Thankful: Weber family seeks God during trial

The word "coincidence" isn't in the Weber family's vocabulary.

According to Rachelle and Dean Weber, the random acts of kindness that have blessed their family over the past two and a half years since their son Nolan was diagnosed with brain cancer were all part of God's plan.

The family has experienced its share of rough days, but hope and help have always come when they needed it most. Much of the support has come from friends and family, as well as local churches and Jackson High School, where Nolan, 18, graduated in May and his brother Colten, 15, is a freshman.

The most surprising and perhaps most inspiring help, however, came from complete strangers.

"You expect friends and family to be there, but in the past two months, we've had people -- friends and strangers -- provide meals for us, mow our yard, even weed eat our yard," Dean Weber said. "We just looked out one day and it had been done. To this day, we still don't know who it was."

When the Webers do have the opportunity to thank someone for their kind acts, they often find that these strangers chose to reach out and help them because they were "inspired" by Nolan.

"He touched them. They want to do this as a thank you for his strength touching them. At times that's absolutely overwhelming," Rachelle Weber said.

In August, Nolan was nominated as the Ambassador of Hope for the American Cancer Society Gala in Cape Girardeau -- the gala's first to hold the title. While Nolan said he was "too nervous" to deliver a speech that night to the large crowd, he still wanted to share his story with others. He found a way to share his message of strength and hope by giving an essay he wrote previously for a scholarship application to his mother to read at the gala.

"I've never quit anything in life. I don't think my DNA allows me to," Nolan wrote. "My illness has impacted every aspect of my life, my family's lives, and my future, but it has also taught me more than I could have ever dreamed. ... I never asked for cancer. I never did anything to deserve cancer. But cancer isn't who I am, nor will I allow it to define me or my future."

Dean Weber said the gala was "a wonderful event full of great people" and the positive response to Nolan's speech even weeks after the event was unexpected.

"We had no idea what to expect after [the gala]. We're just a simple family that's just a little bit overwhelmed by the whole thing," he said.

Another overwhelming event that Nolan recalls is the "We Believe" day held at Jackson High School two years ago. Banners and signs were placed all over the school as the students and faculty surprised Nolan with a day dedicated to an outpour of support.

"That's probably one of the biggest things that's ever happened to me," Nolan said.

His girlfriend, Maci McCuan, plays volleyball at Jackson and said the school continues to show support for Nolan, even after his graduation.

"For our Cancer Night game, the team made a big 'We Believe' sign and bought Nolan a brick on the school's walk of fame," she said. "It was a total surprise."

These displays of support always seem to come when the family needs them most, Dean Weber said. He doesn't believe it's "coincidence," but divine intervention.

"God is always there. He always supports us," he said. "Something as simple as saying hello, making an effort to touch base with us, sending a card or a gift -- God places all these things in our path exactly when we need it and I believe He will continue to do so. God has been there every second to help keep us strong and keep Nolan strong."

One day, the Webers hope to return the favor and lend a helping hand to other families in need.

"There's going to be a whole lot of giving back," Dean Weber said. "One day, we want to be the ones to reach out and touch people at the right moment, when they need it most."