Thank you

I have some real doozies of topics rattling around in my brain that I'm working on putting into words, but I also wanted to spend some time thanking old friends, new friends, and relative strangers for all of their love and support for our family over the last year-ish.

Here is what people have done for us: cooked meals, helped us pack and move (the bulk of it), painted our house, delivered chocolate to me at the hospital :), sat with us at hospitals, played with Eli at the hospital, sent countless care packages to Eli, sent letters and cards, sent pictures their kids drew, traveled to NC to be a friend, gave me pep talks, listened, sent money and gift cards, donated, fundraised, made tshirts, bought tshirts, made lunch for Ty all spring, included Ty in their family outings all spring/summer, completely made Eli's birthday by sending videos and pictures, prayed, told Eli's story, asked others to pray, cleaned out our Ronald McDonald room, towed our car home from NC, brought me coffee, fixed our TV, helped me sort through much of Eli's stuff, took stuff to be donated, cried with me, allowed me to be a little bit insane, sent memorial gifts, continued saying Eli's name.

I know there's more. This is everything I can think of right now.

I feel like I'm drowning. But I haven't gone completely under because you all keep pulling me up with your love and kindness. I don't think we could have made it through everything without you behind us. It has meant so much. At the same time, it's overwhelming and humbling. We don't deserve this much support. We're just a few people in the gigantic world of families with kids who have "rare" or life threatening diseases.

But Eli did deserve all of the love and care and kindness and prayer that you sent. It made a difference in his life. He LOVED getting packages. He was so limited in what he could do, but he loved opening boxes and exploring the contents. It was like Christmas, but more often. :) Eli loved notes and cards and pictures, especially from other kids. We would tape them up on the walls of his hospital room. He loved watching videos and seeing pictures you sent on Facebook. His 4th birthday was on a Sunday and I don't think he stopped grinning that entire weekend. He was so excited. Between all of the wishes/videos you sent and the party BMT threw for him, he felt so special.

Thank you for loving our family so fiercely and consistently. You made Eli's life better, and you're helping us survive.