My "cards for Xage" campaign was really for me

I find myself feeling extremely thankful lately.

I’m not just thankful because it’s November and Thanksgiving time.

Honestly, as everyone should know by now, “Thanksgiving” is an extremely problematic and made-up holiday. I can’t honestly say I celebrate it anymore, although I am always glad for an opportunity to gather with our extended family.

So if I’m not thankful because of Thanksgiving, then why am I thankful today?

I am very thankful to have Xage at home after an extended hospital stay. I’m also extremely grateful to the friends and family who responded to my call for cards for Xage during their time at Nationwide Children’s.

You see, we had one particularly rough day at NCH. Xage was sad and lonely and miserable, and that broke my heart. I did what I do best: I posted on social media about it.

I put up a post on both Facebook and Instagram asking friends to send cards to Xage that we could bring to the hospital and help cheer them up. And boy, did our community hear that call and rally around us!

Xage received more cards and letters and drawings and even gifts than I could fit on our kitchen table – and we have a very LARGE kitchen table.

The first day after my call for cards, we walked into the hospital with eight cards for Xage. They were delighted!

The next day, there were five more cards and a gift. The day after that, there were 12 cards and two Amazon packages! And the cards kept coming.

Even after Xage came home from hospital, the cards, postcards and letters and gifts kept coming. I spread them all out on our kitchen table (that’s how I know we had too many to fit there!). One of my favorites was a very creative and fun box of sunshine (pictured above) that came from Xage’s cousins – aka our Indiana bananas.

I love that we got cards not just from close friends, but from distant and far-away friends and family. Xage got a postcard from Kauai and mail from Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, California, Indiana, Ohio and many more. They got a virtual card from England. They got well wishes from Germany and Thailand.

I was so very grateful for this outpouring of love for our little one – but do you know who spent the most time reading through and delighting over all those cards and letters? I’ll give you a hint: it wasn’t Xage.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turns out that when I asked for cards for Xage, I was really asking for support and kindness and love for myself as well. There is truly a kind of magic in asking for help.

As a writer, the written word is more important to me than most. Words of affirmation are my top love language.

I read through every word that friends and family wrote to Xage, and those words filled up my cup so much. They helped me to feel less alone and frightened. Having a kiddo in the hospital is one of the most awful things that can happen to a mom; it was definitely one of the hardest times in my life.

All your cards and letters helped us so much. I can’t thank you enough. I will keep them forever – both to share with Xage when they feel down or lonely, but also to read through myself when I need a boost.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you to all the friends, family and acquaintances who took the time to write kind and supportive notes, buy or make cards, and purchase a stamp.

Those words and thoughts and well wishes meant the world to all of us – but especially to me.

If you are ever going through a hard time, need to read a kind word or just want a little boost of sunshine in your day, PLEASE let me know. I plan to pay forward all 50-plus cards and letters we received during our rough time!

Please message me on Instagram or Facebook with your address and I will send a card your way. It will be my absolute pleasure to pass on some of the love and kindness we received this month.

My gratitude overflows. Thank you again, each and every one of you.

And also, thanks also for reading this – for without dear readers like you, I would just be screaming out into the void.