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Life over, but life's work is not

BY DUSTIN MERIDITH, Contributing writer | Wednesday, Nov 04 2009 05:54 PM

Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 04 2009 05:54 PM

Miracles happen every day. For my family, we were blessed with the challenge of the disease neurofibromatosis and the effect it had on my sister, Alison.

Terminal illness can tear a family apart or bring it together. While the doctors believed Alison could not make it past 18, faith and a miracle gave her the strength to carry on until the age of 34, when, in March, she left this world to go home to God.

Throughout her life, she used this burden as inspiration to promote faith and good will amongst families in need of counsel.

From a young age Alison loved children and strived, with the willpower of a bull, to inspire youth to do great things through faith. While she was being treated for brain tumors, she spent as much time as possible cheering up the children around her suffering from the same disease and others like it; I think it helped keep her mind off her own troubles.

When the doctors told her she would not make it, she did. When the doctors told us we couldn't help, she took it with a grain of salt and kept trucking. Throughout her life she volunteered her time and what energy she had to inspire people suffering from terminal illness to greatness. I can remember one lady telling me that no matter how bad she felt, when she saw my sister's determination it gave her faith and the will to live.

So as my family read her will and last wishes, she asked that in lieu of flowers and the cost of burial that we donate as much money as possible to the Ronald McDonald House. It was her dream to volunteer there and help families struggling with terminal illness. Unfortunately, she never lived to fulfill that dream, as the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House opened shortly after she passed.

As a local musician known as Catfish, I have had the chance to share the stage with some amazing musicians and help out our local music scene. I decided that while my sister could not help the Ronald McDonald House in her life, she could in spirit. I came up with an idea to hold a benefit for the house in her name and have received tons of support from my friends, family and business acquaintances. Sunday we are holding a benefit called "The House is Rockin" at Fishlips Bar and Grill in her memory. The lineup includes Buckshot featuring John Owens, Buck's son, Cash'd Out, playing old-time Johnny and June Cash tunes and myself and friends performing.

We will be auctioning off guitars signed by some of the best blues players in the world and one signed by none other than Merle Haggard. A raffle will be held for several items and we welcome any donations from local business owners to help raise money for this great event.

Contact Scarlett at the Ronald McDonald House, 327-4647 extension 4290, regarding cash donations or donations for the raffle.

I thank God every day for blessing me with the life of my sister Alison and all she taught me. Together we can help make her dream become reality. Help us make a miracle happen for families in need and support our local Ronald McDonald House on Sunday from 1 till we're done!