A Family's Story about Courage, Bravery and the Defining Moments of LOVE
Our sweet, lil' baby love lost his battle to AML Leukemia on March 8, 2010. We fought long, hard and very aggressively for 2.5 years, only to have his cancer come back for the fourth time to finally take his life. He was only 3 years old.
This entire blog is about Hunter's amazing journey. It's about his life and his love......his determination and his courage.......his absolutely, brilliant personality, and the affect he's had on people all over the world.
He's left an unimaginable footprint on this earth and has changed the lives of thousands of individuals. People who didn't realize how precious life was, now live it with extreme gratefulness. People who took every minute they get to spend with their children for granted, now savor every last second. And people who weren't quite sure what love is all about, now love deeper, love stronger and love with every ounce of their soul.
People all around the world have shared their love, their well wishes, their prayers and their inspiration, and we could have NEVER achieved as much as we did without them. We are humbled by their generosity & their true friendships & are forever grateful for every last person that has come into our lives through our experience with Hunter. He was our precious baby love who we loved and cherished with all our hearts and we are forever crushed and terribly, broken-hearted.
Dance in the clouds baby cakes. Mom & dad are watching proudly & you will remain so very close to our hearts for all of eternity.
One of the Coolest Lil' Dudes to Ever Walk the Planet.
2006 - 2010
Hi my sweet lil’ sugar pie,
Your Angel Anniversary has become a day of smiles, a day of strength, and a day full of much love and compassion. You have brought out the very best in your dad and I and we sincerely thank you for continuing to be the magnificent and magical force that you are…it’s refreshing…and it definitely keeps us on our toes.
I can’t deny that I would still rather have you here on this earth, by my side, every single moment that passes. My heart still painfully stops when I think of what we’ve lost. But I will happily, and most lovingly, accept what you have become, what you have inspired, and what you have created. Your spectacular light is a force to be reckoned with. You’ve become an extremely powerful angel.
We will always celebrate you and your life and every last bit of wonderfulness that you’ve brought into this world. Your divine guidance has been a blessing and I am eagerly awaiting your next sweet tickle to let me know what to do next…I’m sure it will be as cool as you. Blowing kisses to you and embracing your amazing, lil’ being…love you love you love you…mom.
..........
Kristen Davis to Hunter Zen
Two years ago today the angels asked you if you would come home and play with them. Your giggle, wiggle, and unbeatable coolness will never be replaced and always missed, and it has inspired so many people to do so many great things. We love deeper, laugh harder, and cherish those we love and the times we have so much more because of you. Xoxoxo
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Ezekiel Goodwin
A few years ago, a little guy stole my heart and changed my life. Two years ago today, he took a little piece of it with him. I am celebrating my little buddy today, and every day. What an amazing life. Will be doing some wiggle dancing, and dispensing smooches in Hunter's memory today. He is still one of the brightest points in the sky. Rock on, Angel Hunter.
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Emily Perry Tresser
Three years ago, I found a family on Facebook through Matt Nolan. Good friends of his,who had a son battling AML leukemia. Most of you traveled with me on FB, during Hunter's journey. Today marks 2 years that he is gone. I can't even believe it. Lenore and Zen have done nothing but give back, in their time of grief and loss. I have learned so much from Lenore's strength as a mother, and Zen's love for Lenore and his family. I am so honored to call them my friends. Hunter brought so many people together.
There just aren't words. Except that I miss that lil' guy, dancing on the counters, very very much. Thinking of you so much today, Zen. Lenore, spunky lil' brother Ryder, and my angel Hunter Zen Thawley.
Give your kiddos a big hug today
..........
Matt Nolan
We recognize today as the anniversary of Iron Hunter Zen Thawley, the sweetest, toughest, and most courageous Boy. He left the planet a few years ago, but whether you met him, followed his story, a piece of his shining spirit is smiling down on you today. We love you, Hunter!
..........
