There are so many people to thank that this part of the blog will be a work in progress, but I wanted to thank everyone publicly for all that they have done.
First I must thank my family for their love, strength and continued support throughout this whole ordeal! Stephen is a rock, Walker is a constant joy and distraction, my parents and my brother have jumped at each and every call for help, my in-laws have been a great source of support for Stephen as well as for me. My Aunt has been a great mediator and a positive source of energy (and my "keep on
movin" painting, fruit, cards, and gifts for Walker...more recently a meal from Honey Baked ham and another toy for Walker)! For Katie and Abby who filled in the babysitting gaps and have become an important part of our lives with their positive influence on Walker (and Nyssa and
Sylva)!
Dr.
Cassity: There are no words for the gratitude felt for someone who has likely saved your life. Your willingness to go the extra mile and order a chest x-ray either saved my life or at the very least saved me from growing progressively worse. On my first day of cancer you told me that I would run the
Peachtree next year...that ray of hope has kept me going...I can see now that it can actually be a reality. The 2008 t-shirt will be for you!
Mickey Montevideo: For agreeing early on to be my cancer recovery manager. Your dedication to emails, phone calls, and committee organization has really made it much easier for communicating with friends and family. Not only am I grateful, but many of my friends and family have expressed their gratitude as well. Thank you also for the many dinners, concert tickets, head shaving,
LTN rally and fund raising, and hand holding! More recenlty for yet even more meals, fun distractions, girls night and continued friendship and support!
Paula Butler Kay: For ALWAYS being upbeat!!! For 25 years of steady friendship. For
headwear, socks, blankets, babysitting. For multiple dinners (how did I not know that you could cook?). For being the team leader for the
LTN walk and the fundraising. Thank you for executing the entire hair plan from the
appt. at
Siggers to wig shopping to the drive home. More recently for additional meals, babysitting, girls night and just continued calls with upbeat enthusiasm and distractions :)
Dana and Eric
Heil: For letting Stephen interrupt your plans and babysitting Walker at one of the most critical nights of our lives. For the movies, dinner and friendship. For participating in
LTN and surpassing your fund raising goal!!! More recently for bringing multiple dinner with delicious shrimp and a meal made just for Walker :) Also for your continued frienship and support on a regular basis!!!
Kim Black: For over 20 years of friendship. For
multiple dinners. For weekly cards, calls and support. For fundraising for the
LTN walk.
Dana and Greg
Wilmoth: For friendship, the cool cancer care basket that had so many applicable, personally chosen items for the
occasion. Thank you also for coming all the way to Athens to visit and share your new baby news... a bright spot for all of us!
Myles, Libby, Marlee, Ethan, Sean, Michele, Hannah, Emma: For friendship and a wonderful trip to the lake with special people!
Renee
Milstead: For friendship, babysitting,
LTN donation and attending the Look Good Feel Better event at the
Loran Smith Cancer Center.
Mary Ann Hammond: For lasting friendship, agreeing to take on the dinner calendar, for a constant supply of Starbucks coffee :), the softest organic shirt I've ever owned, trucks for Walker, your famous veggie
lasagna (I will get that recipe out of you one day), flowers and wine. Also for your continued optimism.
Ruth
LeBlanc: For visits with friendship and coming all the way from
Kennesaw for
LTN and fund raising too!
Helene Schwartz: For attending my first biopsy and taking care of Stephen's meal at
ARMC. For friendship, routine cards, holding my hand and Walker's at the visit to the
Loran Smith Cancer Center, for a great lunch and visit at
Allens Bar and Grill!
Deb
Dietzler and Peter Anderson: For friendship, flowers, agreeing to be pet committee chair, homemade bread and that particularly special high protein snack box! More recently for a huge box of goodies including a meal (I have to give Peter some cred for the recipe) though it was well prepared by Deb ;) Special peanut butter, pimento cheese, peanut bars, dangerous chocolate candies, Halloween candle, doggie toy and a wonderful visit with great friends!
