Brian Smith was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002, but quickly regained his health after a successful liver transplant. This past year, Smith and his wife, Sharon, and their two young daughters joyfully awaited the arrival of new members to their family. Sharon Smith was due to give birth to twins in December. However, in the midst of joy, Brian Smith’s cancer resurfaced.The stress proved to be too much for Sharon. The twins – a boy and girl – were born at just 24 weeks old. After only a few hours of life, Ryan died. His twin sister, Rylee, is still at Memorial Hospital.On Oct. 20, shortly after the birth of his twins, Brian Smith died.Besides the emotional struggles, Sharon Smith had financial issues to deal with. There was no life insurance because of Brian’s cancer diagnosis – no company would cover him. And as his health failed, it became increasingly difficult for Brian to earn an income for his family.When the Falcon Fire Protection District learned of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Smith family, the firefighters and volunteers from the Explorer Program, which consists of youth under age 21 who aspire to a firefighter career, pulled together to help the family.Through their efforts, Frank and Kathy Patton of Frankie’s Too decided to join in the efforts to help the family. “It was such a heart-wrenching story that we wanted to help,” Kathy Patton said. “Basically we had an event going on, offered the space and from there people just rose to the occasion in order to help.”On Oct. 27, during Frankie’s annual Halloween party, firefighters and future firefighters gathered to help with a fundraising benefit for the Smith family. The firefighters were there in uniform collecting donations from the crowd, as they enjoyed plenty of food and danced to a band in all sorts of creative costumes.Efforts to help the family continue.“Brian was a very caring man who would put anybody’s needs above his own” said Tabitha Schleiker, Brian’s sister-in-law. “I would like to repay him for all that he had done for me.”For more information about donations, contact Mike and Tabitha Schleiker at (719) 510-3810 or (719) 337-4456.