Jodi Fung
Hunter Zen Thawley - Two years a GRADE A ANGEL. If you followed his plight on Earth, he definitely touched you through the courageousness of his parents Lenore Davis and Zen Todd, and through their efforts the Healing Hunter Foundation was born to help other families fighting for earthly breaths. A shout out to you lovelies who make the world a better place! xo
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Hunter's Mom at the end of the day
Your beautiful smile and giggle echoed in our hearts all day today, and the outpouring of love and support for you lifted us up and, sweetly, carried us through. We were gliding on these wings made of pure strength and love, and are forever grateful for your life and the hearts that you captured along the way. You are rockin' the house indeed lil' love. So proud. So very, very proud :)
Thank you EVERYONE for surrounding us with such delightful, love. Thank you, thank you, THANK you. Not a second goes by that I don't appreciate it, and I will hold it in my heart for many days to come :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet lil' prince pie - our love for you runs so incredibly deep. Your dad and I are holding on to as many memories as possible and there will always, ALWAYS be a special place in our life for you. I won't let you go. I won't ever, ever, ever let you go. As painful as it is to accept the fact that you are not here for us to smooch from head to toe......we thank our lucky stars that you graced us with your amazing presence and taught us how to live; even when we thought every last bit of our being had given in. You kept us laughing; even when our smiles seemed lost and forgotten. And you've fully shown us how to love.....even though we've been left with a broken heart.
You were so easy to love........sweet dreams baby.
Hi my sweet lil' love..........i miss you.....i miss you......I miss you.........I miss you....so incredibly much. I am going to do my best to be strong and keep it together as I write you - but already, my face has an ocean of tears just streaming down it, collecting big, big puddles in my lap. The thought of actually seeing you and talking to you and holding you, oh goodness, it would be an absolute dream come true for me.
oh love.....I am still so incredibly devastated. I can't even think right now. My hands are shaking, my tears won't stop, my breath is gone. You not being here has shattered us. You were magical. Truly, truly magical and that just stops your dad and I dead in our tracks some days.
You have brought out such beauty in so many people - myself, your father and your lil' brother, Ryder, included. That magnificent sparkle that was so extremely bright while you where here - is still shining ever so lovely. I feel it within myself, and it's expressed in the love your dad and I have for each other, and the love that we have for Ryder. Ryder is the magnificent recipient of so much love and affection......and he just BEAMS every single day because of what your dad and I discovered in ourselves through you. You've created this love pocket in us that is just absolutely explosive. You still continue to bring out the best in us........that just warms my heart.
You would have been the most perfect older brother. Oh man - I could only IMAGINE how completely wonderful it would be if you were here. Ryder would have LOVED you. Absolutely, most definitely LOVED you. You would have been the coolest thing since sliced bread. You would have been so, so fun for him to follow around and tug on and watch and learn from.....so cool...so carefree....so courageous and loving. I honestly can't wait for the day when Ryder fully understands who you are and how important you are to the family. He's only 13 months right now.....so he's got a few months. He gets some things right now like "going outside" and "snack".....but not quite everything just yet. But soon. Soon, he'll get the full story of our lil' hero - Iron Hunter and how truly magnificent your lil' being really was....and still is. :)
Here's Ryder trying on your Lightning McQueen hat and shoes. He clopped around the house in those for quite awhile....he's a big fan.
Here he is wearing your Iron Hunter t-shirt. We all sport those QUITE often. They are super, super cozy and I'm just so proud of what is says........you were a real "Super Hero"......I love that.
You two look a lot alike - you can definitely tell you're brothers. Here is a collage that I put together of the two of you at 8 1/2 months.
Ryder loves, loves.....LOVES music. He's got a pretty fancy wiggle and also threw down some hip lil' side steps recently. Very surprised he pulled some of those moves out. You must have done a lil' work on him somehow. He's pretty cool. Plus he's a sweetie pie......you two together would have just taken turns melting my heart.
