Inheritance of Hope Stories
Our founder, Kristen Milligan, left a profound legacy with her family and the families we serve. As we approach the second anniversary of her death, we showcase members of our Inheritance of Hope family and what legacy means to them. Larisa Gjivoje ran the 2013…
Our founder, Kristen Milligan, left a profound legacy with her family and the families we serve. As we approach the second anniversary of her death, we showcase members of our Inheritance of Hope family and what legacy means to them. Larry Lanham attended our February…
Rawd Allen was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 1994, but February 2014 happened to be the opportune time to attend an Inheritance of Hope (IoH) Legacy Retreat®. Rawd’s last tumor surgery was 10 years ago, when his children, Nathan and Jordan, were very…
The wintry weather in New York City was a bit of a challenge for the Rye family from Florida, but Joel Rye said it didn’t stop his family from making memories at the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® in November 2013. “We’ll always remember all the…
How did you learn about Inheritance of Hope (IoH)? My brother, Michael, had discovered IoH while searching for a charity to run for in a marathon. IoH instantly found a place in his heart, and he has since served on several Legacy Retreats®. What made you decide to…
At first Paul and Alexis Johnson from Fresno, Calif., weren’t sure if the Inheritance of Hope (IoH) Legacy Retreat® was right for them. Paul was feeling better and their children were both less than three years old. But much in their past five years has been…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight”…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight” series is a…
“We knew about Inheritance of Hope (IoH) for a while but never realized how incredible it was until we were a part of it,” said Jay Maier. Jay, his wife Tara, and their five children lived near IoH Legacy Retreat® Director Jill Thompson in Rochester, Minn. Tara said…
Phyllis Young learned about Inheritance of Hope when a local North Carolina television station featured the organization. She immediately knew her family would enjoy going to an IOH Legacy Retreat®. “I knew we took things for granted and we needed to take some time to…
Nearly 200 volunteers participated in Inheritance of Hope’s 2nd Annual Legacy Run! This year, Team IoH Director, Candice Walsh, identified Chantel Azevedo to serve as Volunteer Coordinator. A native of Toronto, Chantel graduated from Brevard College in May 2013 with a…
When Amy Martin from North Carolina was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, her two oldest children, John and Jennifer, were respectively off at college and working in California. But her youngest, Lyndi, was 7 years old and still lived at home. “She has grown up…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight” series is a…
Amanda Hichkad has stage IV cancer that started as cervical cancer in 2008 but spread to her spine, lungs, and liver. She’s been through surgeries, radiation, and 13 rounds of chemotherapy, and she visits doctors several times a week to keep the illness under control….
How am I doing? Well, it’s kind of surreal to enter some anniversaries: diagnosis, surgery, and start of chemo. In February we were able to be in Florida on an amazing retreat for families who are dealing with terminal illnesses. Yes, the “T” word, not one I like to…
Mike Coleman wears a patch to treat tumors in his brain that his 5-year-old daughter, Leah, calls his “snow cap.” Leah has started kindergarten, joined the Girl Scouts, and loves dancing and Disney princesses. Although she may not know the technical term for her dad’s…
At approximately 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, my mother-in-law called me on my mobile phone as I was driving out of the parking garage at work in Midtown Atlanta. “Lanny has been in an accident” were the words that began a journey for our family that culminated in…
Last year the Kramers from Indiana went on their first family trip: an all-expenses-paid Legacy Retreat® in Orlando. Nolan, 5, and Aryka, 3, still talk about visiting the Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks. “They just let loose and didn’t worry about…
Sometimes there are television shows that teach us something meaningful about life & offer nuggets of truth that we can tuck away. Downton Abbey is one of those for me. [Spoiler Alert for anyone who has not watched the Season 4 Premier as there will be scenes I…
After nearly 18 years of marriage, Matt Herbster didn’t know how much more time he had with his high school sweetheart, Julie. She was 38 years old when she was diagnosed with colon cancer last year, and the disease quickly spread to her liver. “Most people wouldn’t…
Lorenza Guereca doesn’t often let other people see what a challenge living with cancer has been. She said strong faith keeps her positive after years of treatments. Lorenza, who lives with her husband and daughter in Lafayette, In., said she doesn’t dwell on her…
Kristen Milligan passed away one year ago tomorrow. She was a truly amazing person and my very best friend. One of her favorite verses is found in James 1:2-4 and she referenced it often in her speaking engagements, books, and daily life. This is what it says in the…
“There’s a really big need to tell your story,” said Julie Hull of Eagan, Minn. Julie’s husband, Ken, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer after a blood clot was found in his calf three years ago. Ken was a long-distance runner, and the cancer stunned Julie and…
The 2013 fall race season has begun! Team Inheritance of Hope runners will be found in 4 amazing races. Asheville Citizen Times City Half Marathon – 9/28: My niece and I are running this hilly course on September 28th. This will be my second half marathon…
I had scanxiety. I didn’t sleep much … just thinking and thinking. Looking at the clock at 1:45, 3:00, 4:00. I could feel changes in my body. For one, I didn’t hurt in my breast or side anymore. My back still hurt, but not in the same location,…
The first time Kimberly Loving received mail about Inheritance of Hope and its Legacy Retreats®, she placed the letter in a basket and walked away. “I was so sick I couldn’t think about it,” she said. It wasn’t until months late that Kim, a mother of three from St….
