Darrell’s Circle
Circa 1972 by Steve Badgley
This story is not fiction. It is the truth and is a story of faith. It’s a sad story and if it brings a tear to your eye, I’m sorry. If, after reading this story, you don’t realize that there is a higher power and faith can get you through anything, then I am sorry for that also. I am not a preacher, but I am a child of God just as you are and my intention is to preserve the story of this amazing incident for future generations. I am writing this on behalf of all the family and especially those that were there when this happened.
Darrell Eudell Badgley, my brother, was born on March 23, 1934. He was the second child of Dorothy and Ralph Badgley. He married Ella Jean Meadows and was the father of Jennifer Lee, Derek Martin and Dalton D Badgley. He was a farmer by trade and raised tomatoes and cabbage to support his family. In my mind there never was, nor will there ever be, anybody as hard working and dedicated to his family and livelihood as Darrell.
In the 1960’s Darrell was diagnosed with leukemia, a blood disease that has no known cure. The only hope was that medical treatments would keep it in remission. Darrell began taking drugs and chemotherapy. He went through ups and downs in his condition over the years. He would suffer periods of extreme pain then seem to get better, then worse again. We all went through times of hope and times of despair as he struggled with this illness that was attacking his body.
During this time, Charles Norris, the minister at the Racine Baptist Church met with Darrell. He spent a lot of time with him and Darrell found the Lord. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized. He knew now that during his time here on earth, he must suffer with the debilitating disease that was racking his body with pain, stealing his youth and robbing him of the opportunity to share the life of his children. But now, through faith, there was a light at the end. And he truly put his faith in God. I remember one time, when the disease really had Darrell down and we thought that this was surely the end, Darrell expressed a desire to take one more trip up to Letart. He had faith that God would allow this to happen. I think God granted him that wish because of his faith. He took a huge turn for the better and went home from the hospital. He made that trip to Letart! He even drove himself up there!
As the leukemia ran its course, Darrell developed a tolerance for all the medication and treatment he had been taking and the leukemia began to get the upper hand in the struggle. He had severe pain. He once told me that it felt like someone was taking a hot knife blade, and was scraping his bones. The marrow in his bones deteriorated to the point that one day, as he stood up, his leg broke at the thigh and he tumbled back into his bed in excruciating pain.
One of the doctors at Holzer Hospital told me that Darrell had developed a tolerance to all pain medication. He said the family should “steel” itself to the fact that he would be suffering severe pain all the way to the end now and that there was nothing anyone could do about it.
When Darrell was on his deathbed at the Hospital, he told Ella Jean and Mom that Jesus had come to him and told him that he had suffered enough and “When you see the circle, you’ll know it’s all over.” He had been in and out of consciousness due to all the medication that the doctors had been giving him in their efforts to ease the pain and we thought he had just been dreaming and maybe he saw buzzards circling overhead or something like that. Scenes and murmuring from a drug induced state of mind.
Towards the end, he seemed to be peaceful and pain free. The doctors expressed surprise at his condition. The pain medication they had given him seemed to be working. Or could it be that Jesus stopped his suffering as Darrell said?
That evening, July 6, 1972, there were many of us at the hospital. A bunch of us were in Darrell’s room and he seemed to be nearing death. One of the nurses asked us to all go out in the hallway and as we left the room, a doctor came in. We filed out into the hallway and waited for the doctor to complete his examination. No one was talking. We were all standing there with our heads bowed, contemplating the end for Darrell. Suddenly, Ella Jean said, “Look everybody! Here’s Darrell’s circle!” Unknowingly, when we had filed out into the hallway, shuffling around to make room for everybody, we had formed a perfect circle; a circle of his loved ones. Just as she said that, the doctor walked out of Darrell’s room and as he approached he said. “Its over.” At that point, it was clear to us all. This was the circle that Darrell had talked about.
I know Darrell had faith. He knew he was going to go to Heaven when he died. We had talked about it many times. His faith saw him through all the suffering he endured. I firmly believe that Jesus did appear to him and took his suffering away and told Darrell about the circle. The circle was meant for us, his family, as a physical sign that Darrell’s suffering was over at last and that his faith had prevailed.
To all future generations who read this story. I know that faith in God and eternity is very difficult. All of man’s advancement in science and technology make it harder to put your faith in something spiritual, something you can’t see or hear. I hope this story will cause you to open you mind and seek the truth. There is so much more to your existence than your physical life here on earth. Eternity is like Darrell’s circle. A circle is endless. When your life here on earth is finished, you still have eternity ahead of you. Where you spend it is your choice. I hope you make the right selection. I have faith that I am going to join that great Badgley Family Reunion going on right now and see my parents, my brother and all those who have gone on before me. I hope to meet you there some day.
