Henry's 1st Birthday

It is pretty crazy how sentimental I have been for Henry's First Birthday. Just about anything he has done lately makes me tear up - I am just amazed at how far he has come and the amount of strength he has shown through all of it. For any of you who have not met Henry, he is just about the most amazing individual you will ever meet. Here are just some thoughts I have had from