This summer you can find the Lampe kids from Germantown, Ill., swimming at local pools and water parks. “They don’t need big trips to a lot of places,” Lisa Lampe, mother of 10-year-old Jack and 6-year-old Jordyn, said. “If we go bowling one day, they’ll say this was…
“I can’t believe this is coming out of my mouth,” Kristen Ricciardelli said, “but I actually think it’s easier to be an active cancer patient than a post-cancer patient.” She spoke from experience. The mother of four from Milwaukee was still breast feeding her…
Have you ever had told your kids you are going to be doing something really fun a few weeks or maybe months too soon? If so you have been plagued with the constant questions: “Is it time yet?” “How many more days?” “Are we there…
One day someone asked me if I was interested in sponsoring a candle for the upcoming Relay for Life event in honor or memory of someone with cancer. Afraid to answer, I simply agreed and took the paperwork home. I asked myself, “Do I know anyone with cancer?” Nobody…
Kim Bunner said living with cancer for more than a decade has given her perspective. The illness brought her closer to her husband, Matt, and showed her children, 15-year-old Haylee and 12-year-old Cameron, how to be considerate, Kim said. “You hate to say that…
Written by Andrean Maier (She is attending the May 2013 Legacy Retreat with her family.) I am the middlest child. I am 10. And I have another perspective. You know that over the last few months my mom has been struggling with stage 4 ovarian cancer. It was strange…
My dad was diagnosed with very rare stage 4 lymphoma in his eyes when I was 15. It was a pretty tough time for my family. Doctors didn’t think he was going to make it, but thank God he did. My family had gone through a lot of tough things in the past, but I always…
Mikki Jeschke’s goals include volunteering, fundraising, and launching a non-profit organization. But the mother of two from Fishers, Indiana, didn’t have these projects in mind when she attended the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® at Disney World with her family…
Several years ago in 2005, my wife Heather was diagnosed with cancer. She had malignant pleural mesothelioma, a very rare and deadly form. It was devastating to our family, particularly because we had just celebrated new life. Just three months prior to her…
I read an article this week that really impacted me. The writer sat at a playground with a friend/acquaintance and they chatted as they watched their kids play. They had spent many hours at this playground on different days and yet they barely knew each other. I…
March 18 of this year would have been Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan’s 40th birthday. Though something about that number creates discomfort for those reaching it, Kristen was not the sort of person to be bothered by a number. I know I am not alone…
Tricia Lillard calls her experience with cancer an emotional roller-coaster. “One of the biggest challenges is the uncertainty with which I have to live my life,” she said. “You think things are great then you get a bad scan or diagnosis.” Two of her children, Tekia…
Bambi Byers, 40, said the Tim McGraw song “Live Like You Were Dying” sums up everything she could say about her husband, Marc, who passed away in March 2011. “It was my husband to a ‘T,’” she said. Marc was having trouble swallowing in June 2009, and a few months…
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26, 2012. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen’s unique perspective as a…
Amy and Adam Patwa attended an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® in Orlando with their daughter, Charis, in May 2012. “The timing of it was totally perfect,” Amy said. “I can’t walk around Magic Kingdom today.” She was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in…
The January 2013 Orlando Legacy Retreat will kick off tomorrow! This year, we have 16 families from around the country including: Arizona, North Carolina, New York, Indiana, California, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Similarly, our loving…
Jenifer Sisco, a teacher and mother of three from Midland, Michigan, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in May 2011. Then came Jenifer’s first surgery after the diagnosis. “The news we got was worse than we expected,” said Michael, Jenifer’s husband. The…
Kassandra Spears has battled cancer for most of her life. The 44-year-old mother of two from Port Lavaca, Texas, discovered a melanoma spot on her neck at age 15. She underwent surgery and appeared to be cured. Two decades later, Kassandra had married her husband Andy…
