We are truly THANKFUL for each and everyone of YOU..

First of all we'd like to let each and everyone of you know that we are truly THANKFUL for you ALL! We hope that everyone had a Thanksgiving that was filled with family, love, and memories. Our was one that was just that. We were able to spend a lot of time as a family, and some quiet time at home. Days like that just don't come around too often any more. Joseph and Hunter were also able to get in a half day of Hunting which is always a special time for the two of them. This Thanksgiving was a relaxing one but one that was very much welcomed.

Hunter spent the first half of his break filling out College applications and getting them all in before the end of the month. It was exciting to watch that for us. It's the little joys in our lives that you never take for granted anymore. Hunter would really like to go away to a UC College but we will see what happens. He knows for this to happen he will have to have major scholarships, so at this point the last thing we want to do is discourage him. He worked on two essays to go to these schools. One was extremely long, "What has made an impact on his life and how did it change him?", A REAL tear jerker for mom, the other was, "What makes your community so unique?". This one also brought tears to my eyes because even though he was going through so much at the time, he still was aware of all that was going on. He said that this was a hard essay to write because it had to be a short essay and he had to limit what he could write. He couldn't write all that he wanted to. I wanted to share this essay with you, although it is a little long, it's his own words on how you ALL touched him and what it meant to him: By HUNTER HERRICK....

Through my experience with cancer I have realized I come from a phenomenal community, family, and school. When I was going through chemotherapy my community pulled together and pretty much saved my families life. They put together fundraisers to keep us from losing our house, cars, pay medical bills, and pretty much everything. They even helped bring my family Christmas presents when we could not afford our own. Their kindness really showed how a small community could make such a big difference in some ones life.

Because of the helped I received I became involved in my community because you never know when you’ll get the opportunity to make a major difference in some ones life like they made in mine. I have gone through so much and been helped by my community and am now starting to give back. I am now volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club to help kids get through their days. These kids don’t really have much of a family, so I volunteer to help be a role model in their lives. I help them do their homework, play games, and hopefully help them live a better life, or have a better day.
My community has really inspired me to be a better person and be as helpful as possible. I would like to use my experience to be able to help other people get through their hardships. I am thinking about becoming a psychiatrist for kids and families that have to go through some of the things I had to go through, because I know that everyone needs a shoulder to cry on at some point in their life.

Thank you again for all being there and being that difference in our lives. For all of you that we know, see daily, monthly, yearly, don't know, basically each and everyone of YOU...We thank GOD everyday that you came into our lives....

We Love You,
Our Love, Thoughts, and Prayers,
The Herrick's,

Doctor's Visit

Life has been moving along in the Herrick Home. Hunter had a doctors appointment last week, and as with every doctors appointment we kind of hold our breathe. This was just a check up and it happen to be the same week as Hunter's one year Anniversary since he was told that his cancer had returned the second time. Not an Anniversary we like to remember or celebrate, but one that is there none the less. Hunter's doctor wants me/us to keep an eye on the area that they were concerned with and make sure that it doesn't get any bigger, wider or nothing abnormal occurs with it. We need to check the area weekly and if we see anything than take him in right away if we do. We are praying that those days are over and we will see nothing but happy, HEALTHY and memorable days ahead of us.

Hunter has been getting ready and filling out college applications. He is really hoping to go away to college but that will all depend on what kind of scholarships he can get. We truly feel that he just wants to start new, start where no one knows all that he has been through and begin fresh. I am praying that his dreams come true, and he starts to live the life that he was intended to live. He is one amazing young man with such a bright future ahead of him..

THANK YOU everyone for ALL of your LOVE, SUPPORT and PRAYERS,
The Herrick Family