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the eric update - day 374: still more gifts! or the unbelievable kindness of strangers.

we've received many thoughtful gifts over the past year from strangers and we're tremendously grateful for each and every one; but i was still very surprised to find an extra large package waiting for us at the post office when we returned from downeast, maine. it seems that due to a mail forwarding snafu, the package didn't reach us in time for odin's birthday but luckily the united states post office almost always eventually delivers packages to their intended recipients.

sometimes i feel a little funny writing about gifts that we receive from people because they never ask for us to publically acknowledge their kindness and it feels a little odd to continually write about the things that people take the time to send. while we appreciate all the goodies, we don't ever want to create the impression that we expect people to send odin gifts or that we think any less of anyone who enjoys the updates but doesn't feel the urge to send a "thank you" gift.

but this package is a little different because it comes from a family who, after finding themselves in the neonatal intensive care unit with their own 24 weeker, stumbled upon odin's story while searching for information on micropreemies on the internet. and they decided to take the time to send our entire family gifts ( including mauja! ) on odin's birthday thanking us for helping them through their own struggles.

it's impossible, absolutely impossible, to adequately convey how much it means to us to know that in some small way we've been able to help make life a little less scary and a little more hopeful for a family that we've never met and that they would take the time to mindfully express their thanks. it's a little hard to tell from the photo, but all the tags are handwritten and the ribbons are so beautiful that we're going to save them and put them on special gifts for odin for many birthday's to come.

and the sentiment that they expressed on the inside of the card really means a great deal to us. perhaps more than they ever suspected when they wrote it. i didn't ask their permission ahead of time so i haven't revealed their family name, but if they're comfortable doing so, perhaps if they recognize their handiwork, they'll leave a comment. if not, that's o.k. too.

regardless, we were tremendously touched by the gesture and we wish the very best for their entire family; maybe someday we'll get a chance to meet and watch our miracle boys play together in the sandbox, while wondering if they ever were really that small and fragile.

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7/13/2005 11:59:00 PM 2 comments

2 Comments:

Maybe while the miracle boys play in the sandbox, the big boys can spend some time playing the guitar? We are so glad you received the box, it doesn't adequately express our gratitude for sharing your story but it is a start.
-amy, andy, and jack

ps - the dog cookies are yogurt and carob so they should be safe.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:42 AM  

amy ingalls: "Maybe while the miracle boys play in the sandbox, the big boys can spend some time playing the guitar? We are so glad you received the box, it doesn't adequately express our gratitude for sharing your story but it is a start."

thanks again for such a wonderful gifts!

the dog cookies are long gone. i think mauja preferred them even over the salt fish which is impressive!

and most certainly i'll bring along the guitar :-)

By Blogger e3, at 10:19 AM  

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[ rhetoric ]

"it is hard to be brave," said piglet, sniffing slightly, "when you're only a Very Small Animal." rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said: "it is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the adventure before us."

the complete tales & poems of winnie the pooh

[ about ]

this site chronicles the continuing adventures of my son, odin, who was unexpectedly born on the fourth of july at 25 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound 7 ounces.

he's quite a fighter and you can always send him a postcard to the most current address listed here if you're inspired by his adventures. see the postcard project/google maps mashup to see a map of the postcards.

if you're new, you can browse the archives to catch up. and don't forget to watch a few movies that i made while we were in the neonatal intensive care unit. or if you want the abridged version and you can find a copy, you can read about his adventures in the november 2005 issue of parents magazine.



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