Today we grieve the death of Kristen Milligan, co-founder of Inheritance of Hope. Kristen died on Friday, October 26, 2012. Hers was a life well-lived. After retiring from her first career of training guide dogs for the visually impaired and deaf-blind to become a…
As I felt led to run a marathon, I looked into the training program that was suggested by our wise Team IoH leader, Lisa, and I quickly realized that the training itself was far from my reach. The first week began with a five mile trek, and I was having difficulty…
Russ Tripp and his 27-year-old son, Jeremiah, are active members of the Inheritance of Hope community. Jeremiah has volunteered at three Legacy Retreats®, and Russ gives testimonies at IoH events. Both say Inheritance of Hope has deeply impacted their own lives,…
When the Fortin family from North Carolina — Steve, Maureen, and their three children — attended the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® at Disney World in January 2011, Steve was in good health. “He often says he feels funny because he was the healthiest…
45 Team IOH runners hit the Asheville, NC, streets Saturday morning, September 15th, taking part in the 2012 Asheville Citizen-Times 5K and Half Marathon. Families and individuals joined forces – in support of families served by Inheritance of Hope. An…
Anna contacted me last January. She said she was interested in running the Disneyland Half Marathon, September 2, 2012 to support Inheritance of Hope. Team IOH does not participate as a team in the Disneyland Half but Anna still wanted to raise funds and run the…
USA TODAY’s Nashville music critic Brian Mansfield was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 48. He now chronicles his life with the disease – and with only a small part of his colon – in a series of weekly installments. Below is a segments from a…
Today we pause to honor the memory of our friend Gerry Moors. Gerry, of Pine Bush, NY, died on August 25 at the age of 78. He had been diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer in September 2009. Along with his wife, Joan, and his daughter, Maryalice, Gerry organized…
The Conti family of New York still looks at their photo album from the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat at Disney World in January 2011. “I’ve even looked at it just recently,” said Angela, 45. “We still cry over it, but it’s happy tears now because my husband…
“Show kindness whenever possible. Show it to the people in front of you, the people coming up behind you, and the people with whom you are running neck and neck. It will vastly improve the quality of your own life, the lives of others, and the state of the…
Larry Lanham, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Madison and Maggie raise sheep and cattle on their 38-acre farm in Corbin, Kentucky. Larry has worked the same job providing housing for the elderly for 26 years. However, the last five years have been anything but…
I was once asked in a job interview what the quote I live by was and my answer was the poem “Don’t Quit.” I was thinking of the attendees of the May Retreat and realized how fitting this is for all of them. I think this is especially true for the…
Before last summer, neither 17-year-old Seth nor his 13-year-old sister, Mandie, had ever been on an airplane. Yet in June of last year, the entire Felker family from Alliance, a small town in northwest Nebraska, boarded a plane to Disney World in Orlando, where they…
A few weeks ago we returned from the May 2012 retreat in Orlando, Florida. This was a special retreat for me because it was the first time I was able to invite a family I knew personally to come on a retreat & see them be cared for & enjoy a few days…
With 16 families eagerly and nervously getting ready to head to Orlando in the next day or so, much is being anticipated and much is unknown. This trip will changes lives, not only the lives of the families that are attending the retreat, but also the lives of…
Like the video? Use the tools above or below to share on Facebook, Twitter, and more! Exodus 10:9 – “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD.” Today…
Monday, May 21st will be the 5th birthday for Inheritance of Hope! Don’t miss the release of a special video on the website on Monday – www.inheritanceofhope.org! It only takes a seed . . . That is exactly the way Inheritance of Hope started –…
Inheritance of Hope will be celebrating its 5th birthday next Monday, May 21st! I have watched the growth of Inheritance of Hope and its subsequent outreach to 99 families since its inception in 2007. I have watched my friends, Deric and Kristen Milligan,…
The Blevinses are made of tough stuff. Jeff, 40, moved from central Indiana to Nashville 20 years ago to start a music career and builds his own radios, and 37-year-old Deana came from Kentucky to work at Vanderbilt University. Hours away from the nearest family…
