A note from Kathy

Words cannot fully express the gratitude that we feel for the tremendous outpouring of love, support, and prayers our family has received during this time.   It has been overwhelming and inspiring.  We continue to be grateful and awed by each of you who have helped our family in some way.  I asked Nick if I could “blog” on today to express that gratitude.  I fully intend to send formal thank you notes as soon as possible, but first I wanted to say thank you on his blog also.  

First and foremost, I want to thank my family.  I want to thank Nick for rearranging his job to be able to be here, for this wonderful blog and for the unconditional love and support you give to Dad and to me.  I thank Kasey for all of your love and support you also give to Dad and me, and  for helping out so much with anything I ask with chores around the house,  going to the store, etc., and for all of your jokes, which Dad truly appreciates as you both have the same quirky sense of humor.

Thank you to my Mom, who gave up her 80th birthday party to come and celebrate Steve’s birthday.  My mom yesterday herself was diagnosed with cancer, so I would ask everyone following this blog to pray for her as well.  Thank you to my sisters, Diane and LInda for their love and support, for their wonderful e-mails and phone calls and logs onto Nick’s blog, which keeps me going.  Linda adds an extra dose of understanding, as she has been through the battle with cancer herself.  And thank you to my brother Mike and nephew CW.

Thank you to Steve’s parents, Mary and Clem Planeta for their love and support, for their prayers, for being there when I called for Steve’s party and for the financial help.  Thank you also to Judy, June, Jay and Krista for being at the party and to everyone in Syracuse for their cards, love, and prayers.  Thank you to our nephew, Michael, especially being there for Nick and for all of us.

Thank you to my aunts, Ruth Michon and Edna Sandvidge for their Spiritual Remembrance Cards and Spiritual healing cards.

Thank you to Alyssa Kavanaugh and her mom, Nancy for their wonderful support, and for all the encouraging and supportive e-mails and prayers.

Thank you to our friends.  Thank you, Rich & Vita for coming to Steve’s party, bringing the food, bringing balloons, coming over with pizza, and a willingness to be there and to do anything we need and in general, cheering Steve up.  Thank you to the D’Aleo’s, and  to Marcie  for helping us with future planning and for their love and concern.  

Thank you to Judi Fazioli for our surprise Chinese dinner delivered to our house and for being my best friend for over 40 years.   Thank you to Tobie, Peter and Noah Atlas for your support,  and for the airline ticket for Nick and for helping with our taxes.  Thank you to Robin & Frank Weitzman for your friendship and kind words.  Thank you to Jan Hanson, Patty Pires, Mary Shapiro, and Lisa Gordon and the “Play Group” Girls.

Thank you our to all of you who sent cards and letters:   P. Asack, Amanda Burgess,  Adam Choice, The Chubet’s, the Concannon’s; the Curran’s, Artie Cutrone, Gus David,

Kyle Donovan, The Geer’s, the Gordon’s, the Gould’s,  the Earles, the Hotte’s, Louise Jurewicz & Mike Shudt, Steve McPherson, the Milano’s, The O’Leary’s, the Peterson’s, the Russell Family, Justin Sherman and the Sherman Family,  Brittany Soderholm, Christian van Lowen,Trudy Walsh, the Whelan’s, and Chas Woodward

Thank you to all who sent food:  Joan & Terry Earles, Judi Fazioli, Michelle & Randy Miller,  Rich & Vita Theriault, and the Weirsema’s.  

Thank you to those who sent flowers:  Elizabeth & Ben, Cameron Gibson, Ginger Ledbetter, Shelley O’Neil, Ron Matthews, Steve Seniukt, Tom Estes, Scott Bronson and the Korea group (and thank you for your lovely note), Richard Coakley & PMT group.

Thank you to our neighbors: John & Sue Shabo and and the Schreiber Family and  Ron & Donna Burman for their love & support - and thank you for mowing our lawn!

Thank you to all who sent helpful books: Linda Maney, Nancy Kavanagh, Karen Trossett (Thank you for the CD also & the starbucks), 

Thank you to the Colby College and Basketball family for all your cards and wonderful letters,  and a special thank you to Chris Lemmons for his wonderful and inspiring blog and to Laura Lemmons as well.  

Thank you to St. Margaret Mary’s Parish Choir and Community.   A special thank you to Father Chris Coyne for meeting with me and helping me with spiritual guidance during this time.   Thank you to everyone in the choir who sent cards, e-mail and their thoughts, prayers and kind words and words of wisdom and experience.  Thank you to Joe and Betty Holderrheid for their support, as well as Mary McSoley. Thank you to Patrick Valentino for the job this summer.  Thank you all for your prayers.

Thank you to Terry Kerr for his love and support and for giving me a job for the summer

(Kismet, Terry).

Thank you to Steve’s soccer friends and to Mike Niles and to all of you who sent Steve kind words and e-mails and information on upoming developments in the area of pancreatic cancer.  Also, to Mal for the blog post.

Thank you to the employees of Raytheon who sent good wishes, cards, e-mails and flowers from all the different branches, including Korea!

Thank you to everyone who telephoned and sent e-mails.  

Thank you to Dr. Gopinath and her wonderful staff and DMA, as well as the staff at Faulnker Hospital 6th floor unit.    And thank you for all the wonderful ANGELS at Dana Farber Hospital and Dana Farber Clinic at Faulkner.  The work you do is truly remarkable and awe-inspiring.  A special thanks to Eileen Maunsell, RN and Dr. Thomas Abrams.  

Kathy Planeta