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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Dayenu

If you all had supported and loved us through emails and calls and texts and messages....dayenu. 

If you all had sent Sammy packages and cards and gifts and tshirts and videos and showed him how the world cared about him....dayenu. 

If you all had helped us beg and pray and plead and wish for a different ending for this journey....dayenu. 

If you all had stood with us as we buried our child and kissed our living children and strengthened us every moment of every day....dayenu. 

If you all had raised over half a million dollars for St Baldricks in memory of Sam, in honor of so many, with the hope of a future without the pain and heartbreak that our family and friends have felt....dayenu. 

If so many of you had agreed to shave your heads with us, to stand with us, to help us laugh and cry and pray through this experience....dayenu. 

If only Sammy had been here to see it....


Dayenu = it would have been enough. This is a liturgical poem we say at the Passover Seder extolling God's miracles. 
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26 comments:

  1. LibaApril 2, 2014 at 8:14 AM

    You are both beautiful on the inside and out.

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  2. UnknownApril 2, 2014 at 8:30 AM

    I have been following your journey as my family is going through our own journey with our son Jacob. Blessings to you for all you are doing.

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  3. Jenn SullivanApril 2, 2014 at 8:39 AM

    Thank you for sharing your journey. Your family had been in the thoughts and prayers of my family since the call for super hero photos. We've never met yet my oldest son knows I follow your blog and asks me almost every other day how Sam's family is doing. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you.

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  4. rbarenblatApril 2, 2014 at 8:42 AM

    If you had blogged about your journey as a way of telling your own story - dayenu.

    If you had blogged about your journey as a way of honoring Sam - dayenu.

    If you had blogged about your journey as a way of honoring every child and every family who struggles with this awful disease - dayenu.

    If you had shown us how to love - dayenu.

    If you had shown us how to grieve - dayenu.

    If you had shown us how to go on loving, even though we are grieving - dayenu.

    So much love.

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    Replies
    1. Hal and AudsApril 2, 2014 at 8:55 AM

      Thank you for responding in this perfect way. I agree, 100%.

      Delete
    2. Liz FeldmanApril 2, 2014 at 8:13 PM

      thank you both

      Delete
    3. Jill SevelowApril 3, 2014 at 7:33 AM

      So perfect. If I could add one more: If you had allowed perfect strangers to love, and weep, and pray, and hold you all virtually in our arms- dayenu.

      Delete
  5. Jane RoperApril 2, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    What Rachel said. (Hello, Rachel.)

    This post, and the photo of you and Michael in all your bald, loving, hurting, grieving, hopeful, living glory, brought me to tears.

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  6. Midge1963April 2, 2014 at 8:47 AM

    Thank you for sharing your hearts and souls with us. Thank you for raising awareness and money for research for all of the children who need your help. I hope you can feel all of the love that we have for you both!

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  7. MelissaApril 2, 2014 at 8:50 AM

    Powerful version of Dayenu. And I agree with what Jane Roper said above. So glad you raised so much money, as well as awareness.

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  8. Elena LevittApril 2, 2014 at 9:18 AM

    You have been an inspiration . . . what a family, a community, and a story . . . .

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  9. Lisa RosenburgApril 2, 2014 at 9:39 AM

    Never doubt for a moment that your incredible son is indeed witnessing the love and inspiration he sparked among so many. He was and continues to be a blessing.

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  10. UnknownApril 2, 2014 at 9:53 AM

    <3.

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  11. EstherabApril 2, 2014 at 9:53 AM

    You are both so very beautiful. I have never met you or your family but I have been following every blog entry. Ein Milim. Ein Milim. Sending love and strength and comfort and thanks from Jerusalem.

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  12. grenee229April 2, 2014 at 11:31 AM

    I don't know you but I've been following your story. Thank you for allowing me to be privy to it. I'm happy to be a teeny tiny part of it by supporting my rabbi when he shaved his head. Best wishes in health, happiness and peace to your family. GF in Mpls, MN

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  13. BatyaApril 2, 2014 at 12:18 PM

    You've taught us how to love...

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  14. pinchesApril 2, 2014 at 5:08 PM

    what everyone else said.

    Malkie

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  15. jrotemApril 2, 2014 at 6:03 PM

    This is beautiful.

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  16. SproutApril 2, 2014 at 7:07 PM

    I work at a children's hospital, I volunteer at our local Ronald McDonald House, and have been reading your blog for a long time. Thank you for keeping it going, thank you for raising so much for kids, thank you for sharing so openly. Thank you

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  17. TamaraApril 2, 2014 at 8:06 PM

    Beautidul. I don't know either of you, but we have a few friends in common. I followed your blog and have been so deeply touched by your superman Sam, your eloquent, raw, human words and your family's grace and strength. Love, hugs, tears, hope & strength. Xoxox tamara & Eran Kaynan

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  18. Grandma JoanApril 3, 2014 at 4:33 AM

    Dear Rabbi Phyllis,
    I love the picture of you and Rabbi Michael with your gorgeous bald heads😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
    What a handsome couple you are.
    I love you both,
    Grandma Joan

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  19. rochelApril 3, 2014 at 9:36 AM

    wishing you strength to continue to help and find a cure for the horrific disease. you were blessed with such sweet memories of sammy, you are blessed to have your lovely children. you are also blessed to have such caring family and friends cheering you along with their hearts.

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  20. MIGUELApril 3, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    You are beautiful! For sharing Sammy with us…dayenu. (Rachel says it all much better than I ever could.)

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  21. Rabbi Jason MillerApril 3, 2014 at 8:05 PM

    Amazing

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  22. LorriApril 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM

    Beautiful post...

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  23. MischelleApril 4, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    I have followed your blog for several months now. You continue to amaze me. I don't want to over step as I did not know Sam in real life. But, I can't help but think he would of loved seeing you both like this- it would have made him smile.

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