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Kieron Go Bragh is Gaelic for "Kieron Forever". The Kieron Go Bragh Foundation is a charity that supports brain diseases, primarily forms of dementia, especially Pick's Disease. This is the terminal disease that my brother Kieron battles. For more information visit www.kierongobragh.com
3 comments:
When I woke up this morning, little did I know that I’d spend a good portion of the day on the couch, laptop on lap, discovering a distant root, with crumpled balls of Kleenex surrounding me.
I know you guys don’t know me, but I am Jim & Joan Riley’s youngest daughter, Catie. (Dave Riley is my uncle, and he is the one who broke the news about Keiron to us, today. My heart goes out to you.)
Being the youngest, I’ve always been out of the loop on so many things. I always just have to try to put pieces of Life’s Puzzle together, (the Life that happened before I joined in, that is), piecing together names with stories that float upon the air, especially during large family gatherings.
I’ve heard Finnegan stories my entire life, and honestly, I always thought Finnegan was merely the family name of close friends that older generations of my own family, say, went to school with, or something. It wasn’t until today that I was able to piece that part of the Puzzle together, that we are actually kin. (My grandfather was Edward T. Riley; the brother of (Keiron’s grandmother), come to find out.)
When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, back in late 1998, I recall the emotional support of Michael Finnegan, Sr., and I recall how fondly my dad always spoke of him. What’s more, (your father) continued to call my mom around Christmastime every year succeeding my dad’s passing (April 2009), to check on her and to play Catch-up/reminisce about Dad…and I can, in no way, express to you just how much that has meant to my mom.
In your heart-wrenching blog, you have expressed the caring and warmth of Keiron (and one even commented that it was a trait he carried on from his father; in my own brief knowledge of him, I can vouch for that). You are all so blessed to have had this exuberant fellow play such a considerable role in your lives.
I am so sorry your family had to fight this battle. But you have shown such powerful love and unrelenting support, and you have taken something negative and transformed it into a positive energy, because of your ability to see beyond this daunting circumstance and encompass the Big Picture. You are truly making a difference.
My love goes out to you all during this distressing time. Keiron’s spirit is alive, and now it is free; he is no longer trapped. It seems to me that he has long since been ready to “grow young again”.
I hope that you will continue to blog, as your stories of Keiron will keep his memory not only alive, yet vibrant. I also hope that Keiron Go Bragh will continue, and I’d be honored to be a participant in the next race.
Your entries have touched my life. I believe that in days, weeks, months, possibly even many years to come, you will be able to read back on these entries with, yes, maybe some tears, but moreover, with a smile and a feeling of peace.
Keiron Go Bragh!
*correction: Kieron (apologies for the misspelling)
my son,
Your birthday was yesterday--it was a day of reflection. You were a happy little boy and such an introspective young man.
I love you so! It is lonely without you, Kieron
m.
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