Dave Perkins: For being the best mentor and one of the smartest people I have ever known. Thank you for staying in my life and answering my crazy questions. For riding your bike a million miles to benefit the cause and raising over $50k dollars with my
headshot pinned to your jersey!
Brooks Arnold: For your
friendship,
spectacular flowers,
LTN donation and willingness to take such good care of my clients at a challenging time for business, continued calls and emails of support.
Sarah Freeman: For your friendship, a wonderful meal and beautiful tray, your
LTN donation, cards, calls and emails of support!
Andrea
LaFera: For your friendship, you were my first meal and it was a wonderful meal (with less than a week b4 your trip to Italy with a toddler...yikes!) Some of the best meatballs I have ever eaten!!!!
Phyllis Tucker: For hiring me at
ExR and therefore bringing Stephen and Walker into my life. For your continued friendship and support over the years. For several wonderful meals and your mother's tasty (but dangerous) cookies, and of course, for the trucks for Walker!
Kathy Bangle: For your friendship, for sharing your faith and giving me strength at such a
difficult time, for a fantastic meal and dessert, for your constant prayers for our family!
Callie Waller: For your friendship and your participation in the meal brought by Kathy. More recently....LOOK OUT 5 PTS Deli....you have serious chicken salad competition! Thanks for a repeat that was truly comfort food :) Also for the fun visit catching up.
Amy Flurry: For your friendship, continued calls and emails of support, for a morning of champagne just to celebrate life (and The Dragon at WOW!), and a wonderful
Italian meal!
Rhonda Peck, Sandra and Jim Smith: For your friendship and support, for a timely and delicious meal, for the role models of folks who have persevered through
difficult times to remain some of the most positive people I have ever known!
Judy Adams: For friendship and an impressively prepared meal with pretty flowers!
DRee Krohn: For friendship, for agreeing to head up the childcare committee, for being patient with my reliance on email rather than phone calls :) More recently for a perfectly prepared steak dinner that Walker was able to enjoy with us, a beautiful salad, asparagus, and mushrooms with red peppers...so DELICIOUS! It was also wonderful to visit and catch up with you :)
Jon Ramsey and Christine
Bohlen: For friendship, this blog and continued prayers and support!
John and Chad
Siggers: See Hair Today Gone Tomorrow blog entry...
Betty Butler: For prayers and support and very cute head coverings!
Tommie and Terry Kay: For prayers and support, for letting Walker crash the
grandkid visit and for encouragement about my choice to stay in Athens by sharing your story about
ARMC!
Katie Neal: For prayers and support, for loving and playing with Walker, for spectacular flowers with a cute baby jaguar for Walker!
Sallie Barker: For friendship and beautiful flowers!
Steve Hunt: For friendship and a very important supportive call to Stephen!
Mike and Bob Young: For prayers and support...for a prayer shawl that brought me a great result to the PET/CT!!!!
Susan Sims: For prayers, support, thank you notes and stamps.
Sue Lawrence: For friendship, continuous cards, calls and emails of support, a wonderful and delicious meal and your
LTN donation.
Jessica
Magnarella: For friendship and a willingness to make a meal that I had to cancel :)
Carolyn
Elster: For sharing the cancer bond and for managing to provide a meal for us at a very
difficult time for her family.
Pam Parker: For continued friendship and support even in her own difficult times, for cards and emails of support, and for the
LTN donation.
Angela
McDonough: For a long, special snail mail letter of friendship, for
continued emails of support and for her
LTN donation.
Don and Phyllis Nelson: For friendship, continued support through cards, calls and emails.
Please see the
LTN blog for additional thank you for individual donations.
Joyce Waller for a wonderful meal and a hug that says it all! Thanks for thinking of us.
Caron Lynch for continued love and support, calls and cards!
David
Frakt (
KCII) for love and support and continued emails that brighten my day with pictures of
KCIII, Max :)
Kyla Hastie for continued friendship and support and routine calls. A great camping trip with great friends!