Story from "The Badgley Family Journal"
Circa 1972 by Steve Badgley
This story is not fiction. It is the truth and is a story of faith. It’s a sad story and if it brings a tear to your eye, I’m sorry. If, after reading this story, you don’t realize that there is a higher power and faith can get you through anything, then I am sorry for that also. I am not a preacher, but I am a child of God just as you are and my intention is to preserve the story of this amazing incident for future generations. I am writing this on behalf of all the family and especially those that were there when this happened.
Darrell Eudell Badgley, my brother, was born on March 23, 1934. He was the second child of Dorothy and Ralph Badgley. He married Ella Jean Meadows and was the father of Jennifer Lee, Derek Martin and Dalton D Badgley. He was a farmer by trade and raised tomatoes and cabbage to support his family. In my mind there never was, nor will there ever be, anybody as hard working and dedicated to his family and livelihood as Darrell.
In the 1960’s Darrell was diagnosed with leukemia, a blood disease that has no known cure. The only hope was that medical treatments would keep it in remission. Darrell began taking drugs and chemotherapy. He went through ups and downs in his condition over the years. He would suffer periods of extreme pain then seem to get better, then worse again. We all went through times of hope and times of despair as he struggled with this illness that was attacking his body.
During this time, Charles Norris, the minister at the Racine Baptist Church met with Darrell. He spent a lot of time with him and Darrell found the Lord. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized. He knew now that during his time here on earth, he must suffer with the debilitating disease that was racking his body with pain, stealing his youth and robbing him of the opportunity to share the life of his children. But now, through faith, there was a light at the end. And he truly put his faith in God. I remember one time, when the disease really had Darrell down and we thought that this was surely the end, Darrell expressed a desire to take one more trip up to Letart. He had faith that God would allow this to happen. I think God granted him that wish because of his faith. He took a huge turn for the better and went home from the hospital. He made that trip to Letart! He even drove himself up there!
As the leukemia ran its course, Darrell developed a tolerance for all the medication and treatment he had been taking and the leukemia began to get the upper hand in the struggle. He had severe pain. He once told me that it felt like someone was taking a hot knife blade, and was scraping his bones. The marrow in his bones deteriorated to the point that one day, as he stood up, his leg broke at the thigh and he tumbled back into his bed in excruciating pain.
One of the doctors at Holzer Hospital told me that Darrell had developed a tolerance to all pain medication. He said the family should “steel” itself to the fact that he would be suffering severe pain all the way to the end now and that there was nothing anyone could do about it.
When Darrell was on his deathbed at the Hospital, he told Ella Jean and Mom that Jesus had come to him and told him that he had suffered enough and “When you see the circle, you’ll know it’s all over.” He had been in and out of consciousness due to all the medication that the doctors had been giving him in their efforts to ease the pain and we thought he had just been dreaming and maybe he saw buzzards circling overhead or something like that. Scenes and murmuring from a drug induced state of mind.
Towards the end, he seemed to be peaceful and pain free. The doctors expressed surprise at his condition. The pain medication they had given him seemed to be working. Or could it be that Jesus stopped his suffering as Darrell said?
That evening, July 6, 1972, there were many of us at the hospital. A bunch of us were in Darrell’s room and he seemed to be nearing death. One of the nurses asked us to all go out in the hallway and as we left the room, a doctor came in. We filed out into the hallway and waited for the doctor to complete his examination. No one was talking. We were all standing there with our heads bowed, contemplating the end for Darrell. Suddenly, Ella Jean said, “Look everybody! Here’s Darrell’s circle!” Unknowingly, when we had filed out into the hallway, shuffling around to make room for everybody, we had formed a perfect circle; a circle of his loved ones. Just as she said that, the doctor walked out of Darrell’s room and as he approached he said. “Its over.” At that point, it was clear to us all. This was the circle that Darrell had talked about.
I know Darrell had faith. He knew he was going to go to Heaven when he died. We had talked about it many times. His faith saw him through all the suffering he endured. I firmly believe that Jesus did appear to him and took his suffering away and told Darrell about the circle. The circle was meant for us, his family, as a physical sign that Darrell’s suffering was over at last and that his faith had prevailed.
To all future generations who read this story. I know that faith in God and eternity is very difficult. All of man’s advancement in science and technology make it harder to put your faith in something spiritual, something you can’t see or hear. I hope this story will cause you to open you mind and seek the truth. There is so much more to your existence than your physical life here on earth. Eternity is like Darrell’s circle. A circle is endless. When your life here on earth is finished, you still have eternity ahead of you. Where you spend it is your choice. I hope you make the right selection. I have faith that I am going to join that great Badgley Family Reunion going on right now and see my parents, my brother and all those who have gone on before me. I hope to meet you there some day.
