Jon grants dying woman's wish

How very sad.

Here is a follow up article. She did pass away that same day.

One Last Wish
Posted: 12/12/2006 1:35:05 AMVideo

See video of the story on channel 34 by clicking this link:

http://www.newschannel34.com/news/lo...7-7B8F0CE787B1

Lourdes Hospice helped grant a Binghamton woman's last wish.

Holli Rifenbury's family explains how her friends and an internet connection made her dream a reality.

Holli Rifenbury has been a fan of Jon Bon Jovi all her life. Jared, her husband of 6 years, jokes that she loves Bon Jovi so much, she might have left him for Jon if she had the chance. Holli's oldest son Valek also loves Bon Jovi.

Valek Rifenbury singing, "I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride, I'm wanted dead or alive."

Valek Rifenbury, "You want to know where I heard his songs? My mom has most of his cds."

Jared met Holli when she was just 16 years old. He used to work at a pet shop in Johnson City and Holli used to come in with her friends.

Jared Rifenbury says, "She asked me if I just wanted to go out sometime, went out, and then it just went from there, and we've been together ever since pretty much."

Jared and Holli were married in January of 2000, when she was 18 and Jared was 22. Shortly after, their first son Valek was born. And in 2003, their second son Kaleb came along. Holli was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2005. Doctors removed the tumor from her spine, but after several tests, found out that the cancer was still there. After Chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the cancer came back, paralyzed her from the waist down and spread to her lungs. 2 weeks ago the decision was made to stop treatments. Jared says Holli can still communicate, but each day it gets harder and more painful. Holli gets visits from Hospice workers to help with her daily routine of medicines and bathing. When Cindi Felice-Glowacki, one of her nurses heard she wanted to meet Jon Bon Jovi she made a phone call.

Sarah Titman, Hospice social worker says, "One thing led to another and she got us in touch with Jon Bon Jovi's manager Darren and he sent an email to him,and within the week he got back to us."

Singer Jon Bon Jovi called to speak with Holli yesterday, but she wasn't feeling too well, so they rescheduled for this afternoon. NewsChannel 34 was there, but Bon Jovi requested that the cameras be turned off, to ensure the focus remained on Holli. Bon Jovi spoke words of encouragement to the family and wished them the best. For Jared, this was one of the nicest things anyone has done for his wife, he said, and he says she deserves it.

Jared Rifenbury says, " She was always, you know, so full of life, just like to have fun, one of the most devoted mothers I've ever seen in my life."

Jared says his boys keep him going day in and day out, and his promise to Holli won't be broken-To be there for them, just like she has been, all these years.

deb

thanks for posting that, Jon doesnt sound to pleased that the cameras were there, good for him insisting there were turned off.

Dawn

This reminds me of a similar hospital visit by Jon. It was back in Dec. 1993 when the band played here in Halifax. A couple of months after the concert one of the newspapers ran a short blurb about how some girls were at the Metro Centre day of the concert and asked if somehow they could get an autograph for their friend who had been diagnosed with cancer and was in the hospital and going to miss the concert. Someone obviously pulled the right strings because as it turned out Jon (and maybe the whole band) ended up going to the hospital to visit the girl, but only when they were assured there would be no media. There wasn't. And as I mentioned, it was only months later that a tiny mention (no picture) made it in the paper.