Welcome to Bret's Page

May 26, 1997 - September 6, 2003


On August 1, 2002 Bret was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). The only hope for a cure is a stem cell transplant, which Bret had, using unrelated umbilical cord blood, on November 20, 2002 at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Post-transplant he has had graft-versus-host disease in his digestive system twice.

On August 18, 2003 Bret was confirmed to have had a "full relapse."

Bret died on September 6, 2003.
He was 6 years, 3 months and 11 days old.

Journal

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 5:54 PM CDT

This past Sunday we attended a small dedication ceremony for Bret's Grove, which is located at Hallett Materials' Booneville Plant. The grove of oak trees is the back drop for an area containing concrete benches, and a beautiful and unique rock (or perhaps boulder is a more fitting word) with a bronze placque on the front which reads:

What the caterpillar perceives
is the end; to the butterfly
is just the beginning.
Bret Croat Golightly
May 26, 1997 - September 6, 2003

Someday when Hallett is done extracting sand and gravel from this site the land will be turned over to Dallas County for a park, complete with a lake for fishing.

We are extremely grateful to the truly wonderful people who have worked so hard to make this memorial a reality, especially Lynette Rasmussen and family, Tim Mallicoat, Hallett Materials, and Leonard Adams and crew, especially Steve Snead. Thank you to Larry Christensen for the beautiful music.

I will post a picture as soon as I can get my computer to work (which could be awhile).

I am serving soup this Saturday at a fundraiser in Earlham for Brant Hamilton's family. Sounds like it will be a fun event for kids. For details, visit www.earlham-ia.org/GreatPumpkinWalk.html.

Take care - Michelle

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: -----

Dan & Michelle Golightly
3481 Ute Avenue
Waukee, Iowa
50263-8082

Links:

E-mail Author: golightlymoo@juno.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.