Good-bye Dear Mont

On Wednesday August the 29th, Mont passed from this life and this world lost a true saint.  I will never forget my first introduction to Mont and his story through a phone call with his daughter Tawnya.  Through her tears she told me about the things that her dad had done in this life (all of which were in the service of his fellow beings) and then she talked about her love for him and her heartbreak with his cancer diagnosis.  I cried with her and we began planning a special eventing for Mont and his family.  I will never forget his face when he walked into the gym at his event and saw all the people and all of the love.  For an instant, 100's were able to pay him back for all the good that he had done.

If we were in charge, Mont would be tinkering in his garden and smiling with his family, instead the garden is quiet and his family is tearful, but Mont taught everyone that he met that it is OK to trust Heavenly Father in the things that we do not have control over and he was a perfect example of what to do with the things that we can control.  I will never forget his set determination to impact the world around him in a positive manner and to serve and love those in his midst. The world is a better place because Mont Garrett graced its face and heaven just gained one powerful mission president!  Thank you Mont for giving all of us an example to strive towards.  You emulated Christ in all that you did and we will all be forever grateful!

A viewing is on Monday from 6-8pm at McDougal Funeral Home on 4300 South & Redwood Road in Salt Lake. The funeral will be held Tuesday morning with a viewing starting at 9am, funeral at 10am at the LDS Stake Center 6250 South 2200 West in Taylorville.  Contributions in lieu to flowers can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank in the Mont Garrett Fund.

Mont's event results!

The Stake Center in West Jordan was packed with love and support and with your help we were able to raise more than $42,000 for Mont and Jan and we're still counting!  There were many incredible moments at this event and we wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for doing ANYTHING FOR A FRIEND!

Read a great article about Mont by Cathy Free and the Deseret News

 

Mont Garrett has always been an example of service and charity to those around him. He is a loving father to five children, 15 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild! He has been a great example of service to those around him, serving as an LDS bishop, stake presidency counselor, mission president and volunteer chaplain for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department. 

In March 2010, Mont noticed a growth on his stomach. He went in for a CT scan and the doctors found some marks on his kidneys. The doctors decided that the best thing to do was to do a series of biopsies to investigate. After six biopsies, they said there was nothing to worry about.

A few months later, Mont started experience a lot of back pain. He went back to the doctors and they investigated again. This time they found that he had some tumors forming on the upper lobe of his kidney.  They decided to surgically remove them. During the surgery, they noticed that he had some enlarged lymph nodes but said everything was OK.

Mont thought all was good, until a few months later when he started having lots of pain in his midsection, arms and pelvic area.  Mont visited a few different specialists and in June 2011 another CT scan showed that the majority of the

lymph nodes in his body were enlarged. The doctors then diagnosed him with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma - a type of lymphatic cancer that spreads through the lymph nodes and can effect other parts of the body.

In September 2011, Mont started his first chemotherapy treatments. The steroids after treatments caused Mont to have hiccups for three days, have no appetite, no energy and an inability to sleep. After three weeks and four treatments, another scan showed that there had been no shrinkage of the cancer.

The doctors started a new chemotherapy treatment in January 2012 that lasted for another three weeks. However, this was met with negative results as well.

The doctors were starting to doubt whether or not Mont had been diagnosed correctly. They ordered a bone marrow test and another blood test to determine whether or not he really had Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The test results showed that he, in fact, did have Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.    

Mont went in for a surgery in January 2012 to extract a lymph node. The doctor’s determined that the lymph node was 80 percent cancerous and Mont was upgraded to a stage-5 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer.

Mont tries to continue his every-day routine. He still works as a realtor and as a volunteer chaplain for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. His service and work ethic is an inspiration!

We would like to show Mont that his service to the community is appreciated!

He is currently undergoing his third round of chemotherapy and will have a scan in March to determine whether it is working.  In the meantime, those who love Mont and strangers alike have organized and want to express their love and support of him and are doing it in the form of an ‘Anything for a Friend’ community fundraiser.  Please join us by asking yourself, “Will I do Anything for a Friend?”

About the Event:

Date:

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

Time:

5-9 pm

Activities:

•Dinner

•Silent and Live auction

•Kid’s Corner

•Balloon Launch

Location:

The LDS church house on8539 South 2200 West

West Jordan, UT

**** We are so excited to let you know that Nicea Degearing and Gretchen Jensen from Good Things Utah will be joining us at Mont's event.  Come out and meet these special ladies and let them know how much we appreciate their support of the members of this community.  Thank you Nicea and Gretchen you are incredible.**Click on their pictures and let them know how much you appreciate their service!

 

 

Balloon Launch:

We are well aware that there is an entire community that is struggling along with Mont and his family; we will be holding a special balloon launch for Mont at the event.  Imagine Mont and his family in the middle of hundreds of loved ones, each holding a balloon as a symbol of their love, support, faith, and hope.  It will be a special moment for all of us to reflect on what's truly important!  We are selling balloons starting at $2/balloon and we have had balloons go for up to $501 a piece!  We would love your support in this united expression of hope!  Please send your message and donation to:

Anything for a Friend/Mont Garrett (specify balloons in the memo) 2573 N. 2450 E. Layton, UT. 84040

**Special thanks to theBallooneyBin for their love and support of the balloon launch!

Organizing Committee Meeting:

This week's organizing meeting for Mont's event will be held on Thursday, May 17th at 6:30 pm at the church house on:

8539 South 2200 West

West Jordan, UT

 

* We will also be meeting at 7:15 pm on the 23rd to pass out flyers.  We will meet in the cul-de-sac at 6539 Glenview Cir in West Jordan.  

We are really excited and invite everyone who wants to express their love, care, and concern.  See you all there!  Please contact his daughter Tawnya for further details tdderrickfam@gmail.com. 

*Tawnya leading an outstanding group of people.  Their hearts, minds, and hands are united in this effort and incredible things are happening!  Thank you to all that are serving on Mont's committee and all of the donors that are coming out in support of his event.