A Little About Julian. . . . . .

This Blog is about a wonderful young man named Julian Larsen. He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia (ALL) on May 22nd, 2008.

Putting this blog together I wanted to tell a visual story of this great person going through difficult treatment. I have only a Quadrillion (15 zeros) images of my children, divide that by 7 and, well there should be enough of Julian. In my search for the perfect image of Julian. It became evident very quickly that the perfect image of Julian is elusive. He is never purposely standing out - more quiet and watching. Due to his size he doesn't fit in either. You can pick him out 300 yards away in the line of Soccer players, he is the dip in the line. Patient and confident. I have come to learn over the course of 12 years that Julian is very selective about his friends as well.
I see him standing shivering from the pool with his towels large around his torso. There he is with his amazing brown eyes staring at the world through his carefully placed freckles.

It was only this year that I marveled at his tenacity while playing soccer. Unafraid to charge into a taller group of players - almost comically lost, as if dribbling through a tunnel of opposition colors. Somehow coming out the other side alive, his red shoes churning ahead, often with the ball. His baseball year was cut short last week, but it was no different. Playing at the Majors level in our beloved Redmond West Little League I thought would be a big jump for him. He stepped up to the Plate and never backed down. This is his year on so many levels. He blossomed in front of us.

It wasn't until he was so tired after coming back from Camp that it was evident, he really wasn't well. When he bailed out on his baseball game I knew we had a problem. Julian would not miss a game unless he was really sick.

Finally I said forget trying to narrow down the images. . . . there will just have to be a bigger slide show. Sharing Julian with those that love him is a pleasure. So enjoy, and send your love to him!

Julian with his Brothers and Sisters - Christmas 2007

Julian with his Buddy Gabe at his 12th Birthday

Thank You RWLL!!

David Hayward of Carolina Smoke BBQ



Ribs, Hot Dogs, Brisket







The White Sox Family



The Lunch Ladies



Last Thursday my good friend David Hayward (http://www.carolinasmoke.com) called me and said that he was going to put a impromptu benefit for Julian at the QFC at Bella Bottega on Saturday. Any one who is even a remote acquaintance of David, knows this man knows how to cook BBQ. I was a bit speechless at first, he told me to bring some photos down Saturday morning and that was it. Just show up. Not knowing what to do I thought I would show up and help. Just putting my favorite images up of him had me welling up. I wasn't sure who was even going to be there. Arriving at at around 10:30am I had a chance to see that David had gone all out. He started BBQing at 6:30am. The super sweet smells of the contents of his smoker was enough to make me swear off cereal, and eat ribs, brisket, and chicken with my coffee for breakfast for the rest of my life. David told me that several people were involved with getting the word out to the whole Redmond West Little League. Where do I find the words to express to all of you that came down to help my son out? All I could do was try to shake as many hands as bought David's sandwiches, although many times people just donated and did not take a sandwich. I could say Thank you until Eliot Spitzer is voted President, but it will never be enough. Several times I had to sit in my car just to regain my composure. My only wish that Julian was there to share it, but he was chilling at home getting used to his surroundings again.

As the day rolled on, and so many wonderful people came by to wish Julian to get healthy again - the realization that we belonged here. So this is what a community does. . . . . Seeing Julian's baseball team (Majors White Sox) show up with Coach Wikel was a great site. This following the game ball from a tournament game win, which the Coach, his son Josh, and Nick Wapstra brought down to the hospital.

A huge thanks to the ladies helping serving: Deborah Voll, Julie Rinearson, Debbie Wapstra, Karrin Wikel, & David's friend (I knew I would forget your name!). Brandon Hayward you rock for helping out. Special thanks to the Bella Bottega QFC for allowing David to set it up. Also to RWLL for passing out the invites. To everyone who stopped in. David you are wonderful, again, thank you from Julian and his family.

~ Craig Larsen




Nick Wapstra and his Sister!



Coach Drew Wikel



Julie keeping a tight, very tight, protective grip on her son Ian.




BBQ Believers


Karrin and the Twins