The New York Road Runner’s have chosen Team IOH to be a part of the 2012 ING NYC Marathon charity program. With the 5 spots awarded, the Team IOH goal is to raise at least $50,000 (each team member with a goal of $10,000), which will send 10 families on the NYC…
It’s that time of year to start thinking about a training plan for your summer or fall race. Training for a race can often be extreme… like, going out on a 20 mile run on a Saturday morning … or, swimming a mile and then jumping on your bike…
I am not a very fast typist. However, to my children (ages 10 and 8) I am a superstar typist. When my children walk into the room and I am working on my computer they usually comment on how fast my fingers are moving on the keyboard. They are amazed at the clicking…
The Heinzelman family attended Inheritance of Hope’s first Legacy Retreat, which took place at Lake George, New York, in the summer of 2008. Three and a half years later, the family has fond memories of the weekend. Yet the Heinzelmans are getting by without…
Imagine pinching your nose shut and breathing only through a coffee straw. “It feels like you have asthma and emphysema,” said M’Leigha Graham. The average human trachea, the windpipe that carries air to the lungs, is 15-20 millimeters wide. When…
The NYC Half Marathon is coming up on March 18. (We still have a few bibs left if you would like to join us!) As a race approaches, I often ponder how important the runners are to our organization. The funds raised by our runners are critical to sustaining and…
We are just a few days away from Valentine’s Day, the holiday of LOVE. When I think of parents & kids… I think “Love is Listening”. Many of you just returned home from the latest retreat in Orlando. Some of you have attended past retreats….
In just one week 16 families and 34 staff/volunteers will meet in Orlando for an amazing Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat. We will travel from Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, New York, Georgia,…
Team IOH participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend last weekend in Orlando, FL. Runners participated in the marathon, half-marathon, Goofy’s challenge and the 5K. Today, Kasandra Spears will tell us of her family’s experience in participating in the…
I have a great job. I get to meet beautiful families that are faced with some difficulties and plan a dream vacation for them. The absolute BEST part of my job is the phone call when I tell them it is their turn to go on this dream vacation. Many people cry….
Team IOH will be represented in four of the five 2012 Disney Marathon weekend events coming up this weekend! We are excited that an IOH family that attended the November 2010 NYC Legacy Retreat will be participating in the 5K! The Spears family will be running…
This time of year most of us are very blessed to spend a lot of time with our families. Sometimes this is the only time of year we get to see some of them. It is always one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I love hanging out with my parents and…
I recently received an email that linked to an article called “50 Economic Numbers That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe”. The article was a slide show with captions covering how badly (even worse than we think) the economy is performing ranging from…
I feel extraordinarily thankful to be here this Christmas with my husband and my children. There was a moment a few months ago when I wasn’t sure … so much so that my Christmas shopping was complete in early September. I love that I will be here on…
I’ve been a member of the 2011 NYC Legacy Retreat Fans Group these past few days. This group was set up in the IOH Community on the Inheritance of Hope website to follow the ‘latest’ as the Legacy Retreat unfolded. Sixteen families from across the…
Tonight everyone enjoyed a night out! Even the rain couldn’t damper our delight to head out on the town. All of the parents were given gift cards to eat at a fancy New York City restaurant. They were thrilled to have a nice evening just as adults, but not as…
This morning it is a little bit cooler and cloudy in the Big Apple. Most of the families were a little later down to breakfast this morning, feeling the tiredness from an amazing a busy day yesterday. After filling their bellies with the Novotel’s…
What an amazing night! Following a scrumptious dinner at the Hotel Novotel we took a 3 block walk to Radio City Music Hall. All of the families were super excited to see the show. The show started with a 3D movie experience and moved into a kick line. The Rockettes…
Today has been a great day! The weather has been fantastic and all the families are enjoying each other and New York City. This morning’s blog update proved to be an accurate description of everything we have done. In other words, everything has gone according…
