Joshua Steven Brestel

Josh and Steve before a Husker football game.




JOSHUA STEVEN BRESTEL

December 13, 1999 - December 1, 2004



Emptiness

Our Hearts still ache,
Our tears still flow.
There's an emptiness inside us,
Because we miss you so.
Since you were taken from us,
We feel you in the breeze,
We hear you in the raindrops,
And in the rustling trees.
We know your watching down on us,
Guiding us in all we do,
Until we are together again,
We hold dearly our memories of you.




Welcome!
This page has been provided to keep everyone up-to-date on Josh. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 favorable Wilm's Tumor on September 7, 2003. He started chemotherapy on September 12. On January 5, Josh had surgery to remove the left side of his kidney and the tumor. He was born with a horseshoe kidney (fused at the bottom forming one kidney). He had 6 treatments of radiation. Josh relapsed on March 12, 2004. He had surgery again on March 23. On April 6, before he started radiation, more cancer was found. He was immediately admitted and started on chemo. He had three in stay rounds of chemo. On May 18 scans were done. They were clear. He then had stem cell harvest and 13 rounds of radiation. On August 23, before he was able to start chemo again, more cancer was found in the abdomen. He started a new chemo drug in hopes of shrinking the tumors small enough for sugery. On November 23, after trying three different chemo drugs, we were told Josh's cancer was terminal. On December 1, 2004, he earned his angel wings.






SAFELY HOME

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus' arm to lean on
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth-
You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Journal

Sunday, December 21, 2008 7:50 PM CST

Merry Christmas to Everyone!!

I thought I better get on and update before the coming week got away from us. December has been a very busy and emotional month for us.

December 1 marked 4 years since we have physically had Joshua with us. We still miss him so much and ache to hold him tight in our arms. It is one of those days you wish you could just roll up in a ball and sleep the day away. However that is not always possible. Jess had school and Steve and I both worked. Jess had a hard day so I left work early and picked her up after school. We then stopped by the cemetery on the way home. Joshua being the sweet little boy he has always been made sure to let Jess know that he was with her all day. During her study hall at school she went to the library to find a new book to read. She was just not in the mood to pick out a book and seemed to be lost. The librarian asked her if she wanted some help and Jess said sure. The librarian suggested a book to her. It was about a little girl who lived across the street from a zoo. The little girl loved to watch the animal and her favorite was the elephants. Of course Jess checked the book out. When she told me the story, I told her it was Josh’s way of letting her know he is watching. Also as we left the cemetery, Jess was driving. There is a lot of road construction and we can not take the regular way home. So we decided to try a new way home. As we are driving on streets we have never been on, we come to the intersection of Joshua Drive. Needless to say Jess took a left and we drove on Joshua Drive. I think we might have a new way home from the cemetery. I could tell it made Jess’ day to know her little bother was with her and watching out for her.

We had another great and very successful toy drive. This year the party was actually on Josh’s 9th birthday, December 13. We had a great time and collected so many great toys. The highlight of the party was the magic show. The Magic Man, Gavin Brion, put on a great show and everyone loved him. Gavin is Angel Brooke’s big brother. Another highlight was we were able to enjoy Brooke’s little brother, Blake. He is now walking everywhere. He was so cute and loved checking out all the toys. The Rech (Kris, Ali, Wyatt) family again came down from MN for the party. We always love having them for the weekend. In the evening we did our usual on Josh’s birthday and ate at Applebee’s.

On Monday the 15th, we had the fun of delivering all the toys. In the morning we delivered to Children’s. We took them 16 bags and 4 boxes of toys and $730 in gift cards. We also stopped by the clinic for a quick visit. We didn’t spend too much time because they were so busy.

In the afternoon, we delivered 15 bags and 2 boxes to St. E’s in Lincoln. They are always so very excited to get the toys. They did tell us they just used the last of the toys from last year. They take all the toys out and put them under the Christmas tree and take lots of pictures.

Everyone always tells us thank you so much for all you do for the children. I don’t think people realize how much it helps us also. We do this for Josh, us and the other children. We just could not face never celebrating Josh’s birthday. We had to do something. It is very therapeutic for us.

Thank you such much to everyone who helped with the party. The Rech family, our wonderful families and all the great friends who attend. We could never do this without you all.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you are surrounded by all those you love. Those who have lost a loved one may their wonderful memories bring you joy. Remember they are attending the most glorious birthday party ever.

Merry Christmas.

The Brestels
Steve, Diane, Tyler, Jess and Josh

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Children's Hospital
8200 Dodge St
Omaha, NE 68114

Links:

E-mail Author: dbrestel@yahoo.com

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