From the Moon family:
“Radiation and chemotherapy began last Thursday. We are four days in. Evan shows some fatigue and his body wants a morning nap. He has slept better in this sixth week than he has the entire time he’s been in the hospital. Visitors, texts and videos encourage his heart. Many of the staff come by his room daily to see him. We are thankful God is using Evan to encourage those around him and bring laughter to the hospital.
Some of our surprises include an approval of a handicap car pass for when we bring him back and forth from the hospital for treatment. What a gift to be able to park close to the buildings! Terry and Brian have been working on the house modifications and Atlanta friends have offered to clean our house so it’s ready for his arrival. Tomorrow a partner ministry of Grace Klein Community is giving us some of the medical equipment we will need at home. Friends have surprised Evan with his favorite BBQ and Indian food. The physical therapist is allowing Evan to come to therapy every day of the week due to his determination… and possibly his begging. Evan has been able to take steps, hasn’t felt pain in days and continues to be overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness in his heart.
The other day we were sitting outside with Evan and you should have heard him teasing about being outside soooo close to the real world… “just inches away from the real world.” He is funny and helps us to remember to stay focused on the good of today.
Lord willing, we will go home on June 23, 2016. Chemotherapy and radiation will continue, as well as outpatient speech and physical therapy. Evan remains determined and he knows much work lies ahead of us. For now, he will need us for all personal care, mobility around the house, management of his medication, help in communication, transportation to all his various doctors appointments, etc. Denise has not been home in over six weeks so it will be good for her to be home too.
As the treatment continues, Evan will need to be isolated from people. Please understand our limitations of visitors. If he gets sick, he cannot receive treatment. Treatment is a top priority to Evan’s recovery.
We are thankful for your love and support. From your financial gifts, several bills have been paid through Grace Klein Community and we will send bills for payment every week. We send pictures of bills, they mail checks directly to the people we owe, and they maintain a ledger for our records. Evan often asks about how we will pay the extra bills and it is a relief to say your friends and family are caring for us and none of us need to worry. More than money, we thank you for your prayers of healing, strength and hope. We know Jesus is holding us through your prayers, keeping our fears and what ifs from overtaking us, giving us energy when our bodies are weak, and helping us know what we need to do next to care for Evan. Only Jesus can fill Evan with the joy, laughter, jokes, love, other’s first mentality, perseverance and courage that he continues to exhibit.
We wish you all a Happy Father’s Day. We are going to enjoy our day, thankful for the boy who made us parents, who keeps us on our toes, and challenges us in our faith. Today is a good day!”
If you live in Birmingham, AL, you KNOW how much Evan loves all the people who work at Home Depot. During the course of his job duties, he often visits Home Depot multiple times per day. He was determined to make that time count by getting to know the staff and bringing a smile to all of them. Whether he wore a silly hat, shared a funny story or listened to how their day was going, Evan always treated everyone as people – not people to serve him, but people he was called to serve.
Since Evan has been gone, they all notice. Where’s the crazy guy, the one that never cares what anyone thinks, the one who cares deeply about us? And when any of us tell them he’s in the hospital battling brain cancer, tears come and voices catch, and they want Evan to get well. Because the world needs Evan. The Birmingham Home Depot staff needs Evan. Heck, Home Depot customers need Evan. No one can knows how many times he helped their customers load purchases or how many customers he prayed for in the parking lot. Here’s a time he helped one of their customers and he “may” have provided a free delivery. Love knows no bounds.
Sometimes the Home Depot staff would see Evan loving on a stranger, sometimes they would be the one serving and Evan would come help them lift the plywood or the boxes of tile. Evan is not an employee of Home Depot, but he served them in staff relations, customer care and an ability to implement an effective strategy of “turn that frown upside down.” Sure, they probably didn’t “love it” when he fell asleep on one of their aisles, waiting for a callback from a coworker of what material was needed, or when he looked a little homeless, or took them off guard with some silly antic. As a man who loves well, he taught them to love him back, quirks and all.
When Evan talks about Home Depot, which he does all the time, he talks about the people. He knows all of them and loves all of them. They are his friends. He invites some of them over for dinner or to join in a game of ultimate frisbee after work. The way he loves them makes everyone want to go hang out at Home Depot too. When Evan went into the hospital, he asked about his Home Depot people, how they were doing, and to let them know he would be back.
So… as a surprise to Evan, we have a few pictures from some of his friends at Home Depot!!
And to you friends who have stopped by for a few minutes, let’s take a look at the joy you brought!!
Evan has delighted in the encouragement you have spoken over his life, the time you have given to really listen, the funny stories you have shared, the intentional prayer, the food you have brought to him and his folks, the respect and honor, the errands you have run, the bear hugs, and your enduring hope in the One who is faithful.
One last happy… Evan enjoys meals with hospital staff members and convinces some of them to play music for him. He is continuing his “Home Depot roles” at the Emory Rehabilitation Hospital in his capacity as staff relations, customer care, and implementation of effective strategies of “turn that frown upside down.” Staff Singing (Check this out <–)
A few ideas on how we can care for Evan:
- Pray
Apart from Jesus, prayer is the greatest gift we can ever give one another.
- Send Moonbeams
Email words of encouragement, pictures, songs, etc. for Evan and his family to [email protected]
- Give Financially towards the “Evan Moon Assistance Program”
Mail checks to:
Grace Klein Community, Inc., 1678 Montgomery Hwy #104, Birmingham, AL, 35216
Memo: Evan Moon Assistance Program
OR via our website:
gracekleincommunity.com/donate