Power Of Noah

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry that I haven't updated since the day Noah passed away. We have been busy opening Christmas cards.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for respecting our privacy during the viewings and funeral for Noah. The funeral was beautiful as far as funerals go. Thank you to Pastor Allen, Ward Presbyterian, and Christine for making the funeral something to remember.

I would like to talk a little about the Power of Noah. This is the phrase that the people that are in my life use to describe the things that have happened in the past few weeks.

Noah has received over one million Christmas cards, American flags flown from all over the world, letter from President Obama, and many medals from most of the branches of the military. It has been absolutely amazing to hear the stories of the individuals that have sent cards to us, as well. For example, one of the first cards that we received was from a local woman whose daughter had been killed in a car accident. She had stopped celebrating Christmas for over three years. Because of Noah's story, she sent him a card and plans on celebrating Christmas this year.

Two seventh graders were touched by Noah's story and wanted to do something to help. They sold donuts and sent a little over $500.00 to the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan has named the Neuroblastoma Research Fund after Noah and is currently setting up a web page that will be dedicated to the Power of Noah. It will have information about Neuroblastoma, Noah's story, and ways to donate to the research fund online. Dr. Mody and Dr. Yanik are so excited about the Power of Noah. They haven't seen anything like this and are humbled that Noah chose for them to be part of it.

We have donated to Make-A-Wish with toys and books and gifts. Also, we have been able to give them checks that people sent along with donations to follow from the monies raised.

I want everyone to know that each and every card is being opened and read. It is a time consuming process and I have a staff that is working every day. We have many people that are helping and we all have found that it's quite therapeutic to read them. We all sit together and share stories and messages that are in the cards. We have all been surprised at how much fun we are having. We laugh and cry and just enjoy each other's company. Maybe that's the point. I don't know.

Many people want to know how I'm doing. I'm doing fine. I have a peace that is very difficult to describe. I don't have any regrets about the way Noah's life was handled. I don't have any what ifs or I should have done that. I know that I did everything that I could to help Noah. We did our research and made the right decisions for Noah. When it was time to stop the treatments, I am proud that he chose me to help him leave this world. I helped him into this world and I helped him out. I think that my family and I did it the right way. We made sure that he was prepared and because of that he wasn't scared. I got to hold his hand and be right there with him when he passed away. It was peaceful and the second most powerful moment of my life. The first was the day he was born.

The Power of Noah lives on in each one of us.