In Remembrance of...

"Memories of Michael" book for his funeral.

Mike was born on 5 April 1969 in Orlando Florida at Orange Memorial Hospital (later renamed Orlando Regional Medical Center) to Sandy and Linda Rainaldi.   Some of the schools that he attended were McCoy Elementary in Orlando, and Tavares High School in Lake County.  

Shortly before his graduation from High School, Mike was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis--a rare genetic disorder which causes the body to reject its own liver.   He was fortunate enough to encounter talented doctors at Shands Hospital in Gainesville Florida who kept him alive, and as well as could be expected, for about 15 years.  

Mike volunteered his time to help children with cancer and other blood-related illnesses.   R.O.C.K. Camp and B.A.S.E. Camp were his staple groups.   During the brief periods when he was able to withstand the physical strain of employment, he took jobs which benefited children.   He worked at the Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville Florida, and later, he worked at the Downtown Orlando YMCA in the day-care/after-school program.   Mike was always a child inside, so he related well to people of that age.  

In June 2002, he was placed on a list for a liver transplant.   Mike loved life, so he fought and struggled to stay alive.   In the end, his fatigue was too great.   That, combined with a shortage of organ donors, brought his corporeal existence to an end.   Up until his last day, he was so concerned about the well being of his family.   He was selfless, empathetic, generous, caring, loving, cheerful, and a model human being.   Mike was loved by everyone, and Mike emitted love to all creatures.

His original diagnosis was Ewing's Sarcoma, 12/6/1999.  He ended treatment Jan. 2001.  There was no evidence of cancer from Jan. 2001 until the end of 2002.  After a routine MRI and showing some flu-like symptoms that were getting progressively worse, we received word that Nicholas had relapsed on Jan. 20th, 2003.  Unfortunately, Nicholas quickly lost hearing in both ears, all muscle movement on the right side of his face, then his left, and he was having tremendous difficulty swallowing.   After he was admitted to APH with swelling on the brain (end of Feb.) he had emergency surgery and a shunt was inserted.  This saved his life.  We were then notified after more MRI's and CT scans that he had more than just a couple of tumors.  He had what is known as Rhabdoid Sarcoma all over his brain.  These are extremely aggressive and malignant tumors.  We were told that there was nothing more that could be done for him that would produce results quick enough.  He was sent home February 27 to receive hospice care and spend his last few days at home with his family and friends.

He loved the Harry Potter movies, rainbows, butterflies, and flowers.  He loved to draw, read, and eat Chinese food and Panera Bread.  He liked acting silly, playing with his little friends and attending Ascension Catholic pre-school.  He liked baking with Mommy, and going to the pool with Daddy.   He loved spending time with his grandparents.  We all fought over who got to spend time with such a fun "little man".  We miss him a great deal.

Priscilla (mom)

Virginia "Ginger" Jones, age 68. Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother.  Ginger was born in Orlando, FL, and graduated from Winter Park High School.  She joined the Air Force after high school, married and settled in Texas where she reared her four daughters.  She returned to Florida in 1977.  Following her career as a teacher, she worked with a variety of Children's Cancer Organizations, and eventually helped establish B.A.S.E. Camp, a local organization which benefits children and families affected by cancer.  After retirement, she continued her work with children by volunteering at Audubon Elementary School.  She is loved and remembered by Kari and Garry Mitchell, Krista and Robin Rice, Kyndra and Rob Lotspeich, and Katrina and Ben Kaufman; grandchildren, Christopher and Aubrey, Eric and Johnya, Jared, Sarah, Ross; great grandchildren, Sydney, Saige, McKenna; siblings, Frank and Dotty Azar, Adele and Jim Rucquoi, and Roland Azar.

Spencer Beckstead, the Orlando boy who faced a multitude of health problems with an indomitable spirit -- and became a fixture at local PGA events in his signature porkpie hats -- died Thursday at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

The 7-year-old had been in a coma since May 29 after suffering cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, according to his father, John Beckstead, who said his son's brain was donated to the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.  "They didn't have treatments even at St. Jude's for many of the things wrong with him, so they were experimenting much of the time," his father said. "The encouraging thing is that maybe some other kids won't have to go through the same things because of him."

Two years ago, Spencer survived 26 hours of brain-cancer surgery and removal of a 1.5-pound tumor.  He was pronounced cancer-free after that, but the surgery had left him blind and unable to speak.  "He was the first kid to make it through that type of surgery," Beckstead said.   "Then his rehab went way ahead of schedule, so he got to come home for his longest stay ever -- 143 days."  As the result of steroid treatments, Spencer also developed a form of brittle-bone disease, which impeded his physical development but not his high intelligence, vast vocabulary or infectious spirit, his father said.

