There are so many people who have guided us along our journey. The biggest blessing of our entire journey has been the people we have had the privilege of meeting along the way. These people have touched our hearts and changed our lives. Whether in big or small ways we owe everything we have and ever will be to them.
To those who have listened, cried, advised, answered, encouraged, and held our hands through it all.
THANK YOU…..
To Joe (Dr. Joe Iocono) – Where do we even begin to thank you? There is nothing that we could say that would express ourselves. I remember talking to you on the phone the night Kyleigh was born and thinking… she will be okay; Dr. Joe will take care of her. I know we are high maintenance, but you always handle everything with compassion and understanding. With Kyleigh’s battery of medical issues we see a LOT of hospitals and doctors and yet you have been the one constant. The one person that we KNOW we can call no matter what. You have always gone above and beyond for us. You have fought as hard for our daughter as we have and we can never repay you for that. We are so very privileged to be your patients and thank god for you every single day! This site (and maybe a book someday) is for YOU. I promised you I would write and here it is. We have spent much time trying to come up with a way to thank you properly, somethign we could present you with, but we are still at a loss. How do you thank the one person who has been there with you through thick and thin, through pretty much EVERY major medical decision about Kyleigh. You have taken up slack for other people, you have cared in ways that no one else has. Its official that you have surpassed being a “doctor” to us… you are family now. You have changed our lives forever and we hope that you can begin to understand what that means to us. Our daughter is alive, by no small part, because of you. We will forget about the fact that I nearly fired you ( a looooooong time ago when Ky was only like 2 weeks old) and look forward. One day, in years from now, when you open the invitation to Kyleigh’s wedding, there will be a special invitation for you. We hope that you will be there to celebrate her amazing life and to dance with her. Without you… this “book” would end much different. As you read this please know that you wrote the ending and many pages in between. And to Susan… the woman who inevitably keeps its altogether… I know I have told you before but you truly amaze me. I am blown about by your strength and resolve. I know that YOU have sacrificed much to give MY daughter a better life and I am truly and forever grateful to you.
To Dr. Y (Dr. Brad Youkilis)– You have been there from the very start. You managed to keep us sane through the long nine months of this pregnancy (and both of our other pregnancies too). No matter what happened you were there the whole way… reassuring us that we were strong enough to face whatever was coming our way. You were there the on ALL the days that our life changed forever and we can never repay you for comforting us and being such a great friend.
To Dr. Cottrill (Dr. Carol Cottrill)– We knew from the beginning that you would care for our princess in a way that was more than we could ever ask for. You remind us of someone familiar and every time we see you we remember. We thank god that you are watching over our baby girl. We have always felt 100% confident in you. Thank you for everything!
To Dr. Eghtesady (Dr. Pirooz Eghtesady)– You saved our daughter’s life. Twice. You gave her a beautiful heart (literally) and allowed us to believe that we would watch our daughter dance at her wedding some day. You have always listened, always answered our questions and always cared about what we had to say. We never could have chosen a better person than yourself to “fix” Kyleigh’s broken heart.
To Megan (Dr. Megan Poole) – You are simply an amazing soul. We were devastated when Dr. Gore announced he was leaving the practice. We had been through a lot with him. We had no idea the jewel we were about to find. Your kindness and compassion is next to none. We are so very fortunate that you will be caring for ALL of our children for many years to come. Thank you for understanding so many things those others seem to overlook. We could not do it without you!
To Dr. Levitt (Dr. Marc Levitt) – Thank you for everything. The day we first contacted you was the day our life changed. The day that we decided we had to find the BEST for Kyleigh even though it meant leaving everything we knew at home. Thank you for combining compassion with skill and showing us that even having no hiney hole… is “doable”…
To Ali – Although we have only recently come back in contact with each other… you have been such a blessing to our lives. I have NO doubt that God allowed us to find each other again at JUST the right time. Thank you for ALL that you have taught me. Thank you for inspiring me and praying for me. Thank you for helping me find my “inner Martha” and for turning me into the Coupon Princess (seeing as how I cannot be the queen… you already own that title!)