You both also have a very strong, cool confidence about you. So fun to watch and hang out with you guys. Always seem to have something going on.
Watching Ryder grow is reminding us of so many incredible moments we had with you. It's fun to compare and see the similarities as well as the differences. And thank goodness we have as many videos of you as we do! We feel so completely fortunate to have that many. Your personality just JUMPS right off the screen in every one and I just love, love, love watching you. They allow me to fully remember your giggle and your sweet, sweet ways of expressing yourself and all the fun we really did have.......despite all of our challenges. I don't think there was a day that went by that we didn't find something to giggle about........
People from all over the world still continue to find your story and send us messages. They all begin with such wonderful comments about you and your beautiful energy and strength and courage. They talk about how many times throughout their day that they think of you, and how much you've inspired them. Of course they talk about what a great lil' dancer you were.....such FANTASTIC moves. I could beat music on pots and pans for you all day long. Oh you just stole my heart. I miss your hugs. Oh how I miss your hugs baby love.
A year and a half now that you've been gone and I still sleep with "Henwy" under my pillow....I still have a candle constantly lit for you......makes me feel like there is a happy, lil' spot of love-light continuing to just brighten up the room. I am never without my Hunter necklace.....it still gets smooched every night when I take it off and every morning when I put it on. There are beautiful images up of you pretty much everywhere - living room, family room, kitchen, dining room, our room, Ryder's room, my office, my closet.......and there isn't a second that passes that I don't consider ourselves lucky to have had such an amazing lil' boy in our lives.
Your Angel Anniversary was a very special day for us. Your dad and I took Ryder and we went back to our special lil' spot right next to the room we stayed in with you at Cannon Beach. We've been back there a few times now....it's a pretty amazing spot for us. As soon as my feet hit the sand I feel you......I will never, ever, ever forget that day on the beach. A day filled with such hope and love and happiness.........I enjoy remembering days and moments like the ones we had on that special day. That whole trip was amazing.
Here you are walking in the sand........oh we had so much fun that day. You were walking around everywhere and I was getting such a kick out of finally having to chase you around! You gave me a run for my money that day. :)
Here we are below on your Angel Anniversary, a little over a year later.....walking in the sand......just like you. Even Ryder was doing it in Dad's Kangaroo pouch.
And of course "Henwy" had to get in the sand. Even when we travel he comes and sleeps under my pillow. He likes it there. I'm still waiting for you to come get him in my dreams. :)
OH and I can't forget to tell you that we also saw this BEAUTIFUL rainbow right as we hit the clearing to the water. Stunning.....in was so, so cool love.
Geeeez.......and one more thing - we did our first Healing Hunter Foundation Toy Drive on your Angel Anniversary and brought up over $5,000 worth of toys to the kids at Doernbechers, including an iPod Touch, a super fast big wheel, two laptop computers and OF COURSE - a kick-BUTT Lightning McQueen Tricycle that's got your name on it so everyone knows to speed around the hallways with lots of Lightning love.
So your foundation that we started on your behalf has been just absolutely wonderful. Aside from the toy drive we did on your Angel Anniversary we also stopped by on Easter and delivered tons of delicious goodies and yummy cupcakes - which is what initiated the whole start of "Lightning Cupcakes"......also in your honor of course. With all the love and support out there for you......it just TOOK OFF! And a lil' bit of Hunter love goes into every cupcake. So now you are in my heart, my thoughts, my smiles and my tummy often. I see your beautiful face constantly throughout my days and most times it makes me think super sweet thoughts. I try my hardest to think of you at your very best, having just the coolest time of your life.....I'm glad you had so many. It gives me lots of things to pull from. Man you were cool.
Below is the Easter Delivery to Doernbechers on behalf of the Healing Hunter Foundation!
