Sad news from Maryly Matthewman.

I first posted on this blog March 17 2014. It is with heartfelt saddness that I have to say  our Prayer/ Wish Flag Project in Gilford, NH for John Bradley Thompson, age 6 has come to an end.  John went to Heaven yesterday as a result of a rare brain inoperable brain tumor, DIPG. Only 150 children in the US per yr develop this tumor.  His family struggled for 10 months.  There is no doubt that the Prayer/ Wish Flags helped John, his wonderful family, his little friends and the community deal with this difficult time.  In a few days friends and family will walk from a church to the community cemetary.   But the wind will be filled with wishes from hundreds of flags which will line the path.  Prayer Flags are a comfort and way to express wishes and hope.  They brought a community together to pray for strength and courage for a family and a wonderful little innocent boy, John Bradley Thompson.  Thank you, Maryly Matthewman, Meredith, NH.  Please check out John's Blog at thinkjohnbradley.

May your family share laughter, 
Your songs always play, 
May your Wishes come true, 
Even those left unprayed."

UPDATE

"A few days ago I posted and stated that our Prayer  Flag Project for John Bradley Thompson of Gilford, NH had come to an end. I was very wrong in this statement. This afternoon, his family, along with well  over 1,000 friends, NH State Police, gathered for the funeral of this remarkable 6 year old.  We all walked a half mile from the church service to the cemetery. The route was posted with hundreds of Wish/ Prayer Flags done earlier in John's illness to wish him health, strength, courage, and HOPE. During the service the minister talked to us about how we will carry on John's memory.  We saw first hand the power of Prayer Flags to all involved.  It absolutely united a community and gave strength and hope to a struggling family.  I hope to promote Prayer/Wish Flags whenever I can in the memory of John Bradley Thompson, Fly, Fly, Little Wing" Maryly Matthewman.

Sending Wishes

Today we hear from Maryly Matthewman

"Well our Prayer Flag Project is taking a turn now, a detour so to speak. We started out by calling our Prayer Flags, Wish Flags as they were for a little boy of 5 years diagnosed with an inoperable rare Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma brain tumor last May. DIPG they called it. Devastating news to his family. I watched on his blog as people sent prayers and wishes his way while he was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy at St. Judes Hospital in Memphis. Then I remembered reading about The Prayer Flag Project and I approached the family with this idea. How about sending wishes in a flag?  It was something his friends could grasp and understand, a Wish Flag. John would sit in his hospital bed with a fishing net and catch the wishes coming his way. There were  many other events in our community for this little boy. Fund raisers, Make a Wish Events, a dinner which was an evening of strength and hope in honor of John Bradley Thompson. An art show, so many things. There are so many things that have come out of this whole event but one thing that is so strong is the strength and hope of a family and the whole community.  I have sent a pic of some of the Wish Flags surrounding a center logo for The Cure Starts Now.  So many signatures and wishes on this quilt, it radiates positive energy.  John Bradley Thompson is not doing very well now. He is in a wheelchair now and tomorrow I will bring this quilt to his family so he can be surrounded by the love and warmth of his friends.  Please check out The Cure Starts Now, THINKJOHNBRADLEY.COM, and help in any way you can to fight childhood cancer. Support St Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.   

Very Sincerely Yours, Maryly Matthewman, Meredith, NH." 

For John

Today we hear from Maryly Matthewman

" This is our Prayer Flag Protect. We renamed it Wish Flag Project for John Bradley Thompson but the ideas are still the same.

  John Bradley is a little boy currently at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis receiving radiation and chemotherapy for a very rare brain tumor, DIPG.  We had our kick off day today with the Wish Flags and we gave out 85 flags and people were very generous in their donations. Many more flag kits are coming. Here are some of the flags.

 John is in Memphis with his net at the ready to catch all the wishes."