My Friend Bryan...

On September 21st of 2017, I sent a Facebook message to a gentleman by the name of Bryan Eichman.

I noticed that he was battling the same cancer that has been beating my body back and forth for the last five-plus years. I became aware of him, because he was commenting and liking certain posts on a LipoSarcoma Support Group board that I was part of.

My message was simple: "Bryan, if there's anything I could ever do for you, please reach out!"

This started a friendship in which I've received more than I ever gave.

Bryan died about a month ago, 43-years-old with four children and a lovely wife. They live in Barnwell, SC, so I drove five hours to be there with Bryan's family, because I made a promise to him and he to me.

Bryan and I never met face-to-face; we spoke on the phone only four or five times, but we were the best of friends! There were nights where we messaged one another on Facebook for four to five hours discussing life, death, and what we would do for one another if the other would pass.

I arrived at the church to pay my respects, and there were 500 people in line before me. As I got to the front, Bryan's wife Susan stood up, put her arms around me, and wailed for what seemed to be an eternity. About three hours later, Susan and I sat down, and I asked her what she needed from me. I told her I would be there as long as she needed, and I was prepared to be there for a month. She looked at me and said, "You look tired; you should go home tomorrow."

About an hour later as I sat in a Huddle House by myself, my phone rang; it was Susan. She asked, "JT, will you do the Eulogy tomorrow?" I said of course, hung up the phone, and started to cry.

The next day, I eulogized a man I never met to 1,500 people who knew him dearly. I spoke for about 20 minutes and remember the first thing I said -- and that was it! All I remember saying is that it's hard to comprehend that we're supposed to be happy in this moment when we are all so devastated. You see, Bryan is out of pain, so we rejoice, but he isn't with us, so we grieve.

Life is amazing ... death is complete! At the end of this thing we call life, it's about people!

Take a second and look at the life that touched mine...
https://www.facebook.com/bryan.eichman.9

Then, take another moment and let his wife Susan know you are thinking about and rooting her on!
https://www.facebook.com/susan.b.eichman

Bryan referred to me as "Brother John;" if you know me, you probably call me "JT." My mother calls me "John," my father refers to me as "son," but Bryan -- the best friend I never met -- calls me "Brother John!"

Take a moment, reach out to someone you don't know -- you may get a best friend out of it or someone that refers to you as "Brother John!"

#IBelieveInMiracles

Bryan with his family -- when we spoke a majority was spent talking about his family, leaving them behind, and the concern that he wouldn't see graduations, weddings, and grandchildren.

If you knew Bryan -- you knew he loved The Lord, his family, and The Gamecocks!
Depending on who The Gamecocks were playing that week, the order of this could have changed, but just for a few hours!

Bryan loved being a father; I knew him differently! He didn't need to put up walls or be strong for me; he shared his heart ... one man to another!

Bryan's wife Susan, a kind-hearted woman who has had her best friend taken too early. Bryan and I talked about her at length; he said to me he felt bad he was leaving her, but knew if anyone could make sure their family was okay, it would be Susan.

Reach out with comments, ideas, or your stories and photos to John Thomas:
Cell: (585) 469-0738 || JT@AllAccess.com
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