In Memory of Alex Betzhold

Alex Betzhold,  a true academic and sports star of Denton, Texas.

        A Denton, Texas family is grieving.  Oh, how I wish that my family had been the only one to experience a sudden loss of a child that we believed to be healthy.   Again and again, as the months and years since our son Daniel's passing, there are new ones.  There are children who pass to God without our knowing that there was some type of a medical problem.  This was unknown to our own doctors as well.   Alex at thirteen,  is reportedly one tall seventh grader at six feet tall.  Most people thought he was at least a year older than he was.  Like my Daniel, Alex was believed to be healthy. The day before Alex Betzhold's passing, he happily played with friends.  He is said to have been a terrific athlete and was lots of fun to have as a friend.  He was a well rounded kid and also was a straight "A"  student.   When he wasn't playing football and basketball, he was playing the trumpet in school band.   Alex liked science and math and was also a stellar participant in the University Interscholastic League “number sense” math contests. This should not be a surprize as Alex's mom, is a math teacher at the high school.    Besides his parents Steve and Mary,  Alex has two sisters, Claire and Sophie. These are exceptional people who have a strong faith and who will weather having their son with God in advance of themselves.
        Alex went to bed Monday evening, and simply did not wake up on Tuesday morning.   Although Alex's autopsy remains incomplete as of this posting, it appears from data given by pathologists to Alex's dad,  that Alex had some degree of cardiomyopathy which can predispose to heart rhythm disturbance, and sudden death.   You might remember my profile of teen Ben Breedlove recently, who was actually diagnosed with cardiomyopathy,  and who died suddenly despite ongoing treatment.   On autopsy, our Daniel did not have cardiomyopathy, but is also felt to have died of a functional failure of his cardiac conduction system. (a lethal arrhythmia without obvious structural signs.)

Alexander Stanton Betzhold

         My heart goes out to to the Betzhold Family.    We know that Alex was called to God, painlessly and safely in the moment in which He needed him.  We know that Jesus, and Ben, and Daniel, and so many others who are exceptional kids which I have profiled here in the last three years will be there for him also.  But I also know that this is a great loss for those at home, and for many of us on Earth.  Even for those of us with a faith to beat the band, the days are hard for us and for our other children.   Please pray for Alex's family.
          If you are in the Denton Texas area, there will be a vigil for Alex at Argyle High School Parking Lot at 9:15 pm on Sunday evening, February 19, 2012.   Alex's funeral is at the Argyle United Methodist Church on the same day at 3 pm. 
         Alex, you could have been my doctor some day, of course that would be AFTER you completed your dream of being a professional athlete.     Instead, God had a plan as He did with our Daniel. He needed you home for something important that is going on there.  
          We will eventually all see our sons and daughters who have passed suddenly again, but until then, some days will be very tough.  Although I do understand why God would want some of the best, the kindest and the brightest home with him, we cannot help but grieve you all.   Please know that you boys, and daughters who have passed too soon as well, are loved more than you can know.


This is contact information for the Alex Betzhold Memorial Scholarship Fund:

        http://www.abmsf.net/

Alex fishing

This is an original song by: Sarah Ketts

Broken Lullabye

No more faded painted lines
No more runnin' out of time
No more broken lullabyes
I saw it all inside your eyes


And I am fine
You changed my mind

And I'm rollin' on
It won't be long
Rollin' on
So long

No more side streets in the way
No more crying should I stay ?
No more ice inside these veins
You poured it all out and away

And I am fine
You changed my mind

I'm rollin' on
It wont be long
Rollin on
So long
So long

No more crown of thorns tonight
No more rollin' waves in sight
No more razor blades of slight
I won't walk through this lightning twice

And I am fine
You changed my mind

I'm rollin' on
It won't be long
Rollin' on
Rollin' on
So long
So long
So long
Rollin' on


Update:   December, 2012

I discovered that there is a blogsite devoted to Alex.  You can respond to it and to his family by going to
   http://alexbetzhold.net/


Update: February, 2013

It has been a year since the sudden passing of Alex.   We send condolences, hugs and remembrances to the family and friends of Alex Betzhold at this time.