Thank you, Sandy from First Presbyterian, for mustering all kinds of resources on our behalf. Thank you for praying, calling, and coordinating. Thank you for arranging Stephanie’s airline ticket to Seattle.

Thank you, Lou, Michelle, and Chelsea and Gary in Fairbanks, for cooking meals and bringing them over to the house while we were away.

Thank you, Deana in North Pole, for watching the boys the first few days during this episode and for giving Jan a break on occasion.

Thank you, Jan, for coming at a moment’s notice, for missing your family reunion to take care of our family, for loving our kids, for watching our house, and for being a fundamental part of our family. This would have been so much harder without you.

Thank you, Dr. Brauner in Anchorage, for being calm and reassuring while delivering difficult news. Thank you for taking care of Sarah, as you promised, like she was your own granddaughter. And here’s to annual checkups! We’ll see you every year until you retire.

Thank you, Nancy in Seattle, for meeting Stephanie at the airport with a sign with her name on it. Thank you for waiting with her while she waited for Brian and Sarah to arrive. Thank you for leaving your car with us to use as we needed.

Thank you, Carol and Dave in Seattle, for meeting us at the hospital, bringing us food, letting Rachel and Kathy stay in your home, and for reassuring us and understanding us through your own difficult experience at Children’s Hospital.

Thank you, Rachel in Dallas, for just coming to Seattle without waiting. Your friendship and encouragement were a huge support at a time when it was most needed.  

Thank you, Shawna in Washington, for taking the time to come by the hospital and bringing the fun flowers and good eats. Thanks for taking Rachel to the airport. We appreciated your concern, your encouragement and your personal story.

Thank you, Kathy, for being with us in Seattle, for helping with our chores at RMDH, and for knowing when we needed company and when we needed to be alone.

Thank you, Julius in Denver, for having such a heart for Sarah and for all of your children and grandchildren.

Thank you, Norman in Dallas, for your concern, your daily phone calls, and for your contribution to Ronal McDonald House Charities on our behalf. It was a huge help.

Thank you, Barry and Kim in Dallas, for reaching out to your friends here in Seattle on our behalf.

Thank you, Greg and Carrie in Seattle, for your very generous help with lodging while in Seattle, and for being willing to help in whatever way was needed. Thank you.

Thank you, Reigan, for the coffee. It’s a simple thing, but important to us and it helped us feel as normal as we would could under the circumstances.

Thank you, Andrea and Mike, for the munchies while we were in the hospital. It seemed we were never hungry but always comforted by snacks.  

Thank you, Leigh in Dallas, for sending a care package to the boys while we were away.

Thank you, Perry in Fairbanks, for picking up Jamiee from school and helping keep up with her.

Thank you, Pat McD. in Fairbanks, for checking in on Jan, for mowing our lawn, for helping Jamiee when she needed it, and for being the very definition of a good neighbor.

Thank you, Sandy L. in Fairbanks, for getting my truck, watching the boys, giving Jan a break for a while, and for sending pictures of the boys picking berries.

Thank you, Matthew in Memphis, for coming to Seattle and celebrating with us Sarah’s new life. You are a dear friend.

Thank you, Sandra, Patsy, Jack, and Todd in Circle, for keeping things going at school while I was away.  

Thank you, Pat O. and Steve in Fairbanks, for helping Jan with the house and for housing Jennifer for a little while.

Thank you, Jennifer in Dallas, for coming to Fairbanks and helping where help was needed.

Thank you, Ronald McDonald House, for being such a help to parents with sick children. You provide a beautiful service, and we will look for ways to be involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities in the future. You deserve a blog post all your own.

Thank you, woman on the sidewalk in Seattle, for seeing my tears, noticing my Children’s Hospital parent badge, and for coming to me and comforting me as I cried, unable to walk any further down the street.  

Thank you to everyone who called and left voice-mails of encouragement, who sent cards, who sent emails with well-wishes, who mentioned Sarah to their friends and their faith communities so that she could be prayed for by people whom we’ve never met, who followed Sarah’s progress on the website, who left encouraging comments, and who prayed for her and for us throughout our time in Seattle.

Thank you to our Father in Heaven for carrying Sarah – and us – through this time, for holding her, and for returning her to us. Thank you for reminding us what a precious a gift has been given to us in Sarah. Thank you for all of the family and friends who love us and have reached out to us. Thank you for showing us again that in Jesus life overcomes death.

To say we are grateful is an understatement.