Music 4 Jeremys Cherubs

Jeremy Summerhouse Frye graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School in 2003. He went on to Johnson County Community College where he took part in the concert band, jazz band and jazz choir. In December of 2003 he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor located behind his left eye. He missed 6 weeks of school, went through major brain surgery, 30 days of radiation treatment and weeks of recovery. Yet, when he came back to school he was still the goofy kid in the saxophone section that wouldn’t shut up! You would have never known from looking at him what, at the age of 19, he had already been through. He graduated with his AA from JCCC in May of 2005, with honors. After graduating he went off to Baker University to pursue a degree in Music Education. He participated in the concert band, jazz band, pep band, marching band and numerous other small ensembles. In January of 2008 he began his student teaching in the DeSoto School District. He loved every minute of it, especially the elementary school. He loved it because at 6’3” the hugs he received from the kids were always around the knees and he would always come home and brag about how many hugs he got that day. Which just goes to show all of us that even 1st graders loved him immediately, as we all did. In April 2008, after months of illness, he was diagnosed with another malignant brain tumor located near his brain stem. His surgery to remove the tumor was scheduled for April 15th. He spent 57 days in the hospital enduring complication upon complication and numerous infections and all the while slipping in and out of consciousness. He fought every step of way but on June 10, 2008, he lost his courageous battle with brain cancer and passed away at the age of 23. During his final days he had over 300 visitors. Friends he had not seen in years, colleagues, church covenant members, and many many others. During those three days it became clear to his parents and me what an incredibly special person he was. Every person that came to visit had a Jeremy story. They had a story of how he had changed their lives or had helped to make them a better person. Our favorite stories were from those who spoke of how Jeremy inspired them to achieve their dreams. Inspiring others to reach beyond what they thought they were capable of is something Jeremy excelled at. I know he inspired me and I heard countless stories of how he inspired others. He wanted everyone to share in his love of music, was a youngest son who lived up to that expectation in every way possible, he was a younger brother who loved nothing more than hanging out with his big brothers, he was an uncle who found no greater joy than playing with his nieces. He was and always will be my husband, the love of my life, my best friend, my confidant, my everything. Burying my husband only 5 days after we were married was the hardest thing I have ever done and most likely will do in my life but I want the world to know what an incredible man he was. Jeremy accomplished more in his short 23 years than most accomplish in three times that many years. He graduated high school, graduated college, and pursued his dream of teaching children to love music as he did, he treated each day as a gift and he got married. Every night before I left the hospital I always whispered in his ear, “I will love you the rest of your life and for the rest of mine”. Jeremy is the best man I have ever known and I am so proud to call him my husband and to share his story with you. Jamie Ann Frye