Hello all
It’s been about two weeks since we came home from hospital. I am in hospice which basically means I have a hospital bed in our home and unfortunately have been pretty bed ridden since we got home. My left arm is still not functional because of the stroke which also means I’m immobile because I cannot use my crutches or my prosthesis. Days consist of waking up around 6:00 AM, allowing Jenn or my mother to fix my breakfast, doing crossword puzzles, and then slowly working through various titles on Netflix. I have good days where I feel really good, chipper, and have a lot of energy. Other days are not so good; sometimes it takes great effort just to have a conversation with somebody.
We understand the severity of what we are facing. I’m taking no other medications other than pain meds for comfort. In fact, I feel very little pain or discomfort as of yet. Every now and then, I have trouble breathing but the meds take care of that when necessary. The lung tumors continue to grow and eventually will completely overtake my breathing capacity. Unfortunately, we don’t know the timeline for this. So every day is cherished. Jenn and I spend a lot of time determining our future as well as that of our boys. Our conversations are difficult and emotional but unfortunately a necessary evil. We continue to remain as positive as possible despite the grim circumstances and continue to have a lot of laughter and positivity in the house. The incredible amount of blog responses from our last post were very moving, and uplifting. We have had a number of visitors as well that have been extremely helpful. My mother and father have stayed to help out since the initial hospital visit in June. The future right now is uncertain, but we are facing it with the love and strength of many family and friends.
Hunter
God Bless you and your family, Hunter. You and your family are an inspiration to many. You remind of us of how blessed we are and there are no promises about what tomorrow holds. Live fully in the day! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. You have touched so many lives in amazing ways.
Sent from my iPhone
I can’t imagine what you guys are going through right now, but I’m continuously amazed and moved by how incredibly positive you are….although I guess I shouldn’t be. You’ve always been such a positive person. Full of laughter….I was driving home from Belvoir, and was thinking about how in that military history course, you and I got in trouble for talking too much and whispering and giggling like high school kids….that little old professor yelling “liar, liar, pants on fire” in regards to some historical figure and how we could not stop laughing! Omg, I hope this makes you laugh, because it sure made me laugh remembering it! Praying for lots of good days with your loved ones! Big hug!
Hunter, thanks for the update. You guys are in my thoughts every day. I hope you and your family are feeling the love like never before. There is certainly lots of it ‘streaming’ in from all directions. Your friend, Ken
Hunter: Ellen and I up north here in VA are praying fervently for you, Jenn and those handsome two young men of yours. Your blogs have wrapped us all up in a group of loyal followers because you both candidly share your experience of this journey with depth and dignity. Although far away, we feel we are there and can share life and pain and love. Our prayers for you all are for continued calm, strength and faith. In His Name with love and prayer. Fred and Ellen
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Your courage and strength is an inspiration. Your updates are such.a testimony… May you all have continued strength and peace.
Hunter,
Thank you for sharing your story. You and your family remain in our hearts always. God has blessed us by making you part of our lives. Your love of faith, family, and friends has given you a positive strength that has challenged us to live a more meaningful life. You are appreciated for inspiring us in ways that are everlasting.
With lots of love,
Mary and family
Thinking of you every day. Thank you for sharing with us and reminding us of each days blessings. God bless you all and continue t
o show you peace and love. Best thoughts from us all.
Hunter,
We continue to pray for you and the family. Thank you for sharing this story and sharing yourself with us. We will always have Breckenridge!!!!
Darren
Thank you for taking the time to update this blog. I think about your family a lot and will continue to send prayers and good thoughts your way.
Hunter —
Thank you for not only sharing your journey with us, but thank you for your humor & positivity mixed in with your frank, candid realities. I’ve been thinking about you & your family every day since I first heard the news, & I read through all of your blog entries as soon as I found it. I can’t say that I am as strong as you because I had to take breaks between your entries so I could cry, which is something I’ve been doing a lot of lately, but you also managed to make me laugh, which I consider to be nothing short of miraculous. You were an idol to me when I was growing up &, after all you’ve been through, you clearly still are an idol to me. Faith, family, friendship, humor, optimism, brilliance, achievements, humility, hope, strength, compassion… you have all of these things & more. My love & admiration for you runneth over. But I’m still in shock. I don’t want you to leave. This world needs amazing people like you. I can’t help but be frustrated & confused by how unfair all of this is. Your ordeal has shaken my faith because, of all the people in the world, why YOU? I suppose I’m just selfish, but I don’t care. That said, I don’t want you to live a life of pain, so I am glad to hear that, for the most part, you are comfortable &, most importantly, you are home, surrounded by your loved ones. I pray that your final journey will be as peaceful & painless as possible, but know that your departure will leave a hole that can never be filled. You are leaving many legacies, which include the stories that all of us who were lucky enough to know you will share. For your friends, you will be leaving legacies of laughter & love. If there is ANYthing that I can do for Jenn & your boys, please don’t hesitate to let me know. And I MEAN that — I ain’t just trying to be polite or blow sunshine up yer arse. I miss you.
