fundraiser meeting...

We are having our next fundraising meeting tomorrow morning at Leisle's house, 9am here in Sierra Vista. We now have a preliminary idea of two major things we are going to do- so please leave a comment here if you would like to help and be involved and we'll send you some ideas of things you can do where ever you live. Thank you!

Today...

Today is the funeral. Can I suggest we pray extra hard for Jami and her family? Let's all pray that everything goes as planned, that it is a beautiful service, and most of all for strength and peace for those who loved him!

Here is a post Jami did a few days ago of her reflections of the upcoming service:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2009

8/26: One week

Whoever thought up the word widow, is awful. What a horrible word "widow" is! It makes me feel like I am 80 years old. But, it is the title that I have now been given by society.

I have been a widow for one week now. And I survived. I will say that the first 72 hours were the WORST to get through. After those first three days, I started to think a little clearer and actually be able to focus on some things.

I still have a hard time being alone and I sleep with the light on. But, atleast I am able to get out of bed in the morning and face the day. I cannot eat in the mornings though or I just throw it right back up. I have no appetite and no matter how much I sleep at night I am still exhausted. But, I would assume these are all normal things for just losing a spouse.

This past Saturday we went to the Gila Valley to pick out the cemetery where Kameron will be buried. As soon as we started walking around the Central Cemetery I KNEW that is where he should be buried. The view is beautiful, it is surrounded by mountains and just down the hill is the Gila Valley Temple. It is so perfect.

Everything is coming together for the funeral and I am so pleased with how it looks. It will be nice to have Friday over with, it's going to be a long, emotional day! But, we are hoping to make some good memories as well.

Today I went to the temple and I was a little nervous about going. Maybe because I didn't really know what to expect? My mind was all over the place and I had a really hard time concentrating but, as I got into the Celestial Room, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace and comfort. My life is in the hands of our Heavenly Father. He is directing my path and whatever is placed in my path can be conquered with the help of Him. It doesn't make me miss Kameron less and it doesn't take away my lonely feeling but, it does give me the reassurance that I need to make it through each day. He is not going to leave me standing alone on the side of the road.

It was a good day but it was exhausting, it sure is a long drive with a two year old!!! But, he's a trooper. Thank heavens for temples and for the blessings that we receive there.

Only one more day until the funeral ... I cannot wait to have Friday over with.

Book for Kason

I think it’s safe to say that a big part of everybody’s heartache is the thought of little Kason not having his wonderful Daddy with him as he grows…
A friend of the Haban’s has offered to create a book for Kason of memories and pictures of Kameron. He is asking that anybody who knew Kameron and has a favorite story or memory they would like to share that they email him. Any story that shows Kameron’s generosity, love, humor and personality will be treasured memories that Kason will be able to know his daddy by. Please email Jason at kammemories@gmail.com with stories and pictures.
Thanks!

Jami's brother is an incredibly gifted photographer and has generously started a fundraiser on his own photography website. All the profits from the sale of his landscape protraits from now until October 31st, 2009 will be donated to the Haban family. They are really breathtaking, so go check them out!



You can go here to take a peek and there is also a new button on the sidebar that will take you there as well.

Thanks Jeremy!

Illustration

This illustration was made by Kameron's friend Dustin in his memory. I thought it was amazing and really captured the Kameron that so many of us loved back in the good old EA days, and thought you all would enjoy it as well.

Thanks for letting me put it on here Dustin!

Kameron's Funeral

We just wanted to let anybody who didn't already know that Kameron's funeral will be held Friday, August 28, at 10am at the Sierra Vista Stake Center (2100 E Yaqui St. Sierra Vista, AZ 85650).

Graveside to follow at 2pm (roughly) in Thatcher, AZ.

this is being moved to CAMILLE's HOME!

I am so grateful for all of you wonderful people and the great friends the Haban's have. I have seen your comments on Jami's blog and heard of your prayers and donations that you have shared with this dear family. I am humbled by your kindness and generosity. You are truly an example to me.

Alot of people have expressed interest of how else they could help Jami & Kason. Here you go:)...

Tuesday 8/25 we are going to get together at Camille's house- email me if you need her address (laurdacooj@hotmail.com) at 9 am.

We are going to brainstorm. We are going to hold a silent auction on September 19th and we need help collecting the items. There is also going to be a benefit concert in September as well that we need help getting things ready with. We also want your ideas. If you would like to help, but live far away, I was thinking that we could include you in a conference call or messenger or something, because we have ideas of things people could do far away as well.

Again, THANK YOU, for helping Jami with your love & support.

Love, Laurel

Subscribe

There is a button on the sidebar to subscribe to this blog. Please do so you can see when information and new fundraising opportunities are updated!

PayPal Donations

We have added a link on the right side bar for anyone who would like to give an online donation to the Haban family. Setting up a PayPal account is an easy and a secure way to send a donation. It only takes a minute to set up a PayPal account. Once your account is set up, click on 'Send Money' and enter in the email habanfundraiser@gmail.com. Your donations are much appreciated.

A big thanks to all who are helping to set up fundraising events. Please check back to see when and where these events are. Right now there are plans to hold events in both Sierra Vista and Thatcher. We will keep you posted.

In loving memory...

of a truly amazing husband, father, friend and servant of our Heavenly Father.

These two lovebirds just celebrated their 5th anniversary the beginning of July...

and their cute little Kason, the apple of their eyes, he is just 2 1/2...

Here is Kason with his Daddy, the day Kameron was admitted to the hospital, 6 weeks ago....

Kameron Haban passed away this morning at 10am after a long and difficult fight with Lupus. Kameron was a generous, loving and incredible person. His wife, Jami, is a strong, faithful and just plain amazing woman who has been such a rock through this whole trial. His son, Kason, is a 2 1/2 year old who is so sweet, soft-spoken and tender-hearted. Jami and Kason are now left on this earth without their sweet husband and father. While they know they WILL be reunited with him, they are need of thoughts and prayers. I would also like to make a plea to everyone to help support this family in another way. We just opened up an account in their behalf yesterday. Anybody can go to any Bank of America branch and ask to make a donation to the account under JamiLynn Haban for the benefit of Kameron Haban -OR- you could also make an online donation at paypal.com then send a donation to habanfundraiser@gmail.com. Please know that I would never ask this of you if it wasn't something that I truly believed in and something and someone that is in true need. Thank you so much to everyone for their support and love.

If you would like more information on the family, you are welcome to check out her blog where she has been documenting her experience. It is a detailed and heart-felt blog that is sure to touch your heart. The address is kamandjami.blogspot.com

Thanks again. Much love to you all

A Letter From Jami

Kameron grew up in Sierra Vista, AZ and served a 2 year mission for our church to Cambodia. I grew up in Payson, AZ. After graduating from high school I headed to Thatcher, AZ to attend college.

Kameron and I met at a church activity one evening during my first semester there and had mutual friends during that semester. We started dating at the beginning of my second semester and I knew that after a few weeks with him that I wanted to be with him forever. We were engaged just 2 ½ months after we started dating and were married 3 months later. We lived in Thatcher while Kameron worked and I finished my schooling. As soon as I graduated from college, we found out we were expecting our first child. In February of 2007, we welcomed our son, Kason, into our family. He has been our pride and joy ever since.

In the fall of 2007, Kameron started having some joint pain and feeling very fatigued. After going through a couple months of testing our doctor diagnosed Kameron with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or just Lupus) in November of 2007, at the age of 27. It kind of turned our world upside down. I didn’t know very much about lupus so I started doing some research and realized that this is going to be something we fight with for the rest of his life. We visited a specialist who started Kameron on a regimen of medications for his lupus. In March of 2008, Kameron had emergency surgery to remove his gall bladder. Following the surgery he had a difficult time stabilizing because of the lupus attacking his body. He was in the hospital for 14 days and took several months of recovery. After losing his job and not being able to find decent employment we moved to Sierra Vista.

Just six months after we moved, Kameron starting feeling sick. He was more exhausted than usual, had no appetite, he kept getting fevers in the evenings. His doctor adjusted some of his medications but he continued to get sicker. On July 4th, after a visit to the Emergency Room, Kameron was admitted to Tucson Medical Center.

He has been there ever since and has been in the ICU since July 8th. Kameron is battling what they call a lupus crisis, it affect the kidneys, lungs and brain. He has been on life support for most of his time there, as well as in a drug induced coma. He has been given a 40% chance of survival and the doctors tell us his prognosis is very poor.

I try to stay very positive through everything but it can be a challenge when it’s my best friend lying in the hospital bed and there is nothing I can do to help him. He is a fighter and I know that he will give everything he’s got to make it through this – he is young and has so much living left to do and so many things to fight for.

I have been amazed by the love and support that has been shown to me and my family. People we don’t even know are so willing to help and show us their support. It is impossible to put into words the gratitude that I feel towards those who have, and will help us. Thank you, it means more than you will ever know.

Jami Haban