THANK YOU!

Thank You

On Sunday, March 22nd, the "Team Elizabeth Jeanne" committee hosted a benefit for Elizabeth. There was never any doubt that the family members and friends who were working so hard to make the benefit a success would do a fantastic job.  I will say, though, that I don't think that anyone expected the overwhelming amount of support that was shown to our family and to Elizabeth by our community at the benefit.  Jason and I are still trying to wrap our heads around the incredible support that was shown to us on Sunday.  It was totally unreal!  

The "Team Elizabeth Jeanne" committee had planned and prepped and were ready for the day working together as a well-oiled machine.  My parents (Jeff and Amy Bly) made several roasters of homemade spaghetti sauce.  My cousin (David Bard and his wife, Linda) made hundreds of meatballs.  My cousins and sisters cooked pounds and pounds of pasta, made salads, and had decorated the fellowship hall of the church.  There were pictures of Elizabeth on every table. The tables were covered with purple tablecloths (Elizabeth's favorite color), and my sister Becca had coordinated a day of entertainment to take place in the sanctuary of the church during the benefit. Everyone worked together to make the day so successful, and we enjoyed watching them work with so much love in their hearts for our little Elizabeth.

My uncle Pete and aunt Michelle Schidemantle helped to organize the take-out orders.  It was clear that they had done this a few times before.  My aunts (Debbie Bossinger, Lisa Kepple, Charlene Kepple, Lori Bly) and my uncles (Ed Kepple, Bill Kepple, Greg Bly) all worked in the kitchen or were floating around relieving other family members that day.  My honorary "sister" Kelly Gallagher was also there helping in the kitchen.  My cousins (Ashley Ciafre, Kellie Johnston, Katie Callihan, Laura Kepple, Hannah Bossinger, Kristen Bly and Samantha Hagan) and my sisters (Holly Wilson, Emily Rekich and Becca Bly), as well as Jason's brother Bill, all worked hard in the kitchen, selling tickets or doing anything that needed to be done.  My grandparents (Shirley and Dave Kepple and Roland and Joan Bly) were there all day to show their support.  My Grandma Kepple and her sister/ my great-aunt (Nancy Bard) checked people in for the dinner, and my Grandma Joan Bly set up a table in the lobby and sold a variety of crocheted and knitted items to put towards the proceeds.  Also, Suzan Graham was there with her 31 products and Terri Boehming Kriberney was there with her Premier Jewelry products and sold items to donate proceeds to the benefit.

There were several volunteers from the community who showed up throughout the day to help out wherever they needed help.  Karen and Tim Botinovch, Megan Slaugenhoup and her family, Nikki Allen, Eric Allbee, (Uncle) Walt Barney, Debbie Dunn, Mary Kay Summerville, Sara Ellenberger, Sharon Appel, Hannah Knoll, Pastor Joe Boomhower and his wife Carol, The Taylor family for their entertainment (Beth Ackelson, Jenny Martin and Rosie Mead), Joe Spurio and so many others that I just could not keep track of that showed up or came back to help throughout the day.  There were students from Karns City who came to help and volunteer that day as well.  Jason and I were very touched by these young men and women volunteering their time for our daughter.  There were several members of the KC Football team that showed up to volunteer, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about that group of young men.  Their parents should all be very proud of the kind, funny, polite young men that are their sons.  I am working on getting a list together of everyone who stayed or volunteered that day.  My apologizes if you have been left off of the list here. 

Jason, Celtan and Elizabeth and I were there that day. Elizabeth was happy in her stroller and wore her mask to help protect from germs.  Celtan packed a bag of toys, and was excited to play with his Hackwelder and Johnston cousins throughout the day.  Our friend, Kim Palmer, took some amazing pictures of the event, including many of the picture posted here, and shared them in a folder on Facebook.  We were so grateful to Kim for capturing the special moments of the day. We tried to catch everyone and thank them, but we could quickly see that was going to be an impossible task.  I spent most of the day either crying (because I was so overwhelmed) or talking to people and hugging them.  I had no voice left on Monday to teach.  We could not believe the people from family members to community members to church family to colleagues that came out to support us that day.  There were people who came that I literally haven't seen in over 10 years (it makes me feel so old to say that).  They said they have been following Elizabeth's story on the blog and on Facebook.  Parents of my friends that showed up, people that we have known and have been near and dear to our hearts for years, and so many others.  Jason's brother, Bill, came from New York City and his brother Eric and his wife Sandy came down from Erie.  My cousin Tammy, her family and my Uncle Lenny came from Ohio.  It was totally overwhelming.