All my love, strength, hopes, & prayers,
-Erin
Hunter – I think our good friend Erin Bradley just summed up what each of us has been thinking since we heard your story. So first extremely well said Erin – beautiful and truthful words. Second, I told Amy Treadwell the other day that throughout my feeble attempts to run cross country in high school you set the pace for me, you inspired me to run longer and faster, but most important you taught me to never give up. One of my favorite lifetime memories was our summer Cross Country trips and it was there that I learned what an amazing perfoson Hunter Lindsey really was and how blessed I was to have him in my life. Now you’re going through this. I will tell you that the inspiration you gave me and many others in high school pales in comparison to the inspiration you’re giving all of us now. The word faith tells us all we need to know about God and Religion. There is a reason we use the word. That said, visiting this site reminds all of us that God is working somehow right now through your posts, through these replies, in your heart, and it is reflecting in ours. I have never had the opportunity to meet Jen or your children, but I know they are extremely lucky to have a wonderful father, husband, motivator, and friend. Much love from all of your BHS friends. Rob F
Hunter, Jenn, Ben & Jack,
Even though our words have been few, you all have never been far from our thoughts since your journey began. Hunter, you are an amazing husband and father and an inspiration to anyone facing a challenge. You have shown cancer how the strong and brave handle things, and you have not let it have the best parts of you~ your spirit and love for your family and even sense of humor! Jenn, it’s so hard to find words to say from 600 miles away, but I’ve admired how strong and capable you are since day 1 of this, and I stand ready everyday to be an ear/shoulder/phone call/email/whateveryouneed. Ben, Jake has followed your Daddy’s journey, and he prays for you and Jack. Jake wants to tell you it is beyond cool that your dad got a ‘robotic leg’ [“like a transformer- and he could use that as a weapon”]. (direct quote- I’m sure you both ‘get it’ because you live with Ben, too, and these boys, well, are such ‘boys’) Please know that you all are so special to us! ~Jennifer, Jake and Paul Nagy
Erin, beautifully stated….and Rob, …….you took my breath away…..
Hunter, you……I don,t even have words, tears……………..I have read this all aloud to Steve and Steele. We are all speechless…..yes, even me. Steve says he doesn’t know what to say but wants you to know that you are on his mind. Steele asks a few questions but is otherwise…………mum. Erin said everything perfectly. I am soo angry. This IS NOT fair. We are praying for a MIRACLE!!!! Yes, God is definitely working through your posts but……. I, too, am confused. Why does he have to take you to do His job. We need you here. I really wish there weren’t so many miles between us. As the parents of a lil boy ourselves, we also pray for your mom and dad. I am so thankful that they have been able to there for your family. Jenn said they have been wonderful. They must be, to have raised a guy like you. They must be so proud of what you have done in life, but even more proud of what you are doing now. I know we are proud to have you be a part of our family. Selfishly, I wish Steele could get to know you better. These darn miles…… Steve just took him out for a canoe ride on the pond……. He came in to give me a hug and said he wished you could go with them too;) so I told him you are there in his heart…. So enjoy the ride, smell the swampy air, feel the sunshine, here the birds sing, and taste the freedom, because you have touched us ALL and deserve a break to just feel the calm. If the miracle I’m praying for doesn’t let you do that here, then…….get to know Barbara because she rides the canoe(and the 4-wheeler, and the snowmobile,and the scooter) then those pesky miles will be there for us to learn to appreciate and enjoy when we use them to visit Ben and Jack. Or when they come here, they can ride too.
Jenn sure is blessed to have found you. Thank you for sharing all of this with us but, thank you for helping her through the ………. Journey. Steve being her brother, I feel like she’s my sister and you the only brother I’ve ever had. Too mushy? Sorry;( if we could pick our siblings, ……we didn’t have to, jenn did it for us, thanks sweetie). You both have had the opportunity to plan for the future like we all should but take for granted the time we have to do it. Thank you, again for taking time from them to share w us. Love and prayers, Steele & Co.