To Jessica (and by default Kevin) – There are no words for you. I don’t know when it was that we became friends or how it happened but it seems that we have always been this way. We are definitely two cut from the same mold and even though our lives may cause us to drink (on occasion at a loud Mexican restaurant…) and make us refill our Xanax scripts… just know that wherever our lives lead us… I am just happy to have a friend like you to share it with!
To Kimberly – I could not love you more if you were my own sister. You are the most amazing friend I could ever ask for. I cannot wait to be old and sit on a beach with you reminiscing about these days. I know that you are my forever friend. Thank you for always opening your heart and home to us. For saving me from myself. For taking care of ME when I could not take care of myself. For helping me realize that life is to short to WORRY over so many thing. And mostly for being such an inspiration and always uplifting spirit. LOVE YOU!
To Sarah U – What is there even to say about you? You are fabulous on a stick! I swear. Thank God for you and Smoot because I am sure it is our 1 am “three ways” (calls people… three way phone calls!) that kept me alive and breathing through those horrible months last fall. I love your outlook on life and that you can totally empathize with me.
To Julie- My amazing survivor of a friend. You have taught me how to fight, how to win, and how to still be sane and HAPPY through it all. I can only hope that Kyleigh becomes half the woman you are.
To Cristy – You have always supported and been there for me. You got on a plane when my life was falling apart and came to save me. I can never thank you enough.
To my girlfriends on the IA Parents board – To Donna, Kristin, Laura, Becca, Bridgette, Heather, Cristina, Tracy, Kari, Lynn, Toni, Mindy, Amber and everyone else. You all are my saving grace and my strength. You answer my crazy questions and know how to whip me into shape. I don’t know WHAT I would do without your antics on our late night chats and without your listening ears on IM.
To Donna A. – You have taught me to be an advocate for my daughter. To fight when you cannot fight anymore. To hope when there is no hope left. To go to the ends of the earth to make sure that she has what she needs and do it all with a smile on my face and kindness in my heart. My daughter’s life would be a much different place if it were not for you!
To Becca – My sailor cursing, lay it all out, say anything friend. I cannot believe that I found someone else who can keep up with me! I am so happy that I have a buddy who I know I can say ANYTHING to and never worry about how or what I said. I always know that its ok and that you truly do UNDERSTAND!
To Laura – I don’t know what to say here. You have become a song in my heart. Your kind heart and beautiful soul always make me feel at peace. I know that we are hundreds of miles away and you are always the one friend that I find myself wishing your were down the street! I am honored to be Emma’s “butt mother” and you know that I am always here no matter what!
To “B” (Bridgette) – So now that Ky and Thomas are betrothed I guess we should start planning the wedding. I think a destination wedding in Australia is in order! LOL You are my sanity! I swear… thank god you live in a different time zone because once I have talked my friend blue in the face I can get online and poof… its morning where you are! Thank you for always listening to even my totally OT rants!
To my Mommy and Daddy (Rhonda and Teddy – for those who don’t know) – Everything I know about life, love and happiness I learned from you. Yes our family is not perfect and our life was not privileged but you have given me wings and sent me on my way with a world of opportunities. You have picked me up when I could catch myself and you held me as I cried. You have taught me how to fight and how to win. You have given me everything I have ever needed and more. Because of your strength… I am strong. Because of your love, I am able to love. Because of your support I am successful. Because of your hearts I am alive. Because of your faith I am the person you see before you. They say you can never “go home”. I have learned in the last year… home truly is where your heart is and I know that you all will ALWAYS be home to me because you will ALWAYS have my heart and the special love that can only come from a child. I love you to the moon and back…..
To our family…. our wonderful, amazing family. You have sacrificed so much for us. I hope that we have made you proud. We love you !!
Popularity: 6% [?]
