Thank you

I am grateful every day that there are many amazing people in mine and Evan's life, people who do not expect a thank you and certainly not publicly but it is important to me to acknowledge the love and support my family and I have received. I made a choice early to celebrate Evan's life. These people have helped me do so and I will forever be grateful.

With that said, I want to thank everyone who has read Evan's blog and celebrated in our sweet boy's life with us in any way, shape or form. Thank you to everyone who prays for my son and my family. Your prayers are appreciated very much. If I could thank everyone personally I certainly would love that opportunity but I've learned that Evan has touched and will continue to touch so many people that I may never have the opportunity to personally thank everyone. So please know how much you and your prayers mean to me, my son and our family.

Thank you to our wonderful family, friends and my amazing co-workers/friends who have emailed, texted, sent cards, etc. reminding us that you care and are thinking of us and for your words of love and support. It means so very much.

Thank you to all of the absolutely amazing women that I have met through my online support group, on facebook, and blogs that I have read in which I have been able to contact mother's who have had beautiful babies with the same diagnosis as our son. Thank you for helping me feel like I am not alone, for normalizing my thoughts and feelings, for the education, referrals, support, love, and encouragement you have provided. Having met all of you has been yet another beautiful blessing from God. I will forever be grateful to Evan and God for each of you and all that you have taught me about life and love.

Thank you to my sweet husband who is an amazing partner in life and love and an incredible father. Thank you for being a continuous source of strength and support for me. Thank you for expecting nothing from me and supporting me through everything. Thank you for being brave and strong, for going places with me emotionally that I never knew existed until now and for showing me a love so deep and beautiful and strong. I love you.

Thank you to our daughter for bringing me more joy than I ever knew possible. I am so grateful for her bravery and for all that she and her little brother have taught me through this journey regarding faith, hope and love. I admire her spirit and spunk and praise God each and every day for blessing my family and I with our sweet daughter. Thank you to our precious girl for always being our bright shining star on the darkest of nights and our beautiful sunshine on the dreariest of days. I love you my sweet baby.

Thank you to my beautiful mom. Thank you for your unconditional love, support, nurturing, education, and guidance now and always. Thank you for introducing me to God at a young age and for always being open to discussing my most difficult questions that have helped me continue to develop and strengthen my faith. Thank you for being an amazing role model for my sisters, other family members, friends and I. Thank you for being so strong when I've needed you to be. Thank you for loving my husband, daughter, Evan and I all completely and unconditionally. I love you.

Thank you to my dad. Thank you for always loving and supporting me. Thank you for being the best papa ever to our daughter who adores you. Thank you for your willingness always to do anything and everything that I may ask of you and for all the other many things you do for us. Thank you for being there when I needed you and for giving me the security that I need when I have felt so incredibly insecure. Thank you for loving us and for doing so unconditionally. I love you.

Thank you to my big sister. You have modeled such incredible strength and courage for me over the years and have taught me so much about resiliency. Thank you. Thank you for being a mini me of our mom. Thank you for always helping me feel safe talking to about anything. Thank you for sharing with me as you learn and grow in your relationship with God and for guiding me . . . never pushing me to understand more and grow deeper in my own faith. Thank you for your unconditional love, for being my advocate when I've needed one, for all that you do for my family, and for being the best aunt and role model for our daughter. I love you.

Thank you to my little sister. You're 6 years younger than I am and once again I have experienced that our age difference means nothing ... I am so unbelievably encouraged by your strength and bravery. Thank you for that. Thank you for asking me about Evan. Thank you for talking about him and for making him a part of our family. Thank you for the incredible support you have given to my husband, daughter and I. Thank you for being an amazing sister, friend and aunt! Thank you to your fiance, my brother, our wonderful friend who has shown so much love and compassion for my family and I during this journey. Thank you to your precious son. We are all so lucky to have him in our lives. We are so grateful that our daughter has found strength through her love and beautiful relationship with your boy. I love you guys.

Thank you to my sister-in-law who not only became my sister when I married her brother but who has also become such a wonderful friend. Thank you for your support, for being someone I can turn to always. Thank you for sharing and expressing your love for Evan. I love you and I am so grateful that you are my sister and my friend.

Thank you to my aunt. Sheila, thank you for being someone that I could talk to, trust and confide in when I felt the most vulnerable and afraid. Thank you for your love and support and for being there for my family and I always. Thank you for your willingness and interest to help make our sweet boy's birthday memorable. I realize that there may be circumstances beyond our control but having your commitment and ongoing, constant support is so incredibly meaningful. I love you.

Thank you to my dear friend. Kelly, thank you for your friendship, for being someone I can confide in and trust always. Thank you for never backing down. From the moment you learned that we had received news about our son you never wavered. You have once again shown me the meaning of true friendship. Thank you for your phone calls, for visiting, for choosing to share in this journey with my family and I and for your unbelievable support. Thank you for ongoing education, referrals and encouragement. Thank you for being strong and brave as I share my biggest fears/worries with you and for laughing and chatting with me about my joys. You have been a beautiful friend to me always and I thank you so very much. I love you.

Thank you to my precious boy. Sweet, sweet baby boy, thank you! You have proven medical professionals and research wrong when you have responded to my voice and my touch while in my womb. Thank you! Thank you for being so strong. Thank you for changing my life. You are a blessing and tremendous joy in my life. I will try for the rest of my life to find the words to express how incredibly grateful I am for you. I love you Evan Matthew. My love will follow you always.

Praise God.