Me again, Just wanted to let you know that I am back from my 1st RUN in almost 30 yrs. My left knee has been bothering me for over a wk and before I left the driveway my right ankle wasn’t feelin so good. I ran being inspired by you, ran to release anger, and I ran because………………..I can. No excuses. If you remember, our road is mostly uphill. I ran until I got to the mid-point of the 1st incline when ran out of breath. so I walked fast. ( I give myself an E for effort- remember its been almost 30 yrs 😉 After I caught my breath, i cried some more, prayed some more, avoided the snake that I should have STEPPED on but avoided since it was just a shed of his skin. So, I proceeded to give his mentor a pc of my mind instead. I ran some more. Walked some more til I made it to the top of the hill, something that I have neglected even in my walks in the 9 years we have been here (always an excuse). I talked to God a lil more, then ran a majority of the trip back down, much easier goin down. So now all sweaty, a lil dehydrated, and a cramp in my leg, I’ll call it a sucess. But, something I never thought of as a teen, or needed to as a 44 yr. old, is gravity is also another excuse trying to deter me so next time, I will drink more water, stretch more, and invest in a sports bra. I guess in all your encouagement, I didn’t hear you say anything about preparation……………….lol. Oh, I guess you never had to think about that. Well, my whole plan here, was if nothing else, I could make you smile. I hope it worked, it did for me. As said by your friend Rob, “God is working through your posts”. And today, for us here, Steve spent much needed quality time w/ Steele and I was reminded that a simple Run can do wonders for the psychy. You are in our minds and hearts in everything we are doing hoping that alone will make a difference in God’s plan. But now that I know that this hill AIN’T NO THANG!, I will take you on my RUN/WALK 😉 every time I go. God Bless. Hug your Mom. Steele isn’t back from his canoe trip yet but I can’t wait for him to hug me again, and I can tell him what his old mom could do, I’ll probably pay for it tomoro, then I’ll be looking for an excuse or yelling at you know who again. Keep smiling, I am. Thank you. Tammy
Praying for your comfort and strength. Asking God empower your family with strength and memories of how much you love them.
I admire your strength Hunter yours and Jenn’s. I’ve been amazed at the positive attitudes.
Your all in my prayers.
Hey, Hunter! I feel honored by the time we have had. I KNOW we would be the best of friends if we had more time and less distance. You are incredibly brave. You are gifted with words. You live your life taking one step (I know, just one more pun) at a time. You hold each moment as precious. Thank you for allowing all of us into your life. You inspire, encourage, and lift others up by being true to yourself and to your family.
In case you would like some movie suggestions: The Sessions, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and of course any of the Bourne movies…
You could also visit my webpage and comment on any of your favorites. I just posted a few of Lacy under “children” under portraits (lov2shoot.com).
Love, hugs, sitting by your side sent your way from me.
Hunter,
You continue to be an inspiration to everyone who knows you and is sharing in your journey! Your courage, faith, strength and love for your family are a gift to those that surround you each day! You and the whole family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I have heard it said that you don’t truly know what someone is made of until they are faced with difficult times. I think we all know that you are made of the “good” stuff!
Praying for your comfort, strength and peace. Lots of love and hugs coming to you all,
Burneele
Lt Colonel Hunter and Jenn…so thankful for the post, and for it to be your wonderful words of inspire. WOW…how I wish I had known you as the folks who post here have known you! Having only met you a couple weeks ago, and yet, I feel I have known you all my life! You and your sweet family have been in my prayers and will continue to be! My life has truly been touched by an angel!
Salute…Sherri RN
Keith and I think of ya’ll daily and will continue to prayer for you and your lovely family. If we can do anything we are just aphone call away
Hey Hunter and Jenn, ben and jack…
We are thinking and praying for y’all …you are truly showing what a strong love holds your family. We will be praying for even more than y’all can imagine.
With love, Gigi and Brian
I just want to drop a line to tell you what an inspiring and amazing story you have. I don’t know why God has chosen to take you down this road but just want you to know I am and will continue to pray for you and your sweet family! Your son is going to be in second grade this year with a very good friend of mine. I also teach second grade and assure you that we will love him through all of this as if he were or own! Please know that there is a strong team of Christians that will take care of your baby this year at school…I am so sorry you are having to go through this. I pray for peace that passes all understanding and comfort that is unexplainable! sincerely, Karen Brockette
Hunter –
I am so thankful for this blog update. You are the strongest person I have ever known. I’m praying for you and your family every day, and remembering lots of happy memories from what seems like a million years ago now. Take care and God bless you.
