Thank You

I still remember vividly sitting in the surgical center waiting room while Jackson was having his tracheotomy. It was after 8pm. His surgery had been pushed back several times. It had been a long day of anxiously waiting after an even longer 3 weeks of anxiously waiting and hoping he would get better. We had once again declined offers from family and friends to come sit with us while we waited during the surgery. We were drained, emotionally and physically, and just wanted to be alone. 

But as we sat in the waiting room I remember looking around to see families everywhere. Even that late there were several other families waiting. There was one in particular that must have had 15 people waiting. All in matching shirts with balloons. I have no idea what kind of surgery their kid was having or what kind of battle they were up against. Maybe it was an easier one. Maybe it was harder. But I just remember thinking they looked too happy and at ease to be in a children's hospital. It reminded me of when my father in law was fighting cancer and the whole family showed up to the hospital in matching shirts every single day he was there. The doctors and nurses all knew who the Parkers were. My father in law did not have an easy battle but I bet there were other patients and families who were fooled into thinking so because he had such a large team there to cheer him on, make him laugh, be his support. I bet there were times another onlooker thought 'they are laughing too hard to be at the cancer institute'. As I watched that family, thinking of our family, I turned to Hunter and said maybe we're doing this wrong. Maybe we shouldn't be trying to do this alone. 

It was after that night we stopped fooling ourselves into thinking we could do this alone. We let down our walls we had put up thinking they were protecting Jackson. Protecting ourselves. From what, I'm not sure. We let go of the thought we could do this all alone because we weren't meant to. We are fortunate to have such an amazing family and friends so willing to help us out.  Since then we have been absolutely and completely blown away by the generosity of our friends and family. Words will never do justice to the gratitude in our hearts for all of those that have helped us in so many ways. Jackson is stronger, healthier, happier for the love and prayers he feels from so many every day. Thank you. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your support. Thank you.