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Lane's Legacy

The Story of Levi

Levi Lindekugel was one of the people who had a wish fulfilled by Lane,
through his legacy and his parents.

Levi's story is below.

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.

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Lane Frost loved to help people in various ways.
He rode in rodeos that donated heavily to charities.

He participated in the "Exceptional Rodeo" held every
year in Las Vegas with the Finals.

He spent time with the children in the towns he lived in,
even though he was "Pro".

That meant nothing to Lane in the way he treated people.

Remember, to him he was always
"Just Lane".

Neighbors said that their children were more upset when they thought
they disappointed Lane, then their own parents.

Lane's parents are helping people in many ways through the memory of their son,
and helping Lane's name live on in their good works.

After Lane's death his parents stayed away from
rodeo for awhile, but returned because they felt Lane wanted them to.

His mom Elsie said in a 1994 interview,
"We decided just shortly after Lane was killed we were going to be there
(at rodeos) if we could because we felt like
that was where he (Lane) wanted us to be."

But they did more than "be there".
They created a scholarship fund in Lane's name.

They asked that donations remembering Lane go to the
"Justin Crisis Fund", or a Christian cowboy association.

They distribute the "Cowboy Bible" in memory of Lane.

And they got involved in "Western Wishes",
an organization devoted to helping children facing
life-threatening or life-changing illness or injury.

It was through "Western Wishes" that the Frosts helped Levi Lindekugel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gail, holding Tristan, Levi, John, Kealan and Schyler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.

It's not until you lose a son in the prime of his life to an angry bull,
as Clyde and Elsie Frost lost Lane...

...or you lose a son that is just beginning his life,
that just started kindergarten, to cancer,
as John and Gail Lindekugel lost Levi,

that you learn the real meaning of the often-repeated phrases of

"live each day to the fullest",
and
"don't sweat the small stuff".

On the morning after the loss of a child
all the problems that seemed so important
the day before, so complicated and overwhelming,

suddenly are so insignificant.

You only wish that today those "tremendous" problems of yesterday
were all you had to think about.

Instead of the loss of your child.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He developed a limp which doctors suspected might be from Levi falling off of his bike.
A couple of days later, after the limp worsened,
the doctors thought it might be a virus, and antibiotics were prescribed.

Levi's condition still worsened, and Gail again took him to the doctor.

In John's words:

"When Gail took him to the doctors
that afternoon, they discovered a mass
around his adrenal gland the size of a small toy football.

When she paged me at work that afternoon, just seeing the phone
number of the Kearney Clinic on my pager told me something was
dreadfully wrong.

I had no idea when I walked into the doctor's office, but by the looks
on the faces of our doctor and nurses, I knew we were in Big Trouble.

By 3 PM that afternoon we were packing suitcases and
headed for Omaha for what would be the start of a long three-year battle."

Levi was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare form
of cancer that attacks the central nervous system.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the next three years the Lindekugels battled the cancer.
Again, in John's words,

"It was three years of chemotherapy and radiation.
It took his hair and made him sick,
but it never seemed to phase his spirits.
He had to suffer some incredible pain,
but he never really complained."

Levi spent from 1995 to 1998 in and out of hospitals, in
California, Nebraska, and
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
.

John says,

"Each time that Levi lost his hair to chemo,
I shaved mine down to nothing.
I think this photo was taken sometime
after the second chemo cycle from diagnosis
which would have been in Nov. 1995.

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.

Outside of hospitals and treatments Levi's family learned to keep busy.

When Levi's blood counts were high enough he went to school, which he loved.
He was able to attend almost all of first grade because he was in remission.

His teachers volunteered their time in the summer to give him a crash course
so he would be able to advance to the next grade.


Levi was interested in country music and rodeo.
John helped Levi collect autographed pictures of the stars.
Levi met stars in person, on the phone, and on the internet.
He had pictures taken with Charlie Daniels, Randy Owen of
Alabama, the Kinleys and Doug Supernaw.
.

"As adults, if we had cancer,
we would probably worry more about
it than anything else." John said.

"It's what Levi worried about the least.
He never let it dictate his life.
He called the shots.
Levi taught me you can have more
fun in 9 years than 900 if you can
do it right, and Levi did it the right way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sadly, Levi's remission ended in May 1997.