The day started early for many of the families attending the 2011 New York City Legacy Retreat. Some of them even started their travels yesterday to get to Manhattan for their Inheritance of Hope Retreat. For many it was their first time flying in an airplane. …
Last weekend, Team IOH participated in the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Runners from 24 states and Canada joined forces to raise over $100,000 to support the mission of Inheritance of Hope! Specifically, these donations will be used to fully fund…
This past weekend was an incredible memory for me! I completed my first marathon with an amazing group of people. We all ran to support Inheritance of Hope. We ran so that families with young children who have a parent facing a life-threatening illness can…
The Fields family from Vicennes, Indiana, had plenty of challenges already. Lisa had been battling a kidney disease and diabetes, and her 14-year-old son Isaac was diagnosed with kidney disease. Then Ollie found himself unable to continue driving trucks and left his…
Recently I saw this cartoon and it really made me laugh. What a silly expression of a phrase that we use often for encouragement and strength for those we care about. I remember (way back) in high school when I first heard this phrase and some tough guys were…
I have been training for a marathon for the past several months. It has been long, hard work for me. I have never enjoyed running and never thought I would be participating in any sort of race, let alone a 26.2 mile one! One of the places that I have been doing most…
Written By: Jill Thompson I am enthusiastic about Inheritance of Hope! My enthusiasm began when it was first founded and has continued as my involvement has grown. When my best friend, Kristen Milligan, called me in 2003 to share her diagnosis of terminal liver…
Tammy Johnston is a member of the Team Inheritance of Hope 2011 Marine Corps Marathon team. Tammy has run the Los Angeles marathon and will share about her marathon experience. Thank you Tammy! First off I am not a runner. Some people are, I am not one of them. I…
I cannot believe I will be running 26.2 miles in just 1 month. It is something I never thought I would do. I have been training with an amazing team for the past several months, most of whom I have never met. There are, however, a few people who I know really well…
Two years ago, my four boys ages 8-15 knew nothing about cancer. The oldest 3 had been to Haiti numerous times and had begun at young ages to grasp poverty, political corruption, and the need to work for change, but they were unfamiliar with cancer. Little did I…
Shari Elliot and her husband Rob are self-described Google researchers. The couple living in Bradenton, Fla. browses message boards and networks with cancer patients. Both veterans of the medical industry, they are not afraid to look up scientific journals and read…
I will be introducing you to Team Inheritance of Hope Athletes – today and in future posts – through the athlete’s own words. Grace Gerdin is running with the Team IOH 2011 Marine Corps Marathon team. Read what Grace says inspires her…
Team Inheritance of Hope has many planned endurance events throughout the year. You may be asking how you can get involved. We are always looking for athletes to join our team! The concept behind being a member of Team Inheritance of Hope is this: athletes commit to…
Today, you can read a brief explanation of what athletes learn when seeking to join Team Inheritance of Hope. Team Inheritance of Hope (a.k.a. Team IOH) exists to raise funds and awareness for Inheritance of Hope. As an athlete with Team Inheritance of Hope, you can…
After writing my blog post last week, The Gift of Life (a story about my husband’s kidney transplant 4 years ago), I came up with this idea to ask my husband to write a little blog about his experience. Tony said he would be happy to do just that. What he…
“I’ve got a different perspective,” Tom Dodd said. The engineer from Seneca, S.C. became a widower almost three years ago. Dodd and his two adopted sons moved closer to his parents, took a new job and remarried after the loss. He received support from friends and…
What do you do to “re-charge” your battery? Do you read a book, take a nap, go for a walk, hang out with friends, eat a big bowl of ice cream, write in a journal, plan a party? I know for each person it is so different. If you are an introvert you…
In 2001, I was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. Six years later, after I had regained my strength, my husband went into kidney failure and was in need of a kidney transplant. It was this past week in 2007 that my husband received a kidney from a wonderful…