"He never met a stranger, and he touched everybody that he met," said his father.   "He was the strongest kid I've ever seen."  The irrepressible boy needed that strength.  He battled brain cancer most of his life and incurred countless broken bones because of his condition.  He amassed an impressive collection of his multicolored hats to hide the web of scars on his fragile skull.  "His scars were ear to ear so we couldn't wear baseball hats because they pressed on his scars.  He liked Kid Rock, so he got the idea of the porkpie hat from watching him," his father said.

"He always made sure that his belts and shoes matched his hats," Beckstead added.   "He was very vain about that."

Often described as an old soul in a child's body, Spencer, who shared his father's love of golf, attracted a wide circle of admirers, including professional golfers Shaun Micheel and Stuart Appleby.  Spencer and Micheel had a special bond.  The Orlando native befriended the boy during a 2001 visit to St. Jude's in Memphis, where Spencer was undergoing radiation treatments.  The golf pro, who finished second to Tiger Woods in the PGA Championship last month, stayed in touch with his young fan, often calling him on the telephone as he traveled on the pro tour.  Micheel became so fond of Spencer that he blurted out a greeting to him on live television as he walked past a camera crew on the course during the PGA Championship tournament in 2003.  "Hello, Spencer Beckstead in Orlando, see you next week," Micheel called out during the broadcast. Micheel went on to win the tournament, and his spontaneous televised greeting to the ailing boy set off a wave of media attention for Spencer.  He was interviewed on the Orlando-based Golf Channel, featured on the USA Network and appeared in a PGA television commercial.  Micheel, who lives in Memphis, said Friday that news of Spencer's death "is a very difficult pill to swallow."  "You know, he made it a lot farther along than they originally thought he would, which shows the fight and the spirit he had in him," Micheel said.  "He brought a lot of joy to a lot of people on the PGA Tour and a lot of people here in Memphis. Hopefully, after all this, he is in a better place now." 

Golf Channel anchor Steve Sands said Friday that Spencer touched him, too.  "He was just a terrific boy with a lot of energy," Sands said.   "He'd been dealt a terrible hand, but he lived to the fullest in the short time he was with us."

The boy's exuberance was always on exhibit, even during professional golf tournaments where fans normally are encouraged to restrain their enthusiasm and keep their distance.  Yet, during the 2001 Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Spencer crawled beneath the gallery ropes around a practice putting green and introduced himself to Appleby.  Charmed, the Australian golf pro allowed Spencer to retrieve his missed putts and toss them back to him -- all the while chattering to the amusement of the golfer and other fans.  Later, Appleby told Orlando Sentinel golf writer Steve Elling that he'd been fascinated by Spencer's mature wit and engaging personality.  Even though their encounter was brief, Appleby described the boy as "just unforgettable."

Besides his father, Spencer is survived by his mother, Jennifer Beckstead, as well as his sister Sophia, 2; brother Jackson, 5; stepsister Brianna Bryant, 13; and stepbrother Austin Bryant, 12.

Wes Smith | Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted September 9, 2006

Raudel Christian Vitier, age 7, passed peacefully in his Mama's and Papa's arms at 6AM, September 18, 2006.  Christian was always seen in bright spirits as he played on his computer, played with his movies, and went for long walks with his parents and friends.  He battled cancer for seven years and not ever did he let that bring him down.  He always has been and will be an inspiration to us all. Christian was definitely the center of all of our lives and we will cherish all of the wonderful memories that we created.  Christian made everyone extremely proud with his heroic abilities and exceptional personality.  Christian is survived by his Mama, Papa and many loving relatives and friends.  Entombment is at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park. 

My dad LOVED fishing!"

My family and I are so happy that Daddy's memorial funds are going to be used for B.A.S.E. Camp's Fishing For Kids programs. He would love knowing that he helped a kid get their first pole and tackle box!  For all of you that knew him you know how happy that would make him.  The family and I would like to thank everyone for helping this be a success!

~Sheri

Lillian Jeanette Craig, 2 ½, formerly of Moscow, died on August 12, 2008, in Orlando, Florida after a four month battle with leukemia. Lillian was born on October 21, 2005, in Moscow. She is survived by her parents, Jim and Autumn Craig, older brother, James, Jr., her paternal grandmother, Mary Jean Craig, of Moscow, paternal grandfather, Richard Craig of Boise, and her maternal grandparents, Chris and Debbie Wallace, of Benton, KY.

Visitation was held on Thursday from 5-8 P.M. at Newcomers Funeral Home, 895 South Goldenrod Rd., Orlando, FL.. Funeral services were held on Friday at 10:00 A.M. at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 1331 S. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL, followed by a graveside service at All Faiths Memorial Park, 1390 Park Dr., Casselberry, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lillian's honor can be made to one of the many organizations that helped provide some fun to Lillian through her battle: B.A.S.E. Camp Children's Cancer Foundation, basecamp.org; Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, www.candlelighters.org; Hope for Henry Foundation, www.hopeforhenry.org; or Nathaniel's Hope, www.nathanielshope.org. A scholarship fund in Lillian's name has also been set up with the Idaho 4-H Endowment Fund, www.4h.uidaho.edu