Many Many Thanks

I could say thank you a million times over, and it still wouldn’t be enough. I will say thank you a million more times before Jack beats this, and it will still worry me constantly that people don’t know just how grateful we are for all they’ve done. So here goes- my thank you...so far:

• Thank you to our family and friends both near and far. To the ones who are right there in the trenches each day, to those who would be if they could, and those who are with us every single moment through their constant prayers and well wishes. There are moments where you let us take off the cancer mask and let us just be ourselves, and there are moments where you let us go on and on about Jack and our new life. Either way, you love us unconditionally. I know every one of you says no thanks necessary, but I’m going to continue to be thankful to you every single day. 
• Thank you to our village. To our amazing community - at home and at work and everything in between. To the people who have surrounded us with support, love, and fight for our son. To the ones who know us well and to the ones who are loving us as complete strangers. I promise to you all that we will raise him to be the most amazing young man and he will make you all so proud one day. 
• Thank you to the givers. The amount of giving that Jack has received is so remarkable that I honestly have no way to adequately thank all of you. Whether it be from those who love us most and would give us everything or those who are giving the tiny bit they can spare. To those that have given their time - whether with us, at a race, a benefit, making a meal, at mass, in their passing prayers. To those who have given without wanting a bit of recognition or thank you - I’m still going to do it every day. I sincerely love you all. 
• To the strangers. The ones who absolutely have the right to look away. The ones who heard our story and wanted to send love and support. From a school district hundreds of miles away, to the volunteers at the amazing hospital that we call home. You are what is good and wonderful in this crazy world. We will pay it forward. We can promise you that. 
• To my heroes. Jack’s buddies whom he’s met at the hospital or who he’s never been able to meet in person, but with whose  lives he will always be connected. Your battles inspire our battle. You are strong and tough and will blow us all away someday. Thank you for thinking of and standing beside Jack even before he can stand on his own. Thank you to your moms and dads who raised you into the fine young men you are or the little fighter you have already become.  Keep up the good fight and I promise we will celebrate obnoxiously when this is over. 
• To the nurses, the doctors, the staff, and the support services at Janet Weis. I’m laying in bed thinking about how much I miss you all. I know people outside of this will think that it is nuts, but in a month at the hospital we became a family. I can’t wait to hear how life has been since we have been gone, and get back to work kicking this cancer’s butt. Thank you for treating Jack like your only priority when you had so many others.  Thank you for letting us laugh, cry, and be ourselves with you. Thank you for saving my boy. 

I will never be able to express what feels like to know that at this very moment there are people who are near and far, friends and strangers, who are thinking of our son and are wishing him well. It’s like a warm blanket that surrounds my family at all times. The warmth is love. The warmth  is support. It is the reason we know we’ve got this. An infinite amount of thank yous...and so many more to come.