At this time Levi was the first child in the nation
to undergo the vaccine therapy
with the Interlueken II drug at St. Judes.
.

The hospital pays for plane transportation
for one child and a parent, houses them, provides food allowances, and
if families have insurance that doesn't cover
the treatment, or no insurance at all, St Jude will pay the entire bill.

John and Gail warmly praise  Dr. Laura Bowan and Dr. Ann Haight,
the oncologists that treated Levi,
and St Judes Hospital.
They made Levi and the family feel comfortable and secure
even though they were so far from home.

When Levi wasn't having the scans, x-rays and vaccine injections,
he and the family explored Memphis, watched the ducks run through
the Peabody Hotel, visited Memphis Zoo,
the riverboats and Graceland.

And although Levi looked for Elvis but never spotted him,
he was sure he spotted Colonel Sanders driving a taxi.

.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This treatment is not as harmful as chemotherapy and radiation.
The treatment was an attempt to teach Levi's immune system to
fight off cancer by itself.

John feels that this treatment might have been started too late for any benefit.
.

Levi's favorite heroes were Lane Frost and Tuff Hedeman.
Even though he never got to physically meet either one of them,
they were his shining stars in life.

Even his birthday, on October 10th was close to Lane's on October 12th.

Similarities in personality and appearances between Levi and
Lane were striking.
Both always had smiles and made friends wherever they went.
Levi watched the movie "8 Seconds" over and over.
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Western Wishes was founded five years ago by Donnalyn Quintana.
It is an organization that grants wishes to young people facing
life-threatening and/or life-changing illnesses and injuries.

Western Wishes serves all youth, not only those with terminal illnesses.
The recipients usually attend one of the nation's top 10 rodeos where
they will meet their heroes.

As a non-profit organization
Western Wishes relies on contributions from individuals and organizations.
.

Levi's parents are forever grateful for his kindness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.

John:
"It was almost like a gift from God.
It ended up being a gift for the entire family."
For awhile, they could be normal again.

Gail adds,

"A child with a life-threatening illness has
such a brief time to pack in a lifetime of
wishes and desires.
That's a way "Western Wishes"
really touched our lives.
It gave him a chance to shine as a cowboy.
"Western Wishes" gave him the chance to go
from being a sick little boy to being a cowboy.
To his rodeo heroes he met in back of the
bucking chutes, Levi was just one of the boys."

"Packing a lifetime into so few years,
the people who get involved in these
organizations help make dreams come true.
They help a life, while it may be short
be filled and complete with all of those
kindnesses"
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The time between Thanksgiving and
Christmas should be a happy time for families.

The long holiday season is usually filled
with family gatherings, shopping and good cheer.

But the holiday season of 1998 was not
that way for the Lindekugel family.

Levi was growing weaker.

Toward the end he was too weak to walk,
but he asked his grandparents to take him Christmas shopping.
With the aid of a wheeled office chair, Levi and Grandpa did their
Christmas shopping in the local hardware store.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The end of Levi's battle with Neuroblastoma,
just like the beginning, came quietly.

Less than 2 months past his ninth birthday, at home,
with his mother Gail laying by his side,
his father and siblings by his bed,
and his great grandfather holding his hand,
Levi left us on December 4, 1998.

We know he went to Heaven.

And we know Lane was there to meet him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levi's funeral service was held at Faith United Methodist Church,
in Gibbon, Nebraska.

Outside the church, a cowboy hat, his boots and rope waited patiently
for a little boy that would never play with them again.

At Levi's funeral, the funeral procession to the cemetery
was led by Don Endecott, a good friend and neighbor
of the Lindekugels.

Don was on horseback, leading another saddled quarter horse,
but without it's rider to symbolize its cowboy, Levi, had left this earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following is an account of a dear friend of the Lindekugels
about the last night Levi was alive.


Last Night
By Kay Tira


The house was quiet and dark when Joe and I tapped on the door
and entered through the dining area. 

Beanie Babies gathered on the Christmas tree in Levi's bedroom doorway,
and we peeked in to see if anyone was awake. 

It seemed much later than it was, with everything so quiet and peaceful.

