A Farewell Fit for A Hero.

This weekend was one of the hardest I have been through in a while.

Friday we traveled to Iowa to say goodbye to our sweet little friend Oliver.

Oliver's battle ended with a nasty form of cancer, called DIPG.

It is an aggressive tumor that has no cure. Only treatments that can try to prolong life.

I remember getting the phone call from Stacy after they had gone for the MRI.

I remember sitting in our brown chair in our living room. I remember seeing the number come up on the caller ID and having a gut feeling that she had bad news. I remember hearing tears before words. And then the words. Ollie has a brain tumor....9-15 months....tears. After hanging up, I sat stunned in the living room. Before I knew it I was crying. I called Garran into the living room and broke the news to him. I had known Stacy since before Oliver was born. Garran had got to know him as an infant when we started dating. Our lives had been intertwined with the Palmers ever since. We both cried, agreeing we would do what we could, to try and be there for them and help in anyway possible.

Then, six months later we moved. I felt horrible. I felt like I was deserting my friend when she needed friends the most. However, Grad school would not wait. I tried to do what I could from a distance, and we got together when we could. It was not the same as living in the same state, but we were still able to make some fun and happy memories together when we did visit.

Then Thursday morning I was laying in bed and my phone rang again. This time when I looked at the caller ID and saw my friends name, I knew what I was going to hear. "Ollie is gone. He passed away early this morning." Plans were made and I said we would see them the next day.

I spent most of Saturday helping Stacy and some other friends get photos together and things ready to take to the funeral home the following night. We laughed at old memories and sweet photos of her little boy. It was good to be with my friend and feel as though I was helping in some small way.

Then came Sunday. The visitation. The funeral home had done a wonderful job with Oliver and while he looked great, it was heartbreaking to see him laying there. You would think two years of knowing he was sick and that his tumor had no cure would somehow prepare you for that moment. But it did not.

Ed and Stacy along with the kids went in first to see him, and then other family and close friends followed. It was an honor to be in that group. The visitation was from 4-8 and there was a steady crowd of people the whole time. It was so heart warming to see what a wonderful effect Oliver had on peoples lives. I think it payed a great tribute to him and to his parents.

What touched my heart the most about the visitation was the Waterloo Fire Department. Oliver had been made a Honorary Fire Fighter. Due to that fact, there was a fire fighter in their dress uniform standing guard at the foot of Oliver's casket during the entire visitation. They would switch every 30 minutes, almost in a changing of the guard fashion. It was so emotional to see the reverence they showed and the respect they had for Oliver.

The next day at his funeral was even harder for me personally. It seemed that the full weight of Oliver's death seemed to hit me all at once. Garran and I sat with the family and some other close friends at the church in a private room and had our chance to say our last goodbyes. I was trying to hold back on the tears but failed miserably. Stacy tried to reassure me as I hugged her by saying "It's ok Meg, Oliver knows we are both ball baby's." I agreed.

As I stepped out of the room to head to the chapel, fire fighters again lined the hallway. The lump in my throat only grew bigger. As I made my way into the chapel and up to the stage, I kept telling myself I really needed to pull it together. As I took my seat, I was again overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there. I knew there would be a lot, but to sit, looking out into the audience. It was overwhelming. I could not help but feel joy for my friends. What a wonderful feeling for Ed and Stacy to know that in 10 years they had raised a child that had touched this many people and so many more that were not even able to attend.

The program began as the fire fighters entered, taking their seats on the stage behind us. And then Oliver was brought in, followed by Ed, Stacy and Eden. After they were seated the bishop spoke. Two friends of Oliver spoke. (ya not a dry eye in the house) then it was my turn. I tried my hardest to honor Oliver and pay tribute to him while I spoke. Garran was next, followed by Bishop Fagerston and President Oesterle. Then Ed spoke beautifully about his son. It was a wonderful talk with a wonderful message. Next Stacy spoke, right from her heart. She thanked everyone and really shared her heart with others. My tears returned as she asked people to not be afraid to speak about Oliver. She said her biggest fear is that he will be forgotten. While I know that is a very real fear for them, I just can't imagine that a little boy with such a big spirit and effect on people could ever be forgotten.

After the services, Oliver was honored one last time. He was escorted to the cemetery by two police cars and a fire truck. At each intersection there were police men saluting and any time we passed a fire house, the trucks were out with their lights on. Of course fire trucks and police cars lined the entrance to the cemetery. It was overwhelming. What a fitting tribute for a little boy that shared so many attributes with those brave men and women.

As I said when I spoke, I love Oliver and I will miss him.

I am so thankful to Ed and Stacy for inviting us to be apart of Oliver's farewell. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our memories and love for him.

Below is his obituary:

WATERLOO - Oliver Young Palmer, 10, of Waterloo, died Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home.

He was born July 11, 2001, in Waterloo, son of Edward and Stacy Boardsen Palmer. He was a fifth-grade student at Fred Becker Elementary School, formerly Edison Elementary School.

Survived by: his parents of Waterloo; a sister, Eden at home; two brothers, Jaren and Phineas, both at home; paternal grandparents, David and Janine Palmer of Waterloo; maternal grandparents, John and Ellen Boardsen of Waterloo; maternal grandmother, Karen Young of Waterloo; paternal great-grandfather, Edward Solie of Utah; and maternal great-grandparents, Warren and Margaret Young of Clinton.

Preceded in death by: paternal grandparents, Freeman and Mahala Palmer; paternal great-grandmother, Eva Solie; maternal great-grandparents, Einar and Phyllis Boardsen; and a stepuncle, Alex Swygman.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Garden and Pleasant Drive, Cedar Falls, with private family committal in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street.

Memorials: may be directed to the Oliver Palmer Benefit Account at Veridian Credit Union, in lieu of flowers.

Condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.

Oliver enjoyed playing baseball, fishing, archery, camping, playing video games, watching movies, and teaching himself how to play the piano. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams. He enjoyed attending the Dance Marathon, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.