Oh and I almost forgot to tell you the COOLEST thing! You'll really like this.......we are delivering iPods to all the lil' warriors battling cancer up at Doernbechers on your birthday for the Healing Hunter iPod Birthday Bash that we created. We thought you'd get a kick out of giving such thoughtful, useful and amazing gifts that the kiddos can use while they are going through all their treatments. Several extremely generous and very loving individuals donated one to each kid fighting cancer in your honor. Pretty neat I'll have to say. You bring sweetness to the surface in lots and lots of people. Still continuing to make me proud. Aaaaahhhhh.......
Below are the iPods that were donated and then the AWESOME packaging we created for them!!
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Life seems to be one brilliant, sequence of events after another my lil’ love. And the time we had with you was nothing short of spectacular.
This magical, whirlwind of love that seems to corral around you and your legacy is just simply amazing. I’m sitting here in a sweet, puddle of tears as I realize the size of the impact you’ve had on our life and so many others.
Your dazzling light, your love, your spirit…your joy, your giggle and your dynamite wiggle
continue to get delightfully, packaged up and delivered to the warriors that are still here fighting.
Our special lil’ packages that we deliver are always bursting with hope and smiles and lets these brave kiddos know that we are all standing behind them…supporting them, encouraging them and constantly cheering them on.
Thank you for continuing to be such a powerful force of love.
When I think about my life and the path that it has taken so far....I'm quite surprised. I never thought I'd be the tortured poet....writing and divulging and painfully expressing all of my agony and sadness.......trapped..... and now somewhat bi-polar.......and yet, here I am.
Wow.
This last year has been the most difficult year of my life. I've never been one to throw in the towel and call it quits or walk away with my tail between my legs - but the last 12 months have been excruciatingly painful and overwhelmingly sad for me. I've crumbled to the floor and sat in a pool of tears time and time and time again. Everything about my being has been slightly altered and it seems as if my body remains a jumbled up puzzle that is forever missing a piece.
For full blog posting - visit Hunter's Mom and Dad's Blog:
Wow baby love. I can't believe it's been a year. I can't believe I have been without my sweet baby love for a whole year...........365 days. Three Hundred and sixty-five days too long. To think that I have the rest of my life to go, frightens me. I truly and honestly don't know how I am going to do it. Missing your love and your smiles makes me feel so incomplete. So incredibly "out of sorts". There is such a huge part of my being that has just transformed into something unrecognizable. I'm still so sad.....still so heartbroken......still so absolutely crushed that are you not here with us.
Your dad and I have been thinking about you like crazy. We watched video after video after video of you last night, and you continued to put on one stellar performance after another. You are SUCH an amazing lil' boy. I feel like I say it in every post, but I just can't say enough how very proud of you we are......your kindness, your laughter, your gregarious lil' personality - oh my......just so wonderful to watch. Such a sweetie.......really.
I just popped in a disc that was labeled "Hunter"......within seconds, images of you started loading up one by one. I'm bombarded with so many thoughts and feelings and emotions all at once.....everything just seems so unbelievable.
My first thought was "my goodness...you were just a baby". Just a baby when all this started. So tiny and so cool. Handling everything with such calmness. Took the punches as they came with such ease, while your dad and I felt each blow with an intensity that would leave us breathless for days.
Here you are waving about to go in for your very first Cat Scan.
This was after your knee biopsy. You handled that like a champ. However, you weren't so fond of the cast after awhile. Dad finally cut it off when no one was looking and you were sure happy about that!
Seeing these photos and looking back at our journey, having you in our life was so incredibly joyful. What you brought to our family was an energy that was so powerful. So pure and so full of courage.....so full of confidence.
This picture below made me smile....you are only about 15 months here........so serious. tee hee. Man did you ever love your DVD player. I think we ended up going through about 10 of those over 2 years. A few went overboard off the hospital bed, a few malfunctioned and a few just plain got burnt out. We must have watched "Cars" a million times......seriously. Lightning McQueen rules.