Gail was snuggled on the bed between Levi and the outer wall of his bedroom,
her breathing and his in sync.  Her arm rested on his, and they looked so sweet. 
A statement of love in itself.

John stirred, but didn't let go of Levi's hand just yet. 
He was quiet in the recliner next to Levi's bed.

"Is there anything we can do?" I whispered.

"Could you sit with him for a minute --
I'm going to burst if I don't go use the bathroom."

"Sure!"

What a privilege, I thought, to fill this spot for just a moment!

Of all the things to say and do, I was overcome with one main concern.

 Levi's battle was coming to a close, and I needed to know that he knew
things would be OK. 

The only way they could be OK though,
was if Levi has accepted Jesus as his Savior. 
Had he?
I know he's a child --and children are close to God's own heart. 

But Levi is so advanced for his years, and knows right from wrong. 
I needed to know that he had opportunity
to make that decision for himself.
Had he?

Levi stirred, and Gail sighed. 
Joe stood quietly nearby, and I prayed that God would help me
make the most of this opportunity.

Once in awhile Levi grimaced slightly, and tears came to my eyes.
I wonder how many other people had wished to take his pain,
to let him be freed of it.

I don't think he's sleeping.

"Levi?"
  He stirred.
" It's Kay and Joe again.
 Looks like you've got another beanie baby there." 

He nods.

"Can you hear your mom snoring?"
  His head turns toward Gail and he grins.

"Levi, are you hurting?  You've done so well! 
I know your little body's wearing out,
but your spirit is so strong!"

"I know you're getting ready to go to Heaven.
But I want to make sure you know how to get there.
It's going to be the best place you've ever been.
 Better than the ocean, or Memphis,
or any of the great places you've been this year. 

And Jesus is waiting to meet you.
I want you to know that
He's going to take care of your brothers and sister,
and of your Mom and Dad, too.
You don't need to worry about them. 
They'll be fine."

John spoke quietly with someone in the living room,
and peeked in now and then,
as I stroked Levi's hand. 
Occasionally Levi would look toward Joe,
whose tears trickled as easily as mine.

"Levi, can you hear me?"

"Levi, if you can hear me, blink, so I'll know.  OK?"

His eyes were closed,
but with effort, he opened them
and looked at my face,
and closed them again.

"Good.  Thank you. 
I just want to know something, Levi.
Do you believe in Jesus?
Have you ever asked him into your heart?"

Again, he opened his eyes and closed them again.

"It's important, Levi,
because that's the way to get to Heaven.
Jesus loves you, and I want to make sure
you know that. 
The only way to get to Heaven
is to accept Jesus. 
I'm so glad to know that you've done that."
"I'm going to pray, Levi, and you can listen.

"Dear Jesus,
I know that you love Levi so much,
and that you care about his pain
and about his family
and about the things Levi is facing right now.

 Levi blinked his eyes for me
when I asked if he believes in You,
so I know he does. 
Thank you! 

I want to make sure Levi knows
that you experienced pain, too,
and that you died for him,
so that all the wrong things he's ever done
could be forgiven,
and so that Levi can live with you in Heaven someday. 
If he's never asked you into his heart,
I want him to have that opportunity now."

"Levi, if you've never asked Jesus into your heart,
but would like to now,
or if you already have,
will you blink your eyes for me so I'll know?"

Ever so slowly, Levi opened his eyes
and looked at me once again,
then closed them.

"Thank you, Levi.  That's so good!"

"Father, you saw that, too.
Thank you so much!
Now please touch Levi and take away his pain.
Help him to rest, and to know you love him. 
Thank you for his life,
and for the privilege of being his friend. 
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."

John was visiting with someone in the living room --
I think Billy is here.

"Levi, I think Billy's here to see you."

Gail stirred,
and I gave Levi a gentle kiss on his hand
before Joe and I slipped out of the room.

"We'll be back tomorrow," I told John.

We brought jalepeno cheddar bread. 

But Levi was gone.

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his righteous ones.
What rejoicing there must be in Heaven --
Levi shook off the old body
and is free, alive, well, and loved,
in the presence of the Father.

                                              (December 5, 1998)

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John and Gail Lindekugel continue today
to reach out to other families and offer
their support and encouragement.

They want to win the war against Neuroblastoma.

In John's words,

"Losing Levi was the worst thing that happened in our lives.