Story from "The Badgley Family Journal"
Darrell’s Circle
Circa 1972 by Steve Badgley
This story is not fiction. It is the truth and is a story of faith. It’s a sad story and if it brings a tear to your eye, I’m sorry. If, after reading this story, you don’t realize that there is a higher power and faith can get you through anything, then I am sorry for that also. I am not a preacher, but I am a child of God just as you are and my intention is to preserve the story of this amazing incident for future generations. I am writing this on behalf of all the family and especially those that were there when this happened.
Darrell Eudell Badgley, my brother, was born on March 23, 1934. He was the second child of Dorothy and Ralph Badgley. He married Ella Jean Meadows and was the father of Jennifer Lee, Derek Martin and Dalton D Badgley. He was a farmer by trade and raised tomatoes and cabbage to support his family. In my mind there never was, nor will there ever be, anybody as hard working and dedicated to his family and livelihood as Darrell.
In the 1960’s Darrell was diagnosed with leukemia, a blood disease that has no known cure. The only hope was that medical treatments would keep it in remission. Darrell began taking drugs and chemotherapy. He went through ups and downs in his condition over the years. He would suffer periods of extreme pain then seem to get better, then worse again. We all went through times of hope and times of despair as he struggled with this illness that was attacking his body.
During this time, Charles Norris, the minister at the Racine Baptist Church met with Darrell. He spent a lot of time with him and Darrell found the Lord. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized. He knew now that during his time here on earth, he must suffer with the debilitating disease that was racking his body with pain, stealing his youth and robbing him of the opportunity to share the life of his children. But now, through faith, there was a light at the end. And he truly put his faith in God. I remember one time, when the disease really had Darrell down and we thought that this was surely the end, Darrell expressed a desire to take one more trip up to Letart. He had faith that God would allow this to happen. I think God granted him that wish because of his faith. He took a huge turn for the better and went home from the hospital. He made that trip to Letart! He even drove himself up there!
As the leukemia ran its course, Darrell developed a tolerance for all the medication and treatment he had been taking and the leukemia began to get the upper hand in the struggle. He had severe pain. He once told me that it felt like someone was taking a hot knife blade, and was scraping his bones. The marrow in his bones deteriorated to the point that one day, as he stood up, his leg broke at the thigh and he tumbled back into his bed in excruciating pain.
One of the doctors at Holzer Hospital told me that Darrell had developed a tolerance to all pain medication. He said the family should “steel” itself to the fact that he would be suffering severe pain all the way to the end now and that there was nothing anyone could do about it.
When Darrell was on his deathbed at the Hospital, he told Ella Jean and Mom that Jesus had come to him and told him that he had suffered enough and “When you see the circle, you’ll know it’s all over.” He had been in and out of consciousness due to all the medication that the doctors had been giving him in their efforts to ease the pain and we thought he had just been dreaming and maybe he saw buzzards circling overhead or something like that. Scenes and murmuring from a drug induced state of mind.
Towards the end, he seemed to be peaceful and pain free. The doctors expressed surprise at his condition. The pain medication they had given him seemed to be working. Or could it be that Jesus stopped his suffering as Darrell said?
That evening, July 6, 1972, there were many of us at the hospital. A bunch of us were in Darrell’s room and he seemed to be nearing death. One of the nurses asked us to all go out in the hallway and as we left the room, a doctor came in. We filed out into the hallway and waited for the doctor to complete his examination. No one was talking. We were all standing there with our heads bowed, contemplating the end for Darrell. Suddenly, Ella Jean said, “Look everybody! Here’s Darrell’s circle!” Unknowingly, when we had filed out into the hallway, shuffling around to make room for everybody, we had formed a perfect circle; a circle of his loved ones. Just as she said that, the doctor walked out of Darrell’s room and as he approached he said. “Its over.” At that point, it was clear to us all. This was the circle that Darrell had talked about.
I know Darrell had faith. He knew he was going to go to Heaven when he died. We had talked about it many times. His faith saw him through all the suffering he endured. I firmly believe that Jesus did appear to him and took his suffering away and told Darrell about the circle. The circle was meant for us, his family, as a physical sign that Darrell’s suffering was over at last and that his faith had prevailed.
To all future generations who read this story. I know that faith in God and eternity is very difficult. All of man’s advancement in science and technology make it harder to put your faith in something spiritual, something you can’t see or hear. I hope this story will cause you to open you mind and seek the truth. There is so much more to your existence than your physical life here on earth. Eternity is like Darrell’s circle. A circle is endless. When your life here on earth is finished, you still have eternity ahead of you. Where you spend it is your choice. I hope you make the right selection. I have faith that I am going to join that great Badgley Family Reunion going on right now and see my parents, my brother and all those who have gone on before me. I hope to meet you there some day.
