Notes and thoughts from Brian's Family ...

FAMILY STATEMENT REGARDING BRIAN HALL

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – May 25, 2002

Many of you in the Indy Racing community have become Brian Hall’s and our friends over the last several months. Sadly, we his family, must announce the passing of Brian Hall on May 23, 2002.

Brian was afflicted with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease nearly 5 years ago. Despite a courageous battle, Brian knew and understood the eventual outcome of his disease, as there is, as yet, no known cure for ALS.

Brian’s battle with his disease was the inspiration behind the establishment of the Brian's Wish Foundation. Under Brian’s guidance and direction, the “Brian’s Wish” program was created to promote Brian’s “wish” to raise public and media awareness of ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease and to ultimately find a cure for this cruel and vicious, fatal disease.

Brian's Wish is the result of the support and contributions from many loving and caring people. Many are members of www.trackforum.com, an online racing forum. One member, Barb Lyons, one of the special nurses at St. Vincent's Hospice in Indianapolis, where Brian spent the last five months of his life, took the time to become not only his caregiver but also his friend.  Brian and Barb quickly realized they shared a common interest in racing. Their mutual racing interests and his caregivers extra efforts to make his life better were the catalyst for Brian's Wish.

Through her involvement with TrackForum and her personal connections within the Indy Racing community, Barb Lyons arranged visits from drivers, owners and crewmembers, which put smiles on Brian's face we had not seen in many months. These caring people, as well as many of Brian’s fellow racing fans from across the country, generously contributed a veritable “museum” of racing memorabilia that greatly helped raise Brian’s spirits.

The entire Indy Racing community, along with many in other forms of racing, through its members generosity, actions, compassion and support, helped show Brian that his life truly did have meaning and purpose. His adoptive racing “family” helped Brian create and leave a lasting legacy.

These remarkable gifts gave Brian both a purpose and a peace in his final days. And that, the family feels, not only extended Brian’s life but also significantly improved the quality of his remaining time with us. For that we will be always thankful.

During the month of May the Greatest Spectacle in Racing is held here in Indianapolis. This was always a high point of Brian’s year.

This year the Bronze badges at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are a tribute to Sid Collins, formerly the Voice of the Indianapolis 500, who was also afflicted with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Additionally, the month of May is National ALS Awareness Month.

To us, Brian’s family, these circumstances plus the fact that many of the cars in this years Indy 500 will display a Brian's Wish decal to commemorate Brian, seem both fitting and comforting. 

Brian told us recently; “please remind everyone that it is my sincere "wish", that with the support of all of my many new friends, Brian's Wish will continue to develop and grow as well as it has begun and will be successful in helping to find a cure for ALS."

We as Brian's loving family pledge, along with both Brian’s new and old friends, to continue, and ultimately win, this fight. We will continue to use Brian's Wish to help raise awareness and find a cure for ALS.

For the last 30 years Brian has had a ticket for the Indianapolis 500. Although Brian doesn’t have a ticket this year we know he will have one of the best seats at the track.

And because of the efforts of so many wonderful people, we know he will once again be smiling . . .

Our sincere thanks to all of you who have made such an important contribution and difference in both our, Brian’s, and other ALS patients lives.

Brian’s Family
May 2002

Dear Family and Friends:

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE BRIAN'S WISH WEB SITE

May is ALS Awareness Month, the Indianapolis 500 Race and the first anniversary when Brian died, on Carburetion Day, May 23, 2002.

In December, 2001, we realized we could no longer take care of him at home so we admitted him to St. Vincent's Hospice.  He was afraid, upset that he was not going to die at home and also that he would be all alone.  In fact his last five months were unbelievable!  Although his health was rapidly declining, his spirits were lifted and he had reason to smile again.

One of his nurses, Barb noticed a poster in his room with several IRL racing stubs attached.  She asked him if he liked racing.  His eyes lit up and he said yes, I love it.  Barb told him that she did too.  Then she asked who his favorite driver was - she couldn't believe that he said Eddie Cheever as he is her favorite as well.  That evening Barb shared the story about Brian - race fan on Track Forum.com, a racing forum on the Internet and asked if drivers, owners or team members would be able to visit him during the holidays.  By the time she got to work the next day, IRL driver Mark Dismore had been there. 

The next day Eddie Cheever met with both Brian and Barb.  And as they say, "the rest is history".

