A lot can happen in a year. This time last year I wrote all of you an email asking for kind gestures to help celebrate Molly's birthday. I find it hard to find the words this year as sending this email without being able to share Molly's updates is really hard and sad. For some inspiration I looked at the email I sent a year ago and found this passage:

Last week I read a children's book entitled "Ordinary Mary and Her Extraordinary Deed" and I was immediately reminded of Molly. The premise of the book is Mary does a kind act for a friend (anonymously) and then that person is inspired to do something nice for 5 people and then those 5 people do kind acts for 5 more people....and so on until Mary's one kind act has changed and made the world a better place. While Molly is more extraordinary than ordinary, she has inspired people to take care of their bodies,she has been the recipient of countless kind acts (a reflection on the wonderful and loved person that she is), and truly by being her extraordinary self is making the world a better place. 

 

When Molly was first diagnosed there was an outpouring of love and support. One moment that sticks with me is the number of people who sent money and gift cards to help lessen any possible financial burdens. Molly was overwhelmed with gratitude but also made us promise that any money that was not used for her or the boys would go to then help another family who was fighting cancer when she was better. Molly was so grateful for the support but always also thinking of others. 

Not a day goes by that I dont think of Molly. I am comforted by the fact that there are countless people who feel the same way and miss Molly so much. There are so many things I miss about her....her laugh, her fierce determination to get a sweat or exercise even when she was not feeling great, when I was visiting her and supposed to be there to take care of her how Molly would make sure to make me breakfast and coffee and take care of me, how FUN she was and Molly could help find the joy in any situation. My heart aches I miss Molly so much and I know I am not alone. However, before she passed we had a lot of conversations and I made her a lot of promises. One of those promises  was to be a good and kind person in the world. Every day I try to treat people with more patience and kindness than I might have otherwise as a tribute to Molly. 

I have a request for each of you to help me honor Molly on her birthday February 28th. I ask you to do an act of kindness in honor of Molly and her birthday to help her spirit and legacy of the amazing person she was live on in this world. Be creative and don't be afraid to share your kindness early and often throughout the day to celebrate all the different kindness Molly brought about in the world:

• be a kind friend and make plans to spend time with a friend
• bring your spouse or significant other flowers just because
• leave an extra generous tip for a server
• SMILE at a stranger and make eye contact
• show yourself a kindness by doing a #sweatformolly

All our love,

Team Molly