Stephen Griener was born a month and a half before me, to my awesome aunt and uncle Jane and Jeff Griener. We grew up together, we played on the same t-ball team, we competed at swim meets, we played on opposing football teams, we had sleep overs all the time, we fished together, we hungout at every family gathering, we texted back and forth all through high school, we both went to BYU our freshman year, we doubled with one of my friends from high school and her roomate on our first college date together, we left on our missions two months apart from each other, we wrote back and forth our whole missions, we've basically lived our entire lives side by side.
When I was on my mission, I'll never forget getting the e-mail from my mom saying that Stephen was really really sick and that they might bring him home.... I waited all the next week to hear what had happened.... When I read the new e-mail I couldn't believe what I read.... Hogkins Lymphoma.... Stephen had Hogkins Lymphoma.....Stephen was one of the most athletic people I'd ever met... he was in perfect shape and perfect condition.... I couldn't believe it.... it shattered me. He was the first person I wanted to see besides my parents and siblings when I got home.
He'd never faltered... he took the pains and the exhaustion and the endlessness, like it was just another day. He never complained, he never worried, and he never gave up. He not once was worried about himself, he worried about his mom, about his dad, about his siblings, about his family, and about his friends, but he never cared about what was happening to him.
When I was getting ready to marry the woman of my dreams, and start my only family... I wanted Stephen to not only be there, but to be a part of every bit of it. The wedding was going to be smack between two stem cell transplants and Stephen said he couldn't promise anything, but he'd do his best to be there...... When I got the call about three weeks before the wedding, it was Stephen. "Hey Daniel, so what all do I get to do at this wedding thing, and what do I need to bring?" I told him, all he had to do is show up, and wear a tux if he felt like it..... "thats it?" he said, " Bull Crap!!! I'm your groomsman and this is gonna be the best day of your life!!! no special treatment, and no pictures cause I don't want to ruin your pictures with my mask" I told him there was no way he was getting out of pictures, and that I could never thank him enough.
Even my beautiful wife Amelia who knew Stephen only a little time, was absolutely infected by his amazing personality.... we went to LDS a few times and played video games with Stephen, and there was never a time I ever heard him complain. Not once!!! (He also whoopped out butts at Super Smash Bros)
Stephen is a hero..... he is an inspiration, he is a light...... He went into every battle with his head up, only thinking of those around him. He never gave up, and he never backed down. As an old disney movie once said "A true hero is not measured by the size of his strength, but by the Strength of his Heart"
Stephen was a part of my life, he was my cousin, but he was my brother. I'll never be able to explain how much I'm going to miss him. He will always be a part of my family, and he was always be a light to look to in a dark time.
I love you Stephen, Never, Ever, Forget it!!!
LEFT SIDE!!!!!!!!!!
-Daniel
