11/26/2009
by Michael Wells Good Thursday Morning… I started writing this Thanksgiving journal entry several days ago. Wondering just how I would or could thank the ever growing, ever so many incredible people who have made me and Sherrie humble and proud all at the same time. I am truly amazed how our son has touched the lives of so many people in such a short period of time. We are indeed thankful to the 2,500+ visitors to the Caring Bridge Brady Michael blog. We love to hear from you and it has made this horrible experience much easier to deal with. We will be indebted to every one of you for the rest of our lives. From: Dr. Drachtman’s team of incredible medical professionals, to the hospital support staff;(Miss Bibi, Miss Patsy, Miss Carol), to all our family, friends, neighbors, friends, the unbelievable folks at Kiddie Academy, my family of business associates & clients and the many people we have never even met, we are thankful beyond any cute cliché I could write. Thank You!!! However, there are a couple of people who on this day of reflection and reverence who deserve special acknowledgement. So please bear with me: A Proud Father… It’s the middle of the night and I can’t sleep. But tonight’s restlessness is not because of bad things, but because of really good things. As I’ve said, I am fortunate to have such a great circle of friends and family. I was thinking about my 2 older children Jennifer and Stephen and in particular about Jenn. She calls Sherrie and me often to get status updates on her brother Brady. In fact, she was sweet enough to even drive up from Maryland to see him a few weekends ago. Brady just loves the Cookie Monster toy she got for him. I believe that good people attract good friends. I say this because Jenn told her friend Ken Luzzatto about Brady’s web site and he immediately sent in a donation to Caring Bridge. We would like to extend a very belated thank you to Ken for his generosity and to Jenn for sharing Brady’s story with her friends. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful and beautiful daughter. I love you Jenn. I hope you and Stephen have a wonderful holiday. A Magnificent Mother-in-Law… We’ve all heard the jokes, we’ve probably all told a few but I must profess I have the World’s GREATEST Mother-in-Law. Jan has been at Brady’s side every day since October 5th. She has done everything from change diarrhetic diapers, to clean-up chemo vomit. She has allowed Sherrie those precious few moments to shower, talk to the doctors and nurses without leaving Brady alone. Jan has enabled Sherrie and me to actually be alone without fearing for Brady’s wellbeing. She has never complained she has never objected she has never criticized; she has always done what needed to be done at the very moment it was required to get done. She is without a doubt one of the finest people I have ever had the opportunity of knowing. Sherrie is fortunate to have her as a Mother, I am lucky to have her as a Mother-in-Law and Brady is truly blessed to have her as a Grandma. We love you Jan. Thank You… So, I guess there are many reasons to be thankful on this Thursday and I am as cannot begin to express how Sherrie and I truly feel. A simple yet most sincere “Thank You” must do. And please accept my apologies for some many people I have not mentioned in this journal entry. I will try to include everyone in future entries but it’s the middle of the night and I don’t want to wake Sherrie however, understand we are extremely grateful. It is truly the most “thankful” Thanksgiving I have ever experience. I don’t believe Sherrie and I could have made this journey without all the support each and every one of you has given us. From Brady’s Mom and Dad – We hope each and every one of you have a day of Thanksgiving equal to ours for without a doubt we are truly blessed to have our Brady with us today. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and Please continue to keep Brady in your thoughts, prayers and hugs – it really helps…“8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation does.