength. There is no nobler work than saving children. May God bless you in your efforts.

I will post funeral information shortly. It will likely be St. George Utah on the 5th. I hope you all can make it and help celebrate my daughter's life. I realize that for some it’s a bit of a drive and may not be possible. I completely understand.

I would love to hear any memories or pictures you have of my daughter. We want to collect these for my family. Or if you just want to drop a note about your experiences reading Liberty's story I would love to read them. Thank you!

Please send them to Clayton.burgett76@gmail.com

"Her Hands"

By Kristal Pugh

With every stroke of the brush

I felt something missing

“What is it?” I thought

This is too depressing

Then a voice that I knew

Happily said,

“There’s more Color in Heaven!”

“That’s it!” I said.

“Add some purple here!”

“Some red in those trees,”

“That grass needs some flowers”

She guided me.

“Those trees are kind of boring,”

She said

“Let’s add some gold to the trunks!”

So they shimmered instead

“A butterfly would be fun,”

She giggled

“I think I’d like a blue one,”

She figured.

We looked at this painting

So colorful and bright

“Only one thing to add,

You know that right?”

I hesitated as I looked

At that empty path

“I don’t want to put you there.

It’s just too sad.”

“But I’m happy in heaven,

My family needs to know.”

So I cried some tears

And I painted her slow

A beautiful dress

With a lovely green ribbon

Her curly red hair

Her dancing in Heaven

“That’s better!” she said

As I finished my work

“Now go show my family,

Because they all hurt.”

So I did as she said

Because this was her gift

She had a mission to do

Her family’s spirits to lift

I watched how her family

Felt of her love

They knew she was happy

In her new home above

“Thank you for being

My hands today.”

She hugged me tight

Then turned to go on her way.

“Please don’t go”, I cried

It’s too much to bear.”

She pointed to her painting

“Just remember I’m there.”

February 23rd Update

Sarah's sister, Kristal painted this amazing picture above. She shared this very special story about her inspiration and I hope it can bring peace to so many that are grieving. I know it helped me.

"So I painted this for your family today because this image has been in my mind for the last several days, and I wanted to share a really sweet experience that I had while painting this. So before I started painting this morning, I said a prayer that I would be able to paint something that would be beautiful and represent Liberty's happiness right now and be comforting to your family. So I started painting and all of a sudden I could feel Liberty right next to me, and I heard her sweet voice in my mind and she was like, "Aunt Kristal, you need to add more color to this. Heaven has a lot more color." And for the next few hours, I'd randomly heard her saying, "Add some purple there, and some yellow there, or some blue there." So I just want you to know that this painting came from your sweet Libby. 💚 And while I know this painting probably doesn't do heaven justice, I know that Liberty is in such a beautiful place, and she is so happy"

Yesterday, our family all wore green to show love for Liberty. It was so touching for us to see all the cousins, aunts, and uncles show their love. We also want to thank the person(s) who took the time to tie dozens of green ribbons all over our neighborhood to represent Liberty. That was so incredibly thoughtful and was very special to us.

I am so touched by the song, painting, memories, and experiences that have been shared with me. I want to invite you all to come to celebrate my beautiful Liberty's life and join us on March 4th and 5th for the viewing and funeral services. The key information is posted below.

Please keep sending me any thoughts or your experiences from reading Liberty's story! clayton.burgett76@gmail.com

Sarah's brother, Jacob, wrote this amazing song for Liberty! Called "Early Angels"

https://youtu.be/Fi94qL99K_4

We will broadcast Liberty's Funeral Services at 10 AM MST at this link:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ7xrnC7UDM&feature=youtu.be

Final Update March 12th

Dear Liberty,

I want you to know how much you are loved and missed. You have been so brave throughout these last few months. I know you didn’t want to feel any more pain and I am glad your suffering is over. There hasn’t been a day where I don’t think about you constantly. You are sorely missed and I am doing my best to accept God’s Will and His plan for you. Thank you for the 9 wonderful years with us. I treasure the memories, laughs, tears, and joys we shared together. I look forward to the day when I can embrace you once again and have you talk my ear off for hours.

The next few decades seem just too long without you. My heart is heavy with grief and pain. They follow me around like a hungry wolf ready to devour his prey. I feel so much gratitude for the years I had with you and so much pain for the years I will miss. I don’t know how to move forward, I am just trying to do the next required thing.

The funeral services came together so perfectly and I know you would want to thank everyone who traveled near and far to show love and support. I will pass your gratitude on. I know you were right there with us laughing and crying during the services.


I appreciate you sharing your message of hope through Aunt Kristal’s painting. I will try to remember through my grief that you are happy and dancing once again in a beautiful place that we can’t even begin to imagine.

I will love you forever my sweet girl. Please stay close by when you can and let us know you are all right whenever possible. I will do my best to make it up there with you one day.

