Sunday shout out

So I'm changin some things up around here... I'm going to be doing a lil thing called The Sunday shout out. I'll be posting some about some pretty amazing people in my life.
I'm going to start off with one of the greatest people I know Courtney Bardsley. You may have seen her and her wonderful family on the news a few years back when her younger brother Garret Bardsley went missing while camping in the Uintas with his boy scout troop. Friday, August 20, 2004 changed their families life forever. I was with Courtney when she got that phone call at work that he was missing. I remember telling her that everything was probably fine and to calm down and try and drive home safely. Little did anyone know the effects that day would have on so many people. Courtney and her family tried to stay strong and kept themselves swolled up in the gospel and the comfort it and it alone could bring to them during that time.
I remember praying and asking Heavenly Father why they would have to go through such pain not knowing what lied ahead of them just a short while later.
On March 20th 2006 Courtney was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.), three days before her 21st birthday. I remember thinking to myself, You have got to be kidding me? Of all the families in the world, Why the Bardsley's? Haven't the had their share of heart ache? Why Courtney? Well I know Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. I know he allows us to go through things that only he knows we can handle. Before Courtney got diagnosed her dad Kevin came into our work to have his back worked on. (we worked in physical therapy) I'll never forget the spirit he brought with him everywhere he went. I was not a member of the LDS church at the time and was actually pretty against it, however I couldn't deny the way I felt when Kevin would speak to me. He had a kindness and love in his eyes I had rarley seen in my life. He wasn't afraid to share his knowledge of the gospel and the blessings it brought into his life. I remember wanting to follow him all around the clinic just to be near that spirit. With his only daughter now sick I couldn't imagine how this family stayed so strong. I remember him telling me they went to the temple often to feel peace.
Peace is something I felt when I went to visit Court in the hospital while she was so sick. I remember shaking my head thinking, here I am walking out of this hospital with a smile on my face because SHE made my day better just by seeing her. The energy that came from her was so positive. I mean don't get me wrong I know she had her days where it was tough to just open her eyes, but she tried to make the best of the hand she was dealt. After a little bit of a journey she found a bone marrow match. And started her journey to California to start her healing process. I could go on and on about this story and how happy it ends. TODAY is her five year anniversary of being diagnosed. I'm so thankful that she is here and healthy and beautiful as ever.
Having the Bardsley family in my life has made me a better person. They were there the day I got baptised, they were there when I got sealed to my family for time and all eternity. I want them but especially Courtney to know how much I love her. Having her in my life has truly changed me. I have learned what finding joy in life no matter what means. I would challenge you too all look inside yourself and see if you have the strength and the courage to be a bone marrow donor. There is always going to be someone in need and I feel its something wonderful you can do to help others in need.
I want to end this Sunday shout out to Courtney by saying "Love you to the moon and back, keep going forward the way you have so lovely taught me to do."

This is Beautiful Courtney today with her wonderful dad Kevin

I Cant forget Courtney's sweet mother Heidi, uncondtional love is her middle name

Chemo treatments look good on her dont ya think lol


Want to follow this wonderful girl yourself, well be my guest www.capturingcourtneyb.blogspot.com