Thankful

I have been thinking a lot lately about how thankful and fortunate I feel, and what better day to say so? This blog is about a deeply personal struggle, but I no longer feel I’m in the midst of tragedy – what has afflicted Wesley has also given me a lot of clarity about the beauty that surrounds me.

Stephanie is my constant source of strength and I’m ever more in awe of her, and overwhelmed by the good fortune that her love and companionship has brought me every day since we met. Thank you.

Wesley’s impact on my world continues to be one of seismic proportions. His conception and arrival jolted me out of many lifelong shells, determined to grow to be a good, decent father. His illness is terrible, but it’s also reminded me again of just how much love I am capable of. Thank you.

In the midst of this crisis the generosity and caring of so many people still makes me teary. Ina and Graham have been rocks of emotional and practical support all year, but I can’t even begin to imagine the past month without them in our corner. Thank you.

Our new friends in PA and NJ, who we’ve not even known a year, have reminded us daily exactly why we moved to this place. Thank you.

Our families all over the US and our friends all over the world have been a lifeline of care packages, of familiar ears on so many long phone calls, and love extended over thousands of miles to remind us we’re not alone and that there’s a familiar and seemingly infinite army out there ready to do anything we need. Thank you.

The nurses and doctors and social workers, financial planners, patient advocates, the cooks and cleaners, child life specialists, the endless stream of warm care givers at CHOP have all made the last place we would ever choose to spend time in feel a lot more like home than I would have thought possible. Thank you.

Finally, I’m thankful Wes decided he likes to eat sweets again, even if its garbage like this: