Today

Today was such a busy day! I thought weekends were supposed to be for resting and rejuvenating! Not at this time of year, I guess. :)

This morning was the pancake breakfast that the PD held for Officer Craig Chastain. Four months ago, Chastain was running marathons. He is a big runner and very big on being physically fit. Two months ago, he started feeling bad. He went to a couple of Dr's who diagnosed him with various, easy to fix, things. Two weeks ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma. Basically, he's got cancer in the lining of his stomach. Ya'll, Chastain is 42 years old. He's been married less than two years and has two teenage step sons. I can't even begin to imagine.

Chastain and Karris, his wife, have been going to The Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Chicago. They went up there on Monday to discuss treatment options. They found out on that day that he's Stage 4 and there's nothing they can do. He's got two to four months to live-if that. They flew home last night and are just trying to manage the pain.

Chastain has been with our department 11 years. He is one of our Traffic officers. He was officer of the year in 2007. He is well liked within our department and surrounding agencies. He's a hoot-always making jokes and cracking people up. It's so hard to wrap our minds around the fact that he's sick and dying. It's just so dang sad and so terribly unfair. I don't understand it. Why now? Why so young? Why Chastain? Why, why, why?

Our department always amazes me at how everyone pulls together to help another out. Despite all the politics, the differences of personalities and the general dysfunction of the department...when one of our own is hurting or in trouble, we pull together and do what we can to help out. That's exactly what we did this week with Chastain.

When we found out Tuesday that he was stage 4 and there wasn't much hope, a few of the guys contacted Applebee's and asked them about doing a pancake fundraiser for the Chastains. They happened to have a cancellation for today. We booked it and got busy spreading the word. In four days time, we pulled it off.

This morning we served pancakes to just over 500 people in two hours time. We had probably 20 of us from the PD working-some served, some bussed tables, some did dishes, some seated guests and some of us took care of the money. I'm telling you, it was the neatest thing to be apart of. We were so busy and so tired by time it was all done, but it was so worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The manager of Applebee's came up to where Audrey (one of the officer's wives) and I were taking money, both for tickets and for donations to the Chastains. The manager kept saying "I can't believe this. I can't believe the turnout and how smooth everything is running." He just couldn't get over how many people were there, considering we put it together in four days. He was truly blown away.

The tickets were $5.00. Applebee's gets $2.00 per ticket and the fundraisers get $3.00 per ticket. When it was all said and done, we owed Applebee's $906.00. We went to pay the manager and showed him our calculations and how we came up with it. The manager pulled a wad of money out of his shirt pocket and said "Before we go any further, this is some money that we raised on our own this week for you guys." Surprise #1! When we paid him the $906.00 for the tickets, he counted out $600.00 and gave me $306.00 back, saying "Put this with the donations. This is Applebee's way of sharing Christmas with the Chastain family." Surprise #2! He said the $600.00 would cover his costs and they didn't want anything more than that because the Chastains needed it more than Applebee's needed it. I'm telling you, I had goosebumps when I walked out of there.

We went back to the PD and counted all the money. We raised $5460.00 yesterday! PRAISE GOD!!! And get this-donations are still coming in. We've got several area Police Departments who have called and said they are sending in donations. Several of the area FOP's have also committed to giving money. I think when all is said and done, we'll have raised between $8000.00 and $9000.00 for the Chastains.

I am humbled by people's generosity, especially during this time of year and the state our economy is in. I am so touched by the way the community has pulled together to help Chastain. I'm so proud of our department and the administration for supporting Chastain and the efforts to help him out.

The money we raised isn't going to cure Chastain. It's not going to save him. His body can only fight so long. But you know, maybe this will at least help Karriss and the boys get back on their feet. This will at least help with medical bills and travel expenses. Maybe this will help money be one less thing they have to think about. And if nothing else, it will show them that the community and the department are all behind them, praying for them, and supporting them.

What an awesome morning.