I had no idea...

From Catron:

The 1st annual ALS Soccer Shootout took place on Saturday, July 16. "I had no idea" was a running theme throughout the whole day. Actually, it started before the tournament day even got here. When mom found out the number of teams and the number of players that had signed up for her tournament (16 teams and over 200 players), she said, "I had no idea this many people would want to do this."

A few days before the tournament, Todd asked us if we would like an update on where we were financially... ummm, duh. I was going big and thinking an aggressive number like $8,000. Mom was thinking $4,000 and I think dad was in the $6,000 range. Todd then told us that we were currently at $13,400!!! This was before the day of raffle, before t-shirt sales, before day of donations. This was just donation and sponsorships up to that point. $13,400!! Mom said, "I had no idea that we could raise that much money, especially in our first year!".

Then, the day of the tournament arrived. Friends of mom and dad's from before they were married were sending in donations. Friends of ours were sending in donations. Friends from our childhood (I'm talking preschool and elementary school) were coming out to play in the tournament in mom's honor. If you weren't there, I don't know if words can describe the amount of love that was on that soccer field. It was visible. It was tangible. It was one of the most overwhelmingly powerful feelings I have ever experienced. And, throughout the day, mom kept saying, "I had no idea. I had no idea. I had no idea that this many people loved me this much."

She asked me to write this post because she said every time she tried to put into words what that day meant to her, "her head got all full of love stuff". 

The day after the tournament she sent the family a text saying, "I know you are all sore today but I feel stronger than I have in weeks!" To prove her point, when I went to their house later that day she could lift and move her right leg, move her right arm, and she was speaking better than I had heard her speak in several weeks! Those are things that she has not been able to do up until Saturday. And here she was, the day after the tournament, visibly stronger both mentally and physically. That was, in no doubt, thanks to the tremendous outpouring of love that was showered over her that day. I don't know what other words to use to express how grateful we are for all of your support and for all of your love. It worked!!  

and then, a few days later, even after a surgery...

Now, thanks to all of you who supported in person, in time, in donations, in spirit, in prayer... not only does she have an idea of how much she means to people, she is 100% aware and grateful of how much she is truly loved and supported by all of you. Once again, I'm left being only able to say, "thank you" and hoping that those 8 letters are able to convey the gratitude I feel for the true soul healing light you give me, you give her, you give us. 

Thank you.


Oh, and by the way, after the tournament, the total amount raised for the MB23 ALS Foundations was... over $20,000!!!! That is not a typo! It's a '2' and a '0' with a comma and 3 more '0's!!! You guys are amazing!!