I believe there are angels among us.
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To sho​w us how to live
To teac​h us how to give
To guide us with the light of love
Alabama​

As I have walked this path over the last four and a half years, many angels have crossed my path. Whether it is friends being there at the right moment, family offering support or strangers who have gone out of there way to lend a hand and touch our lives. I wanted to recognize some of MY angels today.

Let me start by saying so many of you reading this have been there for me in so many ways. There is no way I could possibly mention each of you. Please know you are all important and have all helped me on this journey we call life.

First and foremost, my Mom. Since I was a little girl my Mom has been my strongest ally and my most trusted confidant. She is behind me 100%. She is my rock. I have always respected and loved her, but our relationshi​p has grown immensely in the last four years. You see Alex can tell you. he is Mimi's boy. Watching there relationshi​p grow has been one of my greatest joys and has produced some of my warmest memories. Mom, I love you.

Mariah- You could of ever imagined the path our friendship has taken. For those of you who don't know let me explain. Mariah and I both joined an internet support group in the first two years of our children's lives when we thought they had "food allergies". On this website we started responding to each other, but were certainly not friends. In May of 2006, Mariah took her girls to Cincinnati to see Dr. Putnam. Alex was scheduled to see the same Dr. one month later. Mariah graciously offered to have me call her so I would know what to expect. That call changed our lives. Since that time Mariah and I have nurtured a treasured friendship. Our kids have walked a similar path through the diagnoses of Eosiniphili​c Enteropathy and then Mito. We have shared our greatest joys and our deepest fears. When I am mad, scared, confused, happy it is Mariah I pick up the phone to call. Our lives are identical in so many ways. I know there is always an understandi​ng ear on the other end. Mariah- Thank you for always being there, for always listening and mostly for always understandi​ng. mariah- I love you. i don't know how I could walk this path without you.

And last, A stranger named Shannon who is about to make Alex's dreams come true. Two summers ago while visiting Mimi and PopPop, we came across a place called Preservatio​n Station. At one of the local shopping centers you could hold and have your picture taken with a baby tiger. Alex at the age of almost 3, gladly cuddled that "sweet little tiger". Last year, we made sure to return to once again hold a tiger. We knew that they had a very in depth hands on tour where you could interact with animals on a 50 acre preserve, but the minimum age limit was 6. Both years we asked if they ever made exceptions, but we were told 6 it is.
After the year Alex has had, Mimi felt like he deserved a special treat so she took it upon herself to contact preservatio​n station. She wound up in touch with Shannon the tour coodinator. And you guessed it....Shann​on and the director have granted permission for Alex to take the tour. So this Friday, my little buggy will get to play with baby tigers, hold chimpanzees​, feed an elephant, allow a hawk to land on his arm, and so much more. We are SO excited. Without the kindness of these strangers who were touched by Alex's story this dream would have never come true. I have held off telling about this because we are still working out the finances as this is pretty expensive, but we will make it happen regardless of the cost. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.​

To all the doctors, nurses, child life specialists​, internet friends, real life friends and family...Th​ank you for being angels in my life and for touching me.