Dear friends and family
From the day we found out about Jessica’s heart condition, you have been there supporting us, encouraging us, praying for us. You have cried with us, held your breath in hope with us and celebrated each successful step of the journey with us.
We were devastated and scared at the start, not knowing how we would find the strength to face the journey ahead. You made it clear that no matter how dark and difficult the journey might be, we would not have to face it alone. So many emails and messages of support received, messages that were read over and over again. You may not have known what words to say, but you will never know how much strength we drew from the few you did. The words may have been clumsy, or broken, but there was so much love and encouragement in them.
We may not have spoken to or seen each other for several years but when we needed you, you were there. Sharing words of sympathy and comfort, stories of hope and prayers for a miracle. You shared our story with your friends, with your churches. There were people all over the world praying for us, praying for a miracle to happen. To know that we were loved and prayed for by people who have never met us gave us strength and hope.
Thank you all for all those small acts of kindness along the journey. The friends living near the hospital who offered their spare room so that we had a place to stay. The friends who let us use their house while they were away at Christmas so that we could leave the hospital for a short time and enjoy a Christmas dinner provided by family in a more home-like environment. The friend who offered some expressed breast milk when I was struggling to produce enough for my daughter’s needs. The many food parcels that meant we took time to eat something other than a sandwich from the hospital canteen, and the specially-prepared purees when Jessica’s diet was restricted after her third open heart surgery to give her some variety from the limited options on the hospital menu. The cards we received, the little moments captured on camera, the baby clothes lovingly given and so many other thoughtful little gestures that helped tell us how much you cared.
There are many things that I have been thankful for since the start of our journey as a heart family and the love of our friends and family is one of the biggest things. From the very start, you have been there supporting us, encouraging us, praying for us. You have cried with us, held your breath in hope with us and celebrated each successful step of the journey with us. Thank you all for helping to make our journey as a heart family a little easier. We are truly blessed to have you as our friends.
This is a lovely post – I understand this all to well with having Grayson – you are very lucky, I thought our support was ok but this is pure amazing xxx
Thank you Kara – having that support makes such a difference. So lovely to see you again earlier this week.
That’s so wonderful that you have so many great friends to support you & your family. I can’t imagine how frightened you were to learn about Jessica’s heart condition. Thank God things are going well for her. This is a lovely post hun, so nice of you to recognize the kindness you have been shown. #ShareWithMe x
Thank you Becky – am very lucky to have such wonderful friends 🙂
This is such a beautiful post. How lovely that you had so many people around you providing support. It’s the little acts of kindness that make such a big difference isn’t it.
Becky- LittleOandme
#Sharewithme
Thanks Becky – it has made a huge difference, am so lucky to have such amazing friends 🙂
Such a lovely post its amazing the support you get when needed isn’t it, I am so glad you have such wonderful people around you xx
Thanks Sarah – I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends x
Oh Louise, what a truly lovely post to write. It is great to hear just how much support you have really had. It makes all the difference when those people are there surrounding you and helping. Thanks for linking to #PoCoLo x
Thank you Vic – we are very lucky to have such amazing support. Lovely to link up again 🙂
WOW so amazing and heartfelt written beautifully hunny. So glad you have had the support and love of so many to help along the way. Thank you for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Thanks Jenny, always lovely to link up 🙂
How lovely and how lucky you are x
I’m sure a lot has to do with how lovely your family is – what goes around, comes around.
Thank you Donna, that is a lovely thing to say. We are very lucky to have such amazing friends though – they’ve really helped make our journey a little bit easier with those small (and not-so-small) acts of kindness along the way x