Chaucer d’Afrique,
Jenni
So touched reading your blog…While we haven’t talked in ages, I have such fond memories of you! Just wanted you to know that you have one more person praying for you and your family
Leslie Dorough Downs
Hunter & Jenn –
I am still amazed by the dignity of a couple who can look cancer in the eye and laugh about it (through the tears, anyway), and provide the comedic relief the rest of us need to get through what is undeniably a tragedy of the greatest proportions. Having a relative in home hospice care undoubtedly changed me more than any deployment or other experience ever has. Your strength is truely inspirational.
Hailey
I am glad to hear that your parents are there for extra support. When I sent Jenn the note, I told her that I was very aware of the extraordinary support that you both have around you. Prayers are still coming your way and especially for the boys. Your blogging has been so exceptionally inspiring. We do know that with hospice, you will be given comfort. May the peace and strength of your faith, hold you even tighter now.
Sharon Lipkin
Hunter and Jenn,
Patti and I pray for all of you. The mental strength with which you have faced this is one of the most amazing and memorable things I will remember and pass along. Your sons are blessed to have such great parents. I do hope they got the ‘bright side’ genes from you Hunter. It is clearly a recessive trait expressed in very few genomes, but you indeed have both copies of the dominant alleles. We miss you both very much and long for those great days at USMA sweating it out in the summer while we learned ‘how’ to teach Chemistry 101. What a hoot!
When I find myself doing the ‘handy-man’ chores around the house and yard, I think of you, my brother, my stick-buddy from flight school and a few others who left me with some great memories and values to help me not let the pain in my back, knees, elbows, wrists…heart and elsewhere get me down. Thank you my friend.
Our best wishes,
Bob and Patti
I think most of us would hope that we would have the humor and positivity you have in your situation. But I doubt that many of us could. You’re a rare person, Hunter, and you shine brightly.
Hi Hunter– I just took a peek at our 1983 R.D. Head Hurricane Yearbook! You proudly drew a huge arrow and circled your 5th grade picture and signed your name in big letters around your head H U N T E R L I N D S E Y!! I I loved it! What an impact you made -even then! I cherish those days and memories.
I had no doubt, cool kid Hunter,would grow into the strong, wonderful young man you are!! Please know I am continuing to pray for you and your family- peace, comfort, heart hugs and laughs. God Bless-
Love, Gigi O’Shea (P.E. teacher from the way back years!)
You are a strong brave man. It is obvious you love your family. I’ve been thinking about you and and your family. Know you are being prayed for. I hope you continue to feel little discomfort. Praying for you all! Hugs!
I was remembering when Jenn and I were both home in West Winfield and Jenn got a hold of me because she wanted to stop by my parent’s house to introduce me to this guys she was dating. Well the moment I met Hunter, I knew Jenn had found her “one”. The way Jenn’s face lit up and the smile that was from ear to ear said it all. The love and support that the both of you have has continued to grow more beautiful even through the most difficult time in your lives. We are so lucky that we have the both of you in our loves as much as you are fortunate to have each other. We will continues to pray for all of you and send our love and support.
Hunter,
What an amazing story of faith courage and bravery. What a wonderful example for your boys. I have been thinking about you and pray you continue to have little pain. Praying for you and your family. Hugs!
Man, you just keep giving those boys something greater to live up to. Their Dad is amazing and their Mom is the strongest and most incredible woman I know. We are thinking about you constantly. If only love could cure this horrible disease…you would be the strongest person! Send lots of love and prayers your way.
Andy and Charlie
Hunter, you may not remember me from the UGA / Rivermill days. We were neighbors at one point. Lani Gardner sent me a link to your blog and I am at a loss for words. Reading the responses from friends and family is certainly a tribute to the incredible person you have become. Your sense of strength and courage is truly an inspiration. I’m sending positive thoughts your way. I hope they help comfort you and your family during this time.
Matt Vessell
Be comfortable Hunter. The journey you are sharing is remarkable and I applaud yours and Jenn’s bravery each day. Thank you for your updates and I continue to send happy and hopeful thoughts and prayers your way.
Hunter,
I just recently heard about what you have been going through from Lani, Tricia and some of the other UGA Silver Stars! I am heart broken for you and your precious family. You are “one of the good ones” and do not deserve to be dealt the hand you have been given. I will never forget our crazy trip to Breckenridge, it was a blast. Between Military Balls, ROTC/Silver Star socials and bunches of ranger house parties, I have nothing but fond memories of your crazy humor, kindness and always a smile on your handsome face! May God bless you and your family and loft you all up during this time of need. Thank you so much for serving our country and even more for being my friend.
