Brianne MacRunnel - in honor of Dave Mac

I have not been able to download the invitation for Dave's Celebration of Life so I will provide information below...

On April 6th from 11am - 2pm there will be a Celebration of Life honoring David MacRunnel at Odell's.. His favorite place to hang. Bring your favorite appetizer or dessert and let's celebrate treasured stories about David.

Odell Brewery

800 E Lincoln Ave

Fort Collins CO

If you are unable to attend but would like to share a treasured story please feel free to send it to my email and I will make sure Andy gets it and shares it with the many people who will love, laugh, and cry hearing some pretty amazing, crazy and loving stories about Dave. [email redacted]

Thank you ALL again for reaching out and supporting Bri during this most difficult time. from the bottom of my heart I am so grateful. Continued support will be appreciated.

UPDATE 3/19/24

I am so very thankful for the support everyone has shown for Bri during this difficult time of change, decisions, and learning to walk a new path. Each one of you hold special warmth in my heart not only from me, but I know Bri and the family also are feeling the love and caring needed in a time where the loss is so great.

Continue to keep Bri, family, and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Sharing the "gofundme" honoring Dave with family and friends is one way to continue to show Bri how much she means to each of us.

There is not a confirmed date/time for Dave's celebration yet, and I know many would like to share in his celebration. I ask for patience from all those who love and miss Dave, as the priority right now is allowing family to process their grief , while making very difficult, almost impossible decisions. I know each one is understanding and I know Bri and family appreciate this.

Your continue support and thoughts, prayers will be appreciated so very much.... May each of us remember the "Dave" who took the high road (often in the mountains) and be thankful Dave is living his new best life in heaven.

UPDATE: In support of Brianne, we have reopened the previous "gofundme" to honor Dave and show him we support Bri as she navigates her journey without the love of her life.

As many of you may have heard/read about Dave's amazing life's journey - a race he ran with great strength, grace, dignity... came to the finish line on earth today 3/17/2024. We know when he entered his new “heavenly home” crossing the finish line he was already looking for the next race. Our hearts are broken tears are unending with such an incredible loss.

Dave left behind an amazing wife, who loves and adored him, a mother and father and siblings who will have an empty hole no one will ever be able to fill, and many families and friends who love and will miss Dave.

Many supported both Dave and Bri from this previous fund, which was so very much appreciated, during Dave’s medical treatment and care. Our hearts go out to Bri for her loss and the pain that comes with losing her "Warrior Person, twin flame, shining light" all the things she has said Dave was/is to her in her FB post.

I wanted to reopen the gofundme so we can support her as she navigates this journey, so she knows she will never be alone.

Thank you for considering a donation. If you would like to reach out sending a card/thoughtfulness please allow me to ask her permission for that as privacy at this time is so important.

RIP Dave.... Know you will never be forgotten, always loved, and Bri will have many to help her thru this new journey she has to create. Love you so very much Auntie

3/11/2021....... Dave's journey began 2/2/19 and found out recently he would be starting this journey again, almost 2 years later. . . . . . We had many support both he and Bri then and we want to share with you what is happening now. We are hopeful that many will continue supporting, following their journey, sharing, praying and encouraging both Dave and Bri while they fight the hard, but we believe beatable, battle of cancer.

The following was where their journey began 2 years ago. I have opened the GOFUNDME to allow others to support them on this journey. It is not for the weak. Your commitment to supporting both Dave and Bri during this challenging time will not go unnoticed.  I thank everyone who has stepped up before and once again now, for being the support that will give them courage and strength to continue fighting. 

Please, read the following from 2 years ago..... If you were unaware of where Dave's journey began, this is the story. Following I have added updates as to where Dave is at in this journey, once again... and with hope this will be the last time fighting the battle of cancer.

February 2, 2019 David MacRunnel, an amazing husband to Brianne MacRunnel, a very much loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend to many was air lifted to a trauma center with a hemorrhaging liver. This past month and half has given all of us much to think about, a lot to be thankful for, and personally counting our blessings every single day.

This frightful event came out of no where and bottom line.... how does one prepare for such things........... bottom line is.... most of us don't.

There have been lots of tests, biopsies, pokes and prods:  These are some of Dave's notes I pirated from Facebook....

From Dave:

So friends. I’ve got a little life update. Thankfully that includes being

alive thanks to Brianne MacRunnel and the awesome med crew.

I’ve joined my friends in an elite Tumor Club. It’s nestled between my

stomach and liver and apparently the jerk has resided there for awhile until a supply artery feeding the little bugger (taking name suggestions) broke. They do not know what kind it is yet and we will find out

Monday with what seems to be a very large needle. I’m (cliche) humbled to the point of tears thinking about everyone who is praying and thinking about me and sending the aloha. I’ll keep you updated on this

adventure and hopefully we’ll evict this unwanted house guest soon.

Cheers and hug your loved ones. Life is pretty wild, God is good, and as my Naked and Afraid nurse told me-‘Embrace the Suck’.

More updates:

So the biopsy was fun. The Eiffel Tower Of needles took 15 samples

from something that looked life Grumpy dwarf. Grumpy is a GIST

(gastrointestinal sarcoma tumor) and they still do not know if it’s

malignant or benign and Grumpy is in an odd place they’ve never seen. Good news is GISTs tend to be very treatable.

So now I’m at home trying to kick the Oxycodone and sleep a ton. Next appt. is with my surgeon on the 18th. Which seems pretty far away.

Thanks everyone Bri and Meredith have the unfortunate experience of being my at home nurses and they are amazing!

Update 2/5: they put off the biopsy until today and I really hope it

happens because the panel of surgeons meets on Wednesday’s.

Getting a lot of walking in but having a hard time keeping my oxygen up on my own power. I’m excited to find out if this has been what has

contributed to my brain fog as well. Thanks again to everyone rallying

around me - every comment means so much when things are tough

early in the morning... The nurses are all amazing. Also I’m not septic so I’m thankful for that.

Love you all - somebody take a deep breathe of fresh outside air for me.

SO, this is why I decided as the "Auntie" to Dave and Bri to start this

 GofundMe for Dave and Bri. I will tell you... I don't believe in starting with "small stuff". I believe in BIG or not at all. There are many ways we can help and providing some financial relief is just one of the ways I believe will be helpful. Dave says this is humbling, and I'm sure it would be for any of us. I believe each of us will want to support this amazing

young man and his wife... so I've started this GOFUNDME to

help show them they are so loved and we want to help. 

Please help where you can, send up prayers, and by all means whatever it takes to get "Larry" outta the belly.... let's do it!!