Once his story hit Track Forum, the interest from everyone was exceptional. They asked what they could do for him.  He said all of his needs were taken care of BUT if they really wanted to do something they could help him by spreading awareness of ALS. So decals appeared on race cars, a website was designed for Brian and his Wish, as well as shirts and hats. These were just a few ways that really did put a smile back on his face.  By this time his room started to look like a racing museum!  The realization that maybe during this final stage of his life, with the help of his new friends, just maybe, he could make a difference.

Brian's nurse commented that all of these "new friends" gave to Brian what no one else could give,.it is because of them that he lived months longer than anyone predicted and those extra months gave to Brian the greatest gift one person can ever give to another.Brian died a peaceful man with a heart filled with love.

Now that Brian is gone, yes the family feels sorrow and loss.  But all of this has been softened through the generosity, thoughtfulness and hard work of many, many people in the IRL racing community.

Since last May, after much discussion and soul searching, Brian's family decided to continue on with Brian's Wish and make it a legal charity.  With the help of our new friend, Eddie Cheever, IRL race driver, we found White Lick Heritage Community Foundation.  Thru this Foundation we have set up a non-permanent fund and all funds can be used to help promote community awareness of ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.  Donations to Brian's Wish Fund thru White Lick Heritage Community Foundation will qualify as a tax-deductible gift. The Foundation has been declared a 501©(3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service.

Brian's Wish is:  To make the world more knowledgeable about ALS, a cruel terminal disease, and the effects it has on the patient, family, caregivers and friends and therefore to help provide more interest and funding for research facilities to find a cure for this terrible disease.

How can you help?  Please share Brian's story so others will know about this disease.  Perhaps you may want to participate in some of the Awareness events listed below.  And of course, donations are always welcome!

On behalf of Brian, his family and all of the ALS community, we wish to thank all of you for your interest and support of Brian, Brian's Wish and ALS.  We, his family, want everyone to know that with your help, Brian's Wish lives on!!!

Sincerely

Mary Ann Miller
Brian's Mom

Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS in the 1930's.  Here we are almost 70 years later, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT!  Or cures it!  All we can do is make the patient comfortable.

You can find more information about Brian, Brian's Wish and ALS
    at: www.brianswish.com.

Click here to go to this TrackForum thread

Dear Friends,

I just wanted each one of you to be aware of how much you are loved for what you have given to my son, Brian.

He is such a special young man... always has been.

Brian has fought this disease with such courage that it just amazes me. Oh, he's had his "down" days to be sure but he has never taken the attitude that he was defeated. This ALS is such a horrible disease. It deeply and profoundly affects not only Brian but his entire family and all those who have loved Brian throughout the years.

We did not want him to have to go to St. Vincent Hospice. We desperately wanted to be able to care for him at home until the end but it eventually became painfully apparent to us that we just could not provide for him the level of care he required.

When he first was admitted to the hospice in-patent unit it took a while for all of us to adjust to the new environment and new routine. Brian was very quiet, resistant to the staff but we understood. He just wasn't interested in ANYTHING anymore. It was shortly before Christmas and it seemed as if there was just nothing anyone could do for him, or no gift we could get him, that would make him happy and bring a smile to his face.

But then he was given the best gift anyone could have given to him.

What was that gift?

It was YOU!

Each and every one of you!

Of course he loved having the opportunity to talk racing with the many drivers, crew members and owners who gave so generously of their time to come visit him. He loved all the race memorabilia that was given to him. His room truly does look like a race museum! But what really touched his heart and brought back his beautiful smile was YOU... the average race fan.

He just cannot get over the fact that so many "strangers" really care about him. That you have given to him a part of your hearts is a gift for which none of us will ever be able to adequately express. You consider him "family" but we all want each one of you to know that YOU are now part of OUR family.

Since you have been involved in his life he is once again smiling, is interested in something and feels that he is making some positive contribution. He knows there is nothing anyone can do for him but it is his deepest desire that someday they find a cure for this terrible disease. For some reason ALS has always had trouble getting much attention from the general public or the media and does not seem to generate much passion that leads to research money... at least not until it affects someone YOU know.

This is why the gift you have given to him is so precious... and priceless... to both Brian and his family.

After visiting with Brian a couple of weeks ago I commented that the one word I would use to describe him now is contented... and that, my dear friends, is all we could possibly hope for at this stage of his journey.

So, from a Mother's heart, I say thank you for what you have given to our son and for what you have given to his family. We will have many happy moments to remember thanks to our Track Forum and Indy Racing Family.

You are loved,

Mary Ann