Love to you and your family,
Debra Robinson Davis
Hunter, you and your family continue to be an unwavering beacon of light in this journey…. I can only imagine it must be difficult to share at times. Prayers for you and also your hospice team that they are managing any symptoms that arise, and most importantly, keeping you comfortable so that you, Jenn, and the boys can find sweet, precious, joyful, and sacred space together.
Peace and Good Will to you and all of your loved ones,
Dee DeFoor
Hunter we are thinking of you every day!
Words can’t begin to express how saddened we are by your continued difficulties with this ugly disease. Telling you to keep a positive attitude would be like telling the sun not to rise and shine so bright. Useless and unnecessary because I know that’s the only way you know how to approach your sickness and life in general. Stay strong, make some memories and know that we are with you. Your friend, Jeff
Christi and I are saddened to hear the new, but have been inspired by the way you’ve dealt with this together. God bless you all.
Hunter,
We are devastated by the news…and praying for you all. Thank you for everything. Matt
Hunter
I admire and wish I could have half the strength you have. May God bless you and your family my friend! You and your family continue to be in our prayers.
Hunter,
Happy Birthday my friend! I hope that you have felt well today and have been able to enjoy the day with your family. Hunter, since the day I found out about your condition, there has not been a day that I have not thought about you and prayed for you and your family. My mind has been flooded with memories of hilarious conversations you and I had while running all of those miles together in high school. I love how you tried to teach me some dance moves at some club in Myrtle Beach so I could impress some girl. I vividly remember how kind you were to me when I ran like crap at the state championship my junior year and your senior year. I was so upset and you reminded me how cross country was a team sport and I had helped the team get to the state meet and I needed to celebrate with the team regardless of how I had run that day. You helped me to belong when I did not feel like I belonged. There was NEVER ONE time I ever remember you treating anyone any differently. You were kind, thoughtful and generous with everyone. I always saw the love of Christ exemplified in you in everything you did. I hate with a sincere passion what you are having to deal with. Please know how diligently I am praying for you, your wife, your boys and your wonderful family. I am just crazy enough to still pray for God to work a miracle in your life….but if He chooses not to I am still going to trust Him because I know He created you, He loves you and even though I cannot wrap my mind around why He has allowed you to have to go through this, I will continue to trust in His ability to make all things new by putting broken pieces back together in a way that only He can. I love you bro and thank you for leaving such an amazing example of true friendship. God bless.
Hunter,
I did some research on the interwebs and here are a few things I’m not supposed to ask you or bring up:
-Can I have your stuff?
-I bet you get some great meds.
-Demand apologies or amends for past incidents.
So instead I’ll tell you what pops into my head when I hear the name Hunter Lindsey.
I remember you and Tim reminding 1st year instructors to check the share point/fount of knowledge before running into your office to ask questions. To be honest with you, I may have asked you guys a few questions without checking even after the reminders. But you were always very patient and always had a smile on your face. Plus your knowledge of movie/TV trivia and quotes were top-notch (the mark of a true man).
I hope this lame attempt at humor brings a smile to your face. It’s payback for all the times you made me smile.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love you brother,
Andy
I am on a scrapping team with Jenn and somehow just discovered that your family has been blogging this experience. I can relate to your situation a little more than most since I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 2 years ago at the age of 35. I am not in remission, but am currently on a little chemo break. My future is also uncertain, and I do not have any kinds of words of wisdom, just my heart breaking for Jenn and for you and for your boys. I noticed that you mentioned Vanderbilt – I also see an oncologist at Vanderbilt. They seem to be very much on top of things and I’m glad we both have good doctors. I hope that you continue to have some good days and I know that your family is making the most of every single moment.
Hi Hunter and Jenn (and Ben and Jack),
I just wanted to drop a note and let you know that I’m thinking of you and wishing you the best. I’m so sad that things aren’t going as well as you would have hoped. Abdul and I have been reading your blog posts religiously and we want to say that we are overwhelmed with your courage to share your journey with us (and Jenn is amazing!).
I hope your days are full of joy and laughter! We love you!
Hunter,
No words can express the sadness I feel for you and your family! I always remembered you in high school as the gentle giant:) you have accomplished so much and your wife and boys will always know what a wonderful person you are:) I pray for peace , comfort, and happy days to enjoy all the time you have left! None of us really know when our time here on earth ends. So, enjoy each day, hug your boys, and tell them all the stories you can remember from your younger days:) they will cherish those forever!!
God Bless,
Tara Merritt
Class of 93
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