I am thinking about now how very grateful I am that we got to hang out every single day. We spent so much time together and it was always such a treat - good times and bad. You were such a magnificent play partner. I could always tell when you were starting to feel better and were ready to start having a good time.......you were pretty easy to read at that point and ALWAYS came up with creative outlets.
And always such a good snuggler.
I'm also coming across pics of your first mohawk. What a cutie. You sure knew how to rock that hairstyle. You were the cutest kid on the floor.
And loved when pics of you on the slides came up. Those were your favorite. Hated swings.....loooooooooved slides!
This was you in Australia. You played for hours. Such a beautiful sight.
Then I came across this pic. Made me chuckle. We always took advantage of laughter. You were always such a willing participant. Love you so much for that. Joy was brought to every occasion possible.
You just thought you were so funny calling the nurse here.......
And of course a great giggle video. Here you are cracking up about to get a Spinal Tap........just so FULL of giggles.....non-stop.
This video just makes me smile and smile and smile. You can see so much of your personality here.....
Also found this video.......swept your dad and I away with laughter and tears. Wow did you know how to grove. Soooooo much fun to watch! Any kind of beat just took you away to another place. You felt music down to your wee lil'l bones. So soulful.
Hunter Zen....unlike any other.
Life is cruel, life is kind, It's stolen my happiness, and left me behind.
Constant effort to look up, away from the floor, in search of my smile, to find it once more.
It's buried within, amongst wreckage and tears, Not knowing if it will come out, after facing my fears.
It's definitely not the same, nor will it ever be, for he's left a tremendous footprint, on my soul, that remains in me.
Eventually.......he'll ignite a flame, that will shine oh so bright, and I'll treasure his life and love, through me, I will shine his light. (Hunter's Mom)
Your are brighter than ever baby love. Thank you for being the phenomenal child that you are. Love you so much....... XoXo Mom and Dad
A few months ago we were asked to write a song. This is not an unusual request, but it was the most difficult song we have ever written. It wasn’t just any song. It was a Song for Hunter.
Hunter was a little boy who lost his battle with AML Leukemia on March 8th 2010. He was kind, brave and hilariously funny. He was only 3 1/2 years old. We never met Hunter, but we discovered his story through a friend of ours who introduced us to his parents’ blog that documented his journey. Reading about his courage and looking into his eyes though pictures, we realized that we had to do something. “Something” became a song in his honor.
We first decided to write a song as a gift to his parents. But then we realized that we could do something bigger. We could help other children and their families who are battling this disease. So we decided to write a song that honored Hunter while raising money for leukemia research through the Healing Hunter Foundation. (www.healinghunter.com)
Now we had a goal, but that didn’t make it any easier. How we could possibly write something meaningful enough to honor such an amazing boy? A very tall order indeed. After many weeks and many unfinished songs in the garbage, we finally found our inspiration.
Inspiration came in the from of a little home video of Hunter and his parents at the beach, enjoying the sun, the breeze, and the crashing waves. Hunter was so happy, and his infectious smile and giggle brought us all the more close to him. How do we honor Hunter? The answer was simple…celebrate his life.
And so, a “Day At The Sea” was born. It took us nearly 4 months to compose, record (including recording an amazing children choir), produce and mix the final version.
We truly hope you enjoy the song and help us spread the word to raise money for much needed research.
100% of the proceeds go into the Healing Hunter Fund where they will be appropriately dispersed to the research efforts towards AML Leukemia, families touched by pediatric cancer, as well as to the organizations that so graciously helped, supported and encouraged us during Hunter's fight. We could not have done it without them and they will be forever appreciated.
Do you remember? how the sun tried in vain to warm the day?
And how the salt wind put a tangle in your hair, your jet black hair. We were the only ones there
But as sure as gulls danced in the sky, We saw your toothy smile and your laughing eyes Day at the sea and your love was a wave crashing through my memory.
