a very public THANK YOU (and Kiddo's health update)

Because my blog reaches so many people I wanted to post this thank you letter here so that people around the world will understand just how wonderful Mr. Leonsis is. For those who don't know, Ted Leonsis is the majority owner of the Washington Capitals Ice Hockey team. (This post also includes a Kiddo health update.)


Dear Mr. Leonsis,

Back in November you had us out to the Verizon Center to watch the Caps game in the owners box. It meant so much to Hubby and I that you spent time talking to Kiddo about his allergies and his feeding tube; you treated him as we do, like he is a very important person. Then you took Kiddo to the locker room to meet the guys. As I told you then, this was an absolute dream come true for him. In fact, he wants to wear his signed jersey just about every day. I already sent you some photos from that night but here is a link to all of them so you can see how much fun Kiddo (and Hubby and I) really had: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041502&id=1364603680&l=4923701e53

At that game you told us not to be shy in asking for tickets to future games for Kiddo. When Kiddo was due for another surgery in December I took you up on that offer. Hubby and I wanted to give him a really fun night to help him think positively about the surgery. This time you sent us four tickets for some incredible seats not too far off the ice. We had a BLAST!

Kiddo brought his friend X; they play on the same hockey team and have been buddies since they were 4 years old. I did their hair up before the game so they were BOTH rocking the hawk this time around.

The game was incredible. Both boys had an absolutely great time. Here's a video of them "unleashing the fury" ...



The Caps were down at first but they came back strong and won it in overtime. The cheering from the boys (and from us) was deafening.

At the end of the game Kiddo turned to me and said "You know they only won because I was here - I'm their good luck charm!"

Thank you so very much for giving us tickets to this game. We had so much fun together, and it was a great way to enjoy the weekend before Kiddo's surgery.

Four days later we headed up to the hospital. Although we were concerned about the possibility that Kiddo would wake up in a lot of pain, he had a great attitude before surgery. In fact, he was quite silly in the pre-op room.

All the other kids in the various pre-op rooms were quiet (either due to nervousness or medication) but not Kiddo - HE was a nut, as you can see in the video below.



After a while they took him back for the procedure and we headed off to wait. The plan was to remove that long tube that you saw him with and to put in a new "button" type tube that is the size of Kiddo's thumb. Kiddo was nervous about this change but we knew it was for the best. While they were inside of him they were also planning to take biopsies (as they do during every endoscopy) to see if his esophagus has healed any since the feeding tube was put in.

I'm very glad to say that the surgery went as planned, no problems. Kiddo woke up in a small amount of pain but nothing over the top. That night he helped us decorate the Christmas tree and even put the star on the top. The next day he wanted to go to his power hockey lesson; he was in pain, but he skated through it. Within the week he was just about back to himself.

In the time since then, the new tube has proved to be a blessing - although it did take a bit of getting used to. Kiddo was back out playing hockey within the week, so that proves that he's back to normal.

Here are pictures of Kiddo with the old tube and the new tube so you can see the huge difference.

The night before the surgery:

Two days after Christmas (and no, he isn't eating that, just making it - he wanted to do the project with all his cousins regardless of whether he could eat it or not):

It is pretty amazing to me how small this new "button" is, especially after the long tube he had before.

We'll get the biopsy results on January 4. We're praying that there will be good news, but whatever happens, we'll be ok.

I can't thank you enough for the interest you've taken in Kiddo, and for the tickets to the game. You are an inspiration to us and we wish that there were more people in the world like you. Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU.

Sincerely,

Heather J, Hubby, and especially Kiddo

PS. Happy New Year to you, your family, and the team. We'll be spending the day with X's family watching the Winter Classic together. :)


(For other Kiddo-related posts, click here.)