There was a steady stream of people coming in and out all day.  The "Team Elizabeth Jeanne" committee and the volunteers worked together to keep the day running smoothly.  There were tables and tables of baskets that were being raffled off, a table of generously donated silent auction items, Team Elizabeth Jeanne t-shirts for sale, and entertainment in the sanctuary provided by talented community members and students in the Westminster College Music Department. It was a beautiful day full of love, support, and kindness.

The Butler Lions Club was there to support Elizabeth and the benefit and had a steady stream of members come and go throughout the day.  Their club has generously support Elizabeth to help us get her to the specialists in Boston and San Francisco.  They made a donation as a club, and also came individually with their friends, spouses and family to come and show their support that day.  We are super grateful for their support.  It was so wonderful to be able to meet them in person, and for them to have a chance to meet Elizabeth, on that day.  They are a wonderful group of people, and I'm so glad that we have been brought together through all of this. 

There were over 600 dinners sold that day.  The dinner consisted of spaghetti, with homemade sauce, meatballs, salad, bread (most of which was made in my Uncle Bill and Aunt Charlene's bread oven), and delicious desserts that were donated by many people. The American Legion Post 488 in East Brady graciously donated raffle tickets and take out containers, which were huge contributions that helped to make that day a success.  (They sadly lost their beloved Commander, Art Hillwig, over the weekend.  He was a wonderful man, and he will be greatly missed.  Our hearts, love and prayers are with Nancy, Bart and Nate and Art's friends and family at this very difficult time.)  The food items for the day were generously donated by a variety of community and family members, and we cannot thank you enough for helping to make the dinner possible.  At the end of the day, they donated the leftover desserts and beverages to the American Legion Post 488 for Art's Funeral Dinner and the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend. We cannot thank everyone who donated their time, food items, and raffle items to help support Elizabeth and made the day such a success.

Some of my favorite highlights of the day were the picture that Amanda (Steiner) Friedl's daughter, Ella, drew for Elizabeth.  Also, we had a great picture taken of my friend Brittney and Andrew Larimore's son, Beck Larimore, and Elizabeth in their glasses.  They look alike and totally rock their curly hair and glasses, and it is amazing to see how these preemies have grown.  Although we missed them, we were given a sweet surprise by Chloe Fritch, and her friend Olivia Rumbaugh, who gave a bag to Elizabeth with the money that they had earned at their lemonade stand this summer.  Then, at the end of the day as we were leaving, we were given the big basket of Frozen Items that was on the silent auction table.  The person who had been bidding on them had done so with the intent that they wanted to win so that the basket could go home with us, because Elizabeth LOVES Frozen.  Celtan was super excited about this, because he had been looking at the basket all day and asking if we could take it home.  As if my heart had not already melted several times that day, these things totally threw me past the melting point.  These touching and sweet acts of kindness, especially by people who are so young. Their parents should be so proud.

At the end of the day, when Katie and Holly told me the tentative total of what they had earned that day, I cried.  I just could not believe it, and I don't think they could either.  I'm not sure anyone expected the outcome and overwhelming support that was shown to us that day.  We have decided for a variety of reasons not to publish the total, but we will be happy to tell you if you want to ask us.  My email address is tbly1231@hotmail.com or you can send me a text or message on Facebook.  Let's just say that it was a lot of money, and because of the generous support and funds that were raised we will be able to take Elizabeth to these specialists this summer.  We will also have extra to put away to save up for expense for travel and medical and other items for Elizabeth, and it will also take some pressure off of us for the unpaid time that I will be taking from work to be home to care for her once she gets her G-Tube put in on Monday (3/30). Jason and I still can't believe it, and we are totally and graciously humbled by the support.  

We have been so blessed by the prayers, cards, kind words, random acts of kindness from our secret angels, and every other good thing that we have experienced on this journey.  We had no idea that so many people were following Elizabeth's journey, or cared about her and our family, so much. It was very touching.  We have been blessed beyond measure by all of you, and we cannot begin to express to you in words how much everything that went into Sunday meant to us.  We may never hit the Powerball, heck we can't even win on a scratch off ticket, but we certainly have won the lottery of life by having the blessing of the support from all of you.  We are definitely feeling the love!!!!

To my family (a.k.a Team Elizabeth Jeanne):  I hope that you all were able to get some good rest and some extra naps in for all of the hard work that you put into making Sunday a success.  You have blessed me throughout the years with love and support, and that has only increased on this journey with Elizabeth.  We are blessed to belong to such a circle of love, memories, laughter, support and strength.  Even when the road is rough, we pull together and stand stronger because we have each other.  I know that I have thanked you, hugged you, told you all that I love you, but I will never be able to do that enough.  Seriously, we love you all, and Elizabeth may not fully understand now, but we will continue to remind her of just how much she is loved by all of you. 

So, thank you again to EVERYONE, for making Sunday such a success.  I'm sorry if I missed someone in this post.  We are working out a method to properly thank everyone.  We seriously love you all!!!