Story from "The Badgley Family Journal"
Circa 1972 by Steve Badgley
This story is not fiction. It is the truth and is a story of faith. It’s a sad story and if it brings a tear to your eye, I’m sorry. If, after reading this story, you don’t realize that there is a higher power and faith can get you through anything, then I am sorry for that also. I am not a preacher, but I am a child of God just as you are and my intention is to preserve the story of this amazing incident for future generations. I am writing this on behalf of all the family and especially those that were there when this happened.
Darrell Eudell Badgley, my brother, was born on March 23, 1934. He was the second child of Dorothy and Ralph Badgley. He married Ella Jean Meadows and was the father of Jennifer Lee, Derek Martin and Dalton D Badgley. He was a farmer by trade and raised tomatoes and cabbage to support his family. In my mind there never was, nor will there ever be, anybody as hard working and dedicated to his family and livelihood as Darrell.
In the 1960’s Darrell was diagnosed with leukemia, a blood disease that has no known cure. The only hope was that medical treatments would keep it in remission. Darrell began taking drugs and chemotherapy. He went through ups and downs in his condition over the years. He would suffer periods of extreme pain then seem to get better, then worse again. We all went through times of hope and times of despair as he struggled with this illness that was attacking his body.
During this time, Charles Norris, the minister at the Racine Baptist Church met with Darrell. He spent a lot of time with him and Darrell found the Lord. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized. He knew now that during his time here on earth, he must suffer with the debilitating disease that was racking his body with pain, stealing his youth and robbing him of the opportunity to share the life of his children. But now, through faith, there was a light at the end. And he truly put his faith in God. I remember one time, when the disease really had Darrell down and we thought that this was surely the end, Darrell expressed a desire to take one more trip up to Letart. He had faith that God would allow this to happen. I think God granted him that wish because of his faith. He took a huge turn for the better and went home from the hospital. He made that trip to Letart! He even drove himself up there!
As the leukemia ran its course, Darrell developed a tolerance for all the medication and treatment he had been taking and the leukemia began to get the upper hand in the struggle. He had severe pain. He once told me that it felt like someone was taking a hot knife blade, and was scraping his bones. The marrow in his bones deteriorated to the point that one day, as he stood up, his leg broke at the thigh and he tumbled back into his bed in excruciating pain.
One of the doctors at Holzer Hospital told me that Darrell had developed a tolerance to all pain medication. He said the family should “steel” itself to the fact that he would be suffering severe pain all the way to the end now and that there was nothing anyone could do about it.
When Darrell was on his deathbed at the Hospital, he told Ella Jean and Mom that Jesus had come to him and told him that he had suffered enough and “When you see the circle, you’ll know it’s all over.” He had been in and out of consciousness due to all the medication that the doctors had been giving him in their efforts to ease the pain and we thought he had just been dreaming and maybe he saw buzzards circling overhead or something like that. Scenes and murmuring from a drug induced state of mind.
Towards the end, he seemed to be peaceful and pain free. The doctors expressed surprise at his condition. The pain medication they had given him seemed to be working. Or could it be that Jesus stopped his suffering as Darrell said?
That evening, July 6, 1972, there were many of us at the hospital. A bunch of us were in Darrell’s room and he seemed to be nearing death. One of the nurses asked us to all go out in the hallway and as we left the room, a doctor came in. We filed out into the hallway and waited for the doctor to complete his examination. No one was talking. We were all standing there with our heads bowed, contemplating the end for Darrell. Suddenly, Ella Jean said, “Look everybody! Here’s Darrell’s circle!” Unknowingly, when we had filed out into the hallway, shuffling around to make room for everybody, we had formed a perfect circle; a circle of his loved ones. Just as she said that, the doctor walked out of Darrell’s room and as he approached he said. “Its over.” At that point, it was clear to us all. This was the circle that Darrell had talked about.
I know Darrell had faith. He knew he was going to go to Heaven when he died. We had talked about it many times. His faith saw him through all the suffering he endured. I firmly believe that Jesus did appear to him and took his suffering away and told Darrell about the circle. The circle was meant for us, his family, as a physical sign that Darrell’s suffering was over at last and that his faith had prevailed.
To all future generations who read this story. I know that faith in God and eternity is very difficult. All of man’s advancement in science and technology make it harder to put your faith in something spiritual, something you can’t see or hear. I hope this story will cause you to open you mind and seek the truth. There is so much more to your existence than your physical life here on earth. Eternity is like Darrell’s circle. A circle is endless. When your life here on earth is finished, you still have eternity ahead of you. Where you spend it is your choice. I hope you make the right selection. I have faith that I am going to join that great Badgley Family Reunion going on right now and see my parents, my brother and all those who have gone on before me. I hope to meet you there some day.
Story from "The Badgley Family Journal"
