2022 Honorees
Al Welch Al Welch, the son of a military father, grew up living all around the world, learning from people of different countries and cultures. While he has a hard time calling any particular place his childhood home, he has many memories from an extended period of time spent in Las Vegas, NV and he especially loved the time he spent in the Philippines.
Al feels lucky that his wife, Tanya, took a chance on him. He humorously recalls the first time they met. Tanya saw him with another woman and naturally assumed the woman was his girlfriend. Luckily, he still ended up with Tanya’s number, they met up the next day, and the rest is history. Al and Tanya recently moved to the Tooele Valley in 2021 and they love absolutely everything about it-the country feel, the community, and the view of the outdoors from their home is both amazing and relaxing. They feel that getting out of the hustle and bustle of Salt Lake was one of the best things they every did. Al and Tanya share 5 daughters and 13 grandchildren, and the whole clan enjoys all things involving the outdoors, from camping to hiking, to fishing and off-roading. More than anything in life, Al loves and cherishes his family, expressing that they have helped him in ways he never could have helped himself. Next to his family, nothing brings him more happiness than simply enjoying the fresh air, working with his hands, and being in the wild outdoors. His family describes him as both serious and loving, and Al sees himself as someone who doesn’t beat around the bush much – a practical man who sees the importance in allowing others to help themselves. When Al started experiencing frequent, intense back pain, he went to see a doctor. He now sees that back pain as being the very thing that saved his life. After a series of tests and an eventual colonoscopy, Al was scheduled for emergency surgery just two days later to remove a very large, cancerous mass. More than anything, cancer has taught Al that life is short and that there is more to life than just working ourselves to death and being too busy to really live life. He finds peace in knowing that he has a family that will be there for him when he needs them most and in the knowledge and expertise of the great doctors who know what steps to take to get things done. He also finds strength in the words of Bob Parsons about living in the present moment: “No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.” |
Ian Erickson6-year old Ian Erickson has loved growing up in the small town and amazing community of Tooele, UT with his family of seven – including his mother, Debbie, father, Daniel, and siblings Kaitlyn, Skyler, Aaron, and Melaine. Indeed, Ian enjoys the simple things in life like swimming and going to the beach with his family. Yet, he loves spending time with his dad the very most. “He’s my favorite,” he says.
Like most little boys, Ian’s interests include all kinds of toys and adventure- dinosaurs, the hulk, and playing with kinetic sand. He also loves playing Minecraft and playing with his twin cousins. His family describes him as shy, but a little crazy once he gets to know people, and pretty easy going compared to his siblings. Just one week away from starting kindergarten, Ian began getting pretty sick. His mom noticed that he was more tired than normal, that his skin had turned yellow, and that his appetite was no longer what it once was. With bruises beginning to show up in weird places, Ian’s parents rushed him to Primary Children’s Medical Center. Ian was brave and strong during the tests and was soon diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and spent the first month in and out of the hospital with complications. While Ian is all too aware of what a hard journey this has been for him and his family, he also says their family has learned to enjoy all the good moments, whether small or big. He finds hope in the high success rate of treatment for his particular type of cancer and in the fact that he has just one year left in his treatment plan. Although Ian admits he still doesn’t really understand everything about what is going on, his mother describes him as so incredibly strong, and as her “hero.” She laments that “No parent should ever have to hear "your child has cancer." And although she isn’t afraid to admit the very real truth that “cancer sucks”, she also is quick to acknowledge all of the help and support their family has been offered. She calls the cancer family simply the best and says that everyone in the cancer community has been so helpful and understanding. In addition, their ward family has stepped in to help them and they have keenly felt the blessings of God during this hard time. [Photography credit Carlye Morgan Carlye Morgan Photography] 
Heidi Coleman Stansbury Park resident and mother of 3, Heidi Coleman, fondly recalls memories of floating the canal in her childhood home of St. George, UT. Family reunions spent with cousins, aunts, and uncles also fill Heidi with happy memories of her childhood. Yet, Heidi grew up quickly, and by age 17 Heidi had already become a CNA and met the man who would be future spouse, Joe, to whom she has been happily married to every since.
Because Heidi grew up in a small town, she gravitated towards the tight knit community of Stansbury Park. Their family, consisting of Kelsey, age 21, Cameron, age 18, and Jacen, age 14, has been enjoying this caring and supportive community for the past 13 years. Heidi’s sons are best buds, and since both have Down Syndrome, Heidi loves having a neighborhood that knows and cares for them and is helping them to live their best life possible. Heidi loves life and all that it has to offer and especially cherishes her relationships with dear friends and family. Heidi brings life to everything she touches. She is organized, creative, and full of fun. She simply makes everything better-whether that is organizing and designing a new space or planning an incredible party! Her greatest passion in life is her family and spending time with them, whether that be camping or simply being together - her greatest hobby in life is simply being wherever they are. And her friends and family know and feel her love and commonly describe her as kind, supportive, and always, always serving wherever she goes. Heidi was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in January 2022. She started chemotherapy that same month and finished chemo on July 22 of that same year. Then, on, August 25, she had a double mastectomy, from which she is currently healing, after which she will undergo 25 radiation treatments. It has been a rollercoaster of a year to say the least. In addition to the physical and emotional toll that such a journey takes on someone, cancer has taken an especial toll on Heidi’s husband and daughter, Kelsey, as they have stepped in to try to make life as normal as possible for Cameron and Jacen. Keeping a routine for them has been a huge priority, and Joe and Kelsey, as well as Heidi’s mother, have sacrificed much to keep the family going during this time. Still, Heidi feels that cancer has taught her a great deal, including a greater capacity to love each person even more every day and to never, ever take anything for granted. She has come to understand on an even deeper level the value of friends and family and the angels that are there to support her. She has come to see just how many people she has in her corner loving her and cheering her on. Heidi finds hope in knowing that her loved ones, and even people who don’t even know her, are praying on her behalf. And in this season of trial and uncertainty, she finds peace in the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting in the Lord to guide and direct the path of her family. |
