http://bimily.blogspot.com

Hi Everyone,

After a lot of talking and soul searching, Billy and I have decided that it is time for us to move on and start a family blog in another format. Kadin’s website has been a huge source of strength for us and we are so grateful for the support we have received over the past 3 years. It is so hard to believe that this started 3 years ago. Looking back on life, there is no way I could have ever imagined where we would be today. There was no way to predict the path of Kadin’s life or our own. How much our family has endured and changed is remarkable to say the least.

We wanted to say thank you to some very special people. Thank you first to Caringbridge who brought us all together and kept us all connected throughout his relapse, illness, death, and all the grief.

Thank you to Kadin’s Chemo Angels who have truly changed our lives and enriched us in ways that have forever changed us in a very fundamental way. Donnie, Stacy, Susan…you are true angels on earth. Thank you from our hearts. The way that each of you eased Kadin’s hurt and suffering with the special mail and surprise packages…As hard as it is to believe, we have kept it all, it means that much to us, because it meant so much to him.

Thank you to JoAnn and Terrell (and Annette) who brought us meals and donated their CMV negative platelets to Kadin, nonstop, every 3 days, for 3 weeks. Thank you to Brian’s Mother and Daddy who came to the hospital on transplant day and prayed with us. Thank you to Brian who connected all of us…Thank you to Jordan for being brave and talking to Kadin about all the dinosaurs.

Thank you to the multitude of doctors and nurses who cared for Kadin over his entire life. We came to UAB when Kadin was 5 months old. He grew up in the hallways of that hospital…we are so thankful for the blessings that each of you bestowed on our family through your skills and service. Each day that we spent with Kadin was a gift that your wisdom and knowledge granted to our family. Doctors Howard, Gratias, and Sande and nurses Meredith and Rookie, thank you. And thank you to Chaplain Paul who walked with us down the path that we never expected to take with true amazing grace.

Thank you to the families and kids we met and lost along the way that shared our journey with us…Madison, Dalton, Cassidy, Sebastian, Colton, Bailey, Lenzie, Andrew, Brendon, Evan, Colette, Taylor, Ella Grace, Jake Owen, James…we will never forget your courage. Thank you for teaching us how to be so brave.

Thank you to Ms. Batyski and Ms. Sarah for being the best teachers. Thank you to Ms. Cheryl for the foundations you built that made him such a good student. He loved school and loved to learn.

Thank you to Jackson, Andrew, Taylor, Mason, Ramsey, Logan, Eli, Kaia, Ethan, Sydney, and Kayla for being the best best friends.

Thank you to Tony and Aunt Pele…thank you for all the long, silly phone calls and driving across the south at least a dozen times so we could all be together. He was so happy with Tony…Some of our favorite family memories are centered around the time we got to spend together.

Thank you to Edie for putting together the bone marrow drive. Though there was not a match to be found in the drive for Kadin, there will be lives saved because of you and one less family that has to suffer.

Thank you to our families who have supported us…who dropped everything when necessary and came running. You took care of us, and took care of everything else when we couldn’t.

And thank you to our friends that are family…The Eddy’s, the Knox’s, the Moody’s, and Duaqui's. And a special thank you to “my girls” Cassie, Tara, Natalie, and Ashley. I owe you big. I will forever.

Thank you to doctor Purvis who walked us through it and listed to us complain and cry about almost everything.

Thank you to Debby, who helped me understand the other side of it.

Thank you to Team Tyndall, the 325 CS and 1AF/AFNORTH (CONR)

And finally thank you to Kadin…for being everything and more than a mommy and daddy could ever hope for. I will never ever forget you, your laugh, your smile, the sound of your voice…I will never forget the way you made me so proud to be your mommy. I will never forget the struggles and adversity you faced and how you were so brave and never complained. I will never forget your big blue eyes and your long, skinny arms and legs. I will never forget every birthday, every Christmas, every Halloween, every Easter, every family vacation…All the days you were with us…each day was a special gift that I will treasure my whole life. You and Avery (and whoever comes next) are my greatest gifts.

I will never forget you. Ever.

When we get the new blog all set up, we will post the site information here, for those that want to continue to keep up with Avery and our family. With deepest gratitude…..

The Gazzaway Family

“Sometimes, if you stand on the rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” - Winnie the Pooh.