In 2014, Full Count Softball posted over 1,200 articles and we continue our look back at what we feel were the Top 10 stories of the year, ones that had emotional impact, great human interest and drama or significance to the sport.

Today’s Article: “Faith Strong”—honoring Faith Anderson

Ranking: #6

First Published: March 21, 2014

What It’s About: As a parent I cannot fathom anything more devastating in life than a father or mother losing a child. Tragically, it happens and the softball community—as vast as it is—is not immune to tragic loss. Ryan Anderson has been a fixture at Triple Crown Sports events in Southern California and had an idyllic family with three daughters including five-year-old twins Grace and Faith. In October 5, 2013, Ryan’s wife Lilly called Ryan who was working a tournament and shared news that would end up being the worst possible news: Faith had a form of kidney cancer. Within four months, Faith’s valiant battle ended as “the angels came and ushered her to Heaven.” In June of 2014, Triple Crown Sports added an event called “Faith Strong” with the benefits raised going to help the Anderson family pay for medical expenses as well as honor the memory of Faith.

Update: As mentioned in the story, it looks like the “Faith Strong” event will be held annually to help raise cancer, although it currently isn’t on the Triple Crown Sports schedule of summer events.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

“Faith Strong”—honoring Faith Anderson

Definition of Faith:

1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something
2. strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof

The softball community is a close-knit one.  When an assistant coach at a Big Ten school is killed in a car accident, softball fans rally in thoughts and prayers.

When a freshman softball player at Arkansas loses her father, the community donates the needed funds for his burial and exceeds it by three-fold.

And when a parent of a North Carolina softball player recently dies during his daughter’s game, the outreach of love to her and her family is inspiring.

Ryan Anderson and his family have experienced the unity, love and support of the softball community which will continue, perhaps, for many years to come.

Anderson has worked for Triple Crown in Southern California representing the event company at tournaments and showcases for several years.  Energetic and up-beat, and with a wife and three beautiful daughters–two five-year-old twins, Grace and Faith, and a four-year-old in Rosie–you can tell by his daughter’s names that his spiritual faith is a core component of his life.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” 2 Cor. 9:8

A hard-worker, he has been very visible at Triple Crown events in Southern California with a friendly demeanor many have gotten to know around softball competitions.

“The Anderson family is very close to TCS,” says Andy Hansen, the Director of Media Relations for Triple Crown Sports. “Ryan has worked over seven years and many weekends at TCS events. He is one of the most reliable and hardworking people on our weekend staff and over the years, Ryan has come to know many people in the softball community. If nothing else, has become a familiar face under the TCS tent on softball weekends. We truly feel that Ryan has had a huge part in helping TCS produce successful events, and has helped us improve.”

On October 5^th of last year, Ryan was working one such tournament when he received a frantic call from his wife, Lilly, and was told something wasn’t right with Faith, one of the twins.  He rushed home and heard the nightmarish news no parent should ever have to face: Faith was diagnosed with a Wilm’s Tumor, a type of kidney cancer.

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

The holiday season was a surreal mixture of normal life routine (Faith lost her first tooth) and of a roller-coaster of hope (with chemo, the tumor shrunk as much as 30 percent at one point) and despair (her pain increased despite increasing medications).

In January, Faith’s health continued to deteriorate as her little body began to shut down—her blood pressure dropped while pain, fever and acidic levels all rose.

On February 8, a family member wrote on the Facebook page Pray for Faith:

“Yesterday was a more peaceful day for Faith, Ryan and Lilly. Emotionally, draining yes, but more peaceful.

Faith is comfortable. Her pain is being managed, and she remains responsive to questions and other stimulus. She is mostly asleep during the day, but occasionally opens her eyes for a moment or two.

Her acidity levels stopped increasing, but they have not diminished either. Her heart rate and blood pressure remain steady.

Family and some friends spent the day with them at the hospital. We pray, we cry, we talk, we walk, and we wait. Waiting can be unbearably agonizing.”

Later that day, at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, Faith’s four-month battle with cancer ended as “the angels came and ushered her to Heaven. She was sleeping very peacefully in the arms of her Mom and Dad at the time she took her last breath here on earth.”

The post ended with these words:

“We are so grateful that the time separated from Faith is only temporary!”

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” John 11:25-26

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This week, Triple Crown Sports has added a new event to its 2014 slate called “Faith Strong”.  It will be held on June 14-15 at Big League Dreams in Riverside, Calif., and, says Andy Hansen, “is inspired by and in honor of five-year-old Faith Anderson, who was a beautiful, athletic, and compassionate little girl who fought valiantly for four months.”

Hansen says that once event expenses are covered, all proceeds of Faith Strong will go to the Anderson family for medical expenses.

“All umpires will be working their first game of the day for free and Big League Dreams is giving one field to TCS for free.  That way more money can be raised for the family.”

The event, for those interested in playing and supporting the cause, will be for the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U age divisions and will have a four-game guarantee with a three pool play into single elimination.  The entry fee is $500.

“Through the “Faith Strong” event we would like to support the Anderson Family now, and in future years allow the Anderson Family to bless others in the same or similar situation with the finances raised through this event, but most importantly honor Faith through the process,” adds Hansen.

For Ryan and Lilly Anderson, the event is a way to honor their daughter while raising money to battle the illness that afflicted her.

“As a family, we love sports and what a better way to honor Faith as well as helping those families that are fighting the fight with their child or loved one. All proceeds will go towards several cancer foundations. To name a few, these include Adonai, and Megan’s Wings which reached out and helped bring smiles, gifts, and support to our precious Faith and family.”

“We will forever be eternally grateful and so feel the need to reach out as well. Thank you all for participating in the “Faith Strong” tournament and hope you will be blessed by being a part of an organization that is determined to reach those children fighting for their lives.”

To learn more about the Faith Strong tournament, click here to go to the event webpage