Until then, all my love,

Dad

Gratitude Corner

Thank you to each of you for your prayers! This story has been shared hundreds of times. We have had over 3000 comments and 8,000 likes on different platforms. I am so incredibly humbled by the responses and kind comments.

There have been so many people who have dropped up food, treats, notes, gifts, and other items. We were often at the Hospital when some things are dropped off so we may have missed the opportunity to thank some people individually. We thank you!!!!

Here are just a few of these amazingly nice things that others have done for us over the last while:

First, I want to thank both my wife’s and my parents for helping our family during this challenging time. We couldn’t survive without you. You all have helped by doing so many things including washing dishes, cleaning, cooking, visiting with Liberty, helping anywhere it was needed. There are just too many things to list, but we are so grateful for so much love and support! We love you.

One really neat organization is called “Ayden’ army of angels”. This really great organization quietly gives the parents of Cancer patients lunch vouchers for the cafeteria in the Hospital. This act of service has been comforting and we thank those who run this organization and the family of Ayden. https://www.aydensarmyofangels.org

Thank you to the Marvel characters who visited Liberty’s room to brighten her day. Those two nice guys were great with Liberty and got her smiling. They also gave her some legos. (Thankfully, she didn’t know who Deadpool was!)

Thank you to Liberty’s good friend Hannah and her family for sending Liberty kind notes, and a care package. (And Dinner for the family) Thank you to Matt and Janay for the huge fruit basket, my kids devoured it.

Thank you to my sister Katie and brother-in-law Dean for sending Liberty delicious cookies in the hospital and for helping with food, replacing old carpet with nice flooring just so Liberty can wheelchair around a little easier.

Thank you to my younger sister Anna for dropping everything in her busy life to come out to visit, twice! (And for taking a John Candy detour to get here) I appreciate the time you spent listening and for all the cool care packages you have sent for little Liberty. The necklace is very special to her! Thank you Darrell for holding it down while Sarah was away.

Thank you to Sadie for the sweet letters to Liberty!

Thank you to all the primary kids in the Arrowhead ward! These sweet kids came and “heart attacked” our door filling it up with notes of encouragement and love.

Thank you to my good friend Amanda and her husband V for all the delicious dinners and acts of kindness, and gifts for Liberty.

Thank you to Rachel for having dinner delivered to us!

Thank you to Tank and Christel for all the food, chocolate and for checking in every day to see how things are going. Appreciate you guys so much!

Thank you Dalene and Hal for the gift card and for the constant outreach of love and support!

Thank you to Chad and Nicole for the gift basket! We are so glad we have gotten to know your family these last few years.

Thank you to an anonymous person in the hospital who gave Liberty $50.

Thank you to Jared and Brooke for driving down to support us and taking us out to lunch and just listening to us vent. Thank you for the wonderful gift basket for Liberty! She loved the green blanket!

Thank you to Cade and Brittney for having a cute Teddy bear delivered. Thank you to Brian and Natalie for dinner, gift cards, and chocolates.

Thank you to Kevin and Dyanne for being great friends and neighbors. We are grateful for you always offering to do anything at any time to help our family out. You guys are the best!

Thank you to Ms. Carney for showing concern and love to Liberty and sending her a beanie boo and gift card. Thank you to ALide for the delivery of some amazing pasta and accessories.

Thank you to Jennifer and Joe for always ensuring our fridges are full and any random item we might lack was taken care of. We also appreciated the dinner and for the rides for our kids. This neighborhood is so lucky to have you guys. Thank you Jennifer for also being a great support for Sarah.

Thank you to Skyler and Meghan for the cute doll, fun snacks (I’m now hooked on dried mangos), and letter to Liberty!

Thank you to both TJ and Christine for taking the time to visit with us, share insights, and a bunch of useful items to go into this cancer battle. That meant so much to us!

Thank you to Sarah and Mia for the gift card and note of encouragement to help feed us in a challenging time. Thank you to Mark and Robin for feeding us, Cafe Rio. That was very kind of you.

Thank you to our Bishop for all the support throughout this difficult journey. We appreciate your love and kindness.

Thank you to my good friend Pat and his wife Mandy. I appreciate your friendship, funny books, flowers, constant check-ins, visits, and words of encouragement!

Thank you to both Brent and Lisa for the out-of-this-world BBQ dinner that has set a new bar for me personally showing what BBQ can really be like!

Thank you to Terry and Nelly for bringing us a delicious Mexican dinner. We have loved getting to know you over the last few years!

Thank you to Roy and Ellen for the kind gift, service, and support to our family.

Thank you to Mike and Celeste for the gift cards, yummy bread, and crafts for Liberty!

Thank you to Trevor and Jennifer for the snack package, games and for putting up a huge sign for Liberty's service! We miss you guys!

Thank you to Jimmy and Sheri for the bead art, donuts, and for checking in with us!