We miss him terribly,
but we had more fun in nine years than most will have in 90.

If we can use his story and support
Western Wishes and
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
then we are doing it right."
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update on Levi's family.

John Lindekugel wrote this article for his company's
monthly newsletter. He has given me permission to post it here.
I also have several photos that will be posted shortly.

In 1998, a little boy with cancer had the opportunity to see where his
cowboy hero, Lane Frost, had died on a bull named "Taking Care of
Business." He looked at the Lane Frost statue, thought of the movie "8
Seconds" and grinned knowing he was at the oldest living rodeo called the
"Daddy of 'em All," better known as Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Little did Levi know that within five months from seeing that rodeo, he
would be with Lane. His joy while at the 102nd edition of the rodeo was
talking with the cowboys and cowgirls, meeting with the country music stars
performing in the night shows and calling out the bull riding scores with
Hadley Barrett in the press box.

Neuroblastoma had taken the life of a little cowboy at the age of 9.

Now at the 104th showing of the "Daddy of 'em All," members of Cheyenne
Frontier Days and Donnalyn Quintana of the Western Wishes Foundation, asked
Levi's family to come back to honor their son in a tree planting ceremony.
Their youngest son, Tristan, would be honored as this year's Western Wishes
recipient as well.

Tristan had unexpectedly cut Levi's wish trip a day short because of
needing emergency surgery. He and his mom had to travel to Denver
Children's Hospital by ambulance for a shunt revision. With his cowboy hat
in hand and the dust of the arena on his boots, Levi traveled to Denver
with the rest of his family. The safety and well being of his brother was
more important than who would win the bull riding that year.

Lane Frost's parents, Clyde and Elsie, were the driving force in sending
Levi to Cheyenne in 1998 by making a donation to the Western Wishes
Foundation. Remarkably, Levi was born in the same year Lane died on that
arena floor at Frontier Park in 1989. The Western Wishes Foundation is
devoted in keeping the cowboy way of life alive by providing opportunities
for children like Levi who want to meet and be with their cowboy heroes.

The Frost and Lindekugel families keep in touch and both support the
Western Wishes Foundation.

This year, members of the rodeo committee at Cheyenne, Donnalyn Quintana of
the Western Wishes Foundation, and the Lindekugels planted a blue spruce in
the Indian Village located just southeast of the arena. The memorial of
Lane Frost sets along the northeast side of the arena. Members of the
committee said it was their way of making sure that Levi was never
forgotten during that celebration each July.

This year Levi's mom, Gail, was watching the Friday rodeo performance as
the bullfighters were trying to free a rider than had gotten hung up on an
angry bull. As the bullfighters were working feverishly to release the
cowboy, Gail said with tears in her eyes that must have been how Levi felt.

Here he was trying to get away from a disease that was taking over his body
and all of the doctors trying to get his hand loose to no avail. Each time
doctors in Omaha, San Francisco and Memphis thought they had his hand, the
cancer would turn away from them and keep Levi spinning around for a new
treatment.

"What a wonderful time we had up there," John Lindekugel said. "A few
tears, lots of smiles and memories that will never be taken away. Something
tells me that Lane and Levi are proud to now share Frontier Park and
Cheyenne Frontier Days.
©John Lindekugel 2000

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Sign Levi's Guestbook View Levi's Guestbook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

or

Western Wishes Foundation 
624 W. University, Denton, TX, 76201
940-898-8244

Here is an update from John Lindekugel.

 Donnalyn Quintana, the director of the Western Wishes Foundation, 
 asked if Gail, John and the whole family could come back to
Cheyenne Frontier Days in July, 1999. 
They are going to plant a special tree in memory of Levi somewhere in Cheyenne 
and are going to honor Tristan as this year's Western Wishes child.

Tristan, their four-year-old, was born with spina bifida. 
When he was  first born the doctors said he would probably 
not walk and be able to control body functions. 
But luckily he does all of that will little or no problem.
When the Lindekugels were in Cheyenne during Levi's wish trip 
they had to cut the trip a day short because Tristan had shunt failure. 
And they spent the next three days or so at Denver Children's getting that fixed. 
Since then, however, they've had very little trouble with Tristan 
other than an attitude that is a lot like Levi's.