Do you remember the shape of wind-filled sails, castles built with pails. Do you remember, the wind on the saw-grass hill or how the world refused to stay sad, or still.
But as sure as gulls danced in the sky, We saw your toothy smile and your laughing eyes Day at the Sea your love was a wave crashing through my memory.
Day at the sea, crashing through my memory. your love was a wave
X2
ALEXIS HARTE: In addition to touring nationally and internationally (sharing bills with Cat Power, Taj Mahal, Ritchie Havens, Dar Williams and more), Alexis has had countless tracks placed in national television shows (ABC, PBS, WB, FOX, UPN). Alexis recently signed a multi-year music co-publishing deal with Lionsgate Entertainment. (www.alexisharte.com)
SIMONE BENYACAR: In the last few years he has composed original music scores for advertising campaigns such as The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Sin City, Apocalypto, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, and video games campaigns like Halo 2, and Call Of Duty II.
Zen and I share lots of laughs together. Laughter is a huge part of our lives, and without it, our world right now would be a much, much darker place. Almost like a silent hell. But I will have to say - that as much as we laugh..........we also cry. And cry hard and for long periods of time. Right now there seems to be a tolerable balance - but we are hoping for and will happily welcome the days when the crying is less and the laughter is more.
As our days continue without Hunter.....so many memories enter into and out of our minds - constantly. He's all we think about, still, and we are trying to desperately sort through these memories to figure out which ones bring us peace and which ones bring us an overwhelming sadness. However, in the end, it seems as if all of them still bring us to our never ending flow of tears.
Hunter's Memorial Celebrarion was full of these tears, but it was also full of an immeasurable amount of love, everlasting hope, and an abundance of inspiration. Arms were wrapped so tightly around us that day and the friendships and bonds that were shared brings the tiniest bit of light into Hunter's sad departure. The last thing we ever wanted to do is say goodbye to our lil' love. So you can imagine the pain and the extremely intense feelings that were all brought to the surface in an attempt to release our sweet, precious, baby boy out of our arms and into the sky.
This was the opening performance at Hunter's Tribute. Ava's voice is truly phenomenal and she set the tone for a lovely and extremely heartfelt celebration.
Ava Gaudet & Lucy Graves - This Woman's Work
The following are Hunter's video slideshows that played during his celebration. This gives everyone a sense of how sweet and loving and endearing our amazing child was. He throws down wonderful belly giggles, insanely talented dance moves and a special love and kindness that is so terribly missed. We miss his winks, we miss him blowing us kisses, we miss his sweet smiles......we miss everything.......and always will.
Zen and I both had some words to share......but believe me......it was extremely difficult. It was almost as if once we said our goodbye - it became final. We got up on the platform, hand in hand, and thank goodness for that - because just knowing Zen was right behind me to catch me if I were to fall, gave me much comfort and handfuls of strength and courage. We are sincerely committed and forever devoted to each others healing - knowing what a long journey we have before us. To share the life that we've both now lived has bonded us together immensely, and in my heart, I know we will never part.
Here are the few words that I managed to express......saying sweet dreams to my lil' love was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
I have been trying to put this horrible emptiness into words and I'm failing terribly to come up with the right way to express the gut wrenching pain and intense feelings of loneliness and mental anguish that Zen and I are experiencing. I feel as if we've been violently thrown off a mountain top and we continue to fall without ever hitting the ground. So the sick and frightened and soul battering feeling in our hearts and in our stomachs just sits there all day long as we continue to fall further into the depths of our sorrow...........and we are assuming and have rightfully been told that this feeling never goes away........it just slightly dulls from time to time.
We've lost our child. We've lost the bright and beautiful sunshine in our lives, the never ending happiness in our smiles, and the irreplaceable joy in our days. We are still stunned and still in disbelief that this was Hunter's ending. So very hard to comprehend.
Here is Zen's beautiful tribute to Hunter while also giving thanks to all those that have experienced our journey and cheered us on and encouraged us along the way. The road we've been walking the last 2 1/2 years is one we haven't wanted to walk alone.........and we are forever grateful for all those that have endured this heartbreaking time in our lives and have held on to us for dear life.
This is the photo slideshow that continually played at Hunter's Memorial Celebration. His face still continues to shine a light every time it hits the screen. (If the slideshow has already stopped playing by the time you make it down to this link, just refresh your screen and hit the "play" button at the bottom of the image if it doesn't start automatically).
Here is a slideshow of Hunter's Memorial Celebration. The entire day was filled with amazing amounts of love and an overwhelming amount of compassion.
Not to mention the cake Rocked the house!
This is the video of Hunter's Balloon Release. We thought he'd appreciate Lightening McQueen and Mater coming up for a visit.
We sent them off with lots of smooches and buckets of love and warmth to sprinkle over him once they arrived.
So our tribute to Hunter was, sincerely, a stellar day. It was truly unforgettable and will be held in the hearts of many as a wonderful and extremely well deserved celebration. The sun was shining and the tears were abundant, but the laughter and the love and the forever appreciation of his life, rose above all else.
Like I said in my speech, Hunter will go down in the books as a wonderful, wonderful tragedy. He lives on and will continue to light the flames in our courageous spirits, our magnificent and brave attitudes, our fearless approaches to life and adversity and in our warm and loving souls. As his parents, we couldn't be more proud of what he accomplished, the love and affection that he expressed, the laughter that he shared and the never ending flow of happiness that will continue to embrace us until the day we die.
"Rest in peace baby love. We will forever cherish you. You are truly a treasure and we will carry your beautiful spirit with us everywhere we go".
A few speeches from some of our amazing friends that have stood by our side every moment of every day.....laughing, crying, sharing and lovingly supporting.
Many, many thanks to all of the lovely guests that attended Hunter's celebration who graced us with their presence and showered us with love. Your kind words, generous feelings and heartfelt emotions that you shared with us got us through our day and will forever continue to do so.........thank you for following our journey and holding us so near and dear to your hearts. We truly feel the love.......all around us......always.
A huge and loving "thank you" to Wendy of Wendy Parker Events who coordinated an amazing event. Hunter's celebration was truly memorable and will rest so sweetly in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
Another very full of love "thank you" to Allyson and the entire Bob Gail Special Events family. They were essential in making the event as beautiful as it was.
A very loving and appreciative "thank you" to Marc and Diana Brown for opening up their beautiful home and hosting Hunter's celebration.
HUGE "kudos" to Dorie, our FANTASTIC cake lady. The cake was just absolutely PERFECT and sooooooo delicious. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
Sincere appreciation and love to AJ from Argentum Photo Lab. He printed and mounted all of Hunter's images that were on display. His smile and enthusiasm for life was felt in every room.
A very heartfelt "thank you" to Tom Galassi for photographing and capturing the event so wonderfully. We love you and your beautiful family dearly. Thank you for everything you've done for us and for every single smile you guys delivered to Hunter's face. He loved that train table and played with that til the very end.....such a wonderful and special gift.
Buckets of love and appreciation to Chaz Dean who arranged for the Della Reese UP Choir to perform. Wow. Truly stunning. Thank you so much for such a lovely performance.
Lots and lots and LOTS of love to Daphne for the delicious food from The Point, Erin for the"Hunter" Balms, which are ALWAYS a huge hit, Jodi for the teas, Alicia for the sodas, Maury for the yummy wine and Ric for the beautiful sounds of music you played.....I could have listened to you all day......it was lovely.
And lastly, thank you to our families. Thank you for your love, your compassion, your kindness, your generosity and for standing by our sides for the last 2 1/2 years. You are all so very important to us and to Hunter and you helped us in so many ways. A forever "thank you" full of such love and devotion from us to you.