Thank you to Richard and Lorraine for the nice gifts, treats, and paints for Liberty!

Thank you to Danny and Krysten for being our lifelong friends, making time to see us while in Vegas, dropping off pizza, for the items for Liberty! to Spencer and Shelley for the cute cards!

Thank you to Kathryn for the necklace!

Thank you to David and Heather for meal and for showing love during this tough time!

Thank you to Donita for the teddy bear, blanket, and other key times to battle cancer! Thank you for being an inspiration to our family and for your kindness!

Thank you to Bayden and Mary for your friendship and for the nice items for Liberty!

Thank you to Ruth for hosting our kids and for your friendship!

Thank you to Kailee for bringing laughter, fun, and apple crisp to our home during some really dark days. We love you! And Rusty!

Thank you to Courtney and Jeff for the gift basket and the ongoing support!

Thank you to Pat for the coloring book and touching card!

Thank you to Christine for the plant and kindness!

Thank you to Betty for the Teddy bears!

Thank you to Jerry and Judy for the dinner and for visiting with us. We appreciated it so much.

Thank you to Jake and Kristal for the thoughtful care package and for driving out to visit! And thank you for the amazing painting and poem of Liberty.

Thank you to Jacob and Angie for the words of encouragement and for Liberty's care package!

Thank you to Rachelle for stopping by and dropping off Donuts!

Thank you to Mike and Susana for the donuts as well!

Thank you to Aunt Meg and Uncle Fred for their generosity and kind texts.

Thank you to Tanzee and Jane for your generosity.

Thank you to Aunt Holly for your generosity.

Thank you to our caring next-door neighbors Lola and Nicole for dropping off food and your generosity.

Thank you to McKay's seminary class and teachers for the delicious bread and scroll note with caring messages.

Thank you Leslie for your kind-hearted gift to Liberty!

Thank you to Justin, Mandy, Payten, and Kenna for your generosity and gift for Kate!

Thank you to Amanda and Tyrel for the beautiful card and fun items for Liberty!

Thank you to the Raymondi family for the card and flowers!

Thank you to Al and Cindy for the burger king gift card. We appreciate you!

Thank you to our wonderful relief society presidency (Jennifer, Pam, Shelley, and Lisa) for dropping off a bunch of food during our hospital stays.

Thank you to Hailey and Eliza for the balloons and cookies. That was so kind of you to bring colorful balloons to represent "more color in heaven". to Mary and Baden (And family) for putting up green ribbons all over the neighborhood. This was incredibly special to us.

Thank you to those who have put up green lights in the neighborhood to honor Liberty!

Thank you to Aunt Carryn and family for the generosity!

Thank you to Sean and Kristin for your generosity!

Thank you to Vince for the generosity and the beautiful handmade stool!

Thank you to Jim and Melissa for the thoughtful wind chime.

Thank you to all the Apple friends who made the long drive up to support us for the funeral.

Thank you, Lindsey, Jackie, and Lauri for the edible arrangement and lovely Liberty wall monument. That was so touching and appreciated!

Thank you to Mary and Cory for your generosity and for coming up to show your support for Liberty!

Thank you to Kim and Eugene for your generosity and for making the long drive to support Liberty!

Thank you to St. George Ward for your hard work helping with the lunch for Liberty’s services. We are so grateful and everything was wonderful.

Thank you to Karlinda and Jason for your help with organizing the services and luncheon.

Thank you to Katie and Brooke for helping set up and plan the services. Everything was so perfect.

Thank you to our college ward bishop, Bishop Heston, we have so many good memories of the activities you hosted 20 years ago. Thank you for coming and for your generosity.

Thank you to Tadd, Barbara, Craig, Katie, and Derrek for your generosity!

Thank you to Wayne and Linda for your generosity!

Thank you to Deon, Tyler, Judy, Steve, and Heston for your generosity!

Thank you to Glenda for your generosity!

Thank you to Lenoir for your generosity!

Thank you to the Skelly family for the care package and nice card!

Thank you to Mahina, Cami, and Evan for bringing us dinner!

Thank you to my cousin Toni for the thoughtful custom-made Liberty blanket. We love it!

Thank you Anna for the Liberty shirts, they are so perfect!

Thank you to Lola and Nicole Moore for the flowers!

Thank you to Galloway Elementary school’s leaders for the flowers and kindness!

Thank you to Jared and Brooke for the flowers!

Thank you to my work family for the flowers!

Thank you to mom, dad, Kristal, Jake, McKay, Anna, Spencer, Shelley, Jacob, Angie, Amanda, Tyrel, Charlie, and Bre for the flowers!

Thank you to Mark and Robin for the flowers!

Thank you to John and Tiffany Pierce for the flowers!

Thank you to the Mars family for the flowers!

Thank you to JoLyn Brant for the door dash gift card!

Thank you to so many people who told the time to share memories of sweet Liberty! This has been a constant source of strength for us.