Let me begin by thanking you for being part of our family, our “village,” as we celebrate Heidi Lin’s first birthday. I am grateful for how much she is loved and how much love she has brought into our lives, so I have been reflecting on our year together, and what type of gift I could give her. Our family is extremely blessed and fortunate. We have a roof over our head, food, love, so we truly do not want for anything, so my thoughts turned to what I wished I could give—time with lost loved ones who cannot physically be with her. That wish certainly becomes stronger when special events come around.

I wish I could have met my mother-in-law, Heidi Lin’s namesake. When I hear stories about her or see videos and pictures, it is so clear that she was an absolute light in this world, and I find joy and comfort in knowing she lives on through her children and grandchildren.

So, I thought about how I can give her a bit of her grandmother, and I realized I wanted to show her how meaningful it is to give back, to help others, particularly the wonderful people at Massey who are working hard to create a world without cancer. John’s mother was an educator, so I want to honor that by teaching Heidi Lin about the power of giving and about how important it is to live fully and not take people for granted.

In lieu of traditional gifts, I offer this opportunity to donate to VCU Massey Cancer Center in Heidi Lin’s name using the link below. Any amount is appreciated.

The fundraising goal is based on the military time when Heidi Lin was born 😊

With so much love back,

Alicia Rice Stobbart