A Gathering Celebration: Michael's Story and What's Growing Next
Last Saturday, April 25th, the city was running.
The Salt Lake City Marathon was finishing its race and inside our home, Michael was finishing his.
His race through chemo.
The Night 50 People Showed Up
More than 50 people came.
Five traveled from out of state.
People moved in and out of our home from 4 p.m. until well past 11 p.m.
There was laughter. There were stories. There were long hugs that said more than words ever could.
And yes… every single Tupperware container in the house was used by the end of the night.
That part still makes me smile.
People came with abundance in hand.
Not just to celebrate the completion of chemo, but to honor the years that led to this moment.
Because Michael's journey didn't begin with diagnosis.
It began long before… in quiet meetings, advocacy, persistence, and a vision.
A vision that became reality last October with the opening of a firefighter cancer screening clinic here in Utah.
A seven-year effort. A promise to protect his brotherhood and sisterhood.
The Ripples We Cannot Always See
At one point during the evening, we found ourselves talking about ripples.
The ones created when a hand touches water and then lifts away.
There was a time when Michael believed no one would notice those ripples.
But now?
People are noticing.
Because they are being helped. Because screenings are happening. Because families are being supported. Because the burden of cancer is being shared, not carried alone.
This is the heart of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. A reminder that no one fights alone.
And the work continues.
There are efforts underway to expand grant funding so retired firefighters can receive screening and medical support, relieving financial burdens during some of life's hardest seasons.
This is quiet work. Sacred work. Ripple work.
Thirty Years
And now, we look ahead.
Within a year, Michael will retire after 30 years of service with Unified Fire Authority.
Thirty years.
It feels both long and impossibly fast.
We will celebrate him in May of 2027 with music, stories, and the brotherhood and sisterhood that shaped so much of our lives.
For now, we pause.
And we give thanks.
For the gathering. For the healing. For the people who showed up. And for the ripples that continue even when we cannot see them.
Something Else Is Growing
In the midst of all of this… there is something else quietly growing.
A new offering. A new beginning.
Ripples, after all, don't stop at one person.
This fall, I will be offering Usui Reiki Level 1 and Level 2 Training for those who feel called to better understand their own energy, and perhaps, one day, support others in theirs.
Who This Training Is For
This training is for:
Those navigating stress, uncertainty, or life transitions
Caregivers, parents, and helpers
First responder families
Anyone feeling the need to reconnect with calm, grounding, and inner awareness
We will explore:
How energy moves within the body
How to work with your own energy first
How to gently support others
Grounding practices for children, teens, and adults
Optional add-on: Reiki for animals
Because learning to sit with your own energy… to listen… to soften…
That is where healing begins.
Not in perfection. In presence.
Join the Waitlist for Fall 2026
This training will be intentionally small and community-centered.
Limited spots. Kept that way on purpose, because this kind of learning deserves real attention and real connection.
If you feel even the slightest pull toward this, that pull is worth following.
A Small Offering of Support
Reiki sessions are currently offered at 50% off as a way to support our community during times of stress and uncertainty.
If your body has been holding more than usual, this is your invitation to receive.
With gratitude, always,
Amy
