By Paul & Michele Fairchild
On June 26, 2017 our lives were changed forever. That day our son Robert Glenn “Bobby” Fairchild was diagnosed with brain cancer, more specifically, glioblastoma (GBM). This type of cancer is extremely hard to treat and often spreads very aggressively. Up until a few days before his diagnosis all was normal without any indication he would soon be battling for his life. Two days after the diagnosis, surgeons removed the tumor and Bobby struggled to survive. He battled for nearly a month before passing, surrounded by family members, on July 18, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.
Bobby was an active 28-year old who had everything going in the right direction. He had countless friends, a great job and loving family members. He is dearly missed, but his spirit will live on in our hearts forever.
Like many families dealing with the loss of a loved one, we are determined to fight the disease that took our son. It is an incredibly helpless feeling to watch someone you love die, especially your child. We had no control over Bobby’s illness, his treatment, or his death, but we do have control over what we do next. The goal of helping others afflicted by brain tumors led to the start of Everyday’s A New Story. Bobby had big plans and “Everyday’s a new story” was a phrase he often used.
Since his passing we have started raising funds by producing items that have special meaning including t-shirts and handcrafted candles. The proceeds from these products will be donated to support others in the brain tumor community.
The first candle produced is the “Everyday” candle. Every state Bobby called home is the inspiration for this candle: Massachusetts, his birth state; Kansas, his home; and Texas, his adopted home state. We used the scents from each state’s flower to create a rustic floral scent, containing sunflower, mayflower, and bluebonnet. The candles are ten ounces and the cost is $24.88 beacuse of Bobby’s birthday, 10/24/1988. A brand used on his grandfather’s farm is burned into each candle’s lid. All candles are handmade by family members.
When asked what message we have for other families dealing with a similiar situation, “Stay strong” means the most to us. Although it hurts, life will go on and eventually you find reasons to laugh and smile. We are committed to moving forward but never forgetting. I hope you will join us in the battle against this horrbile disease. These candles are available online and in select locations in the greater Kansas City metro.
Items purchased on Everyday’s a New Story benefit brain cancer research. Be sure to enter “HFTC” in the comments of your purchase to have proceeds come back to Head for the Cure in support of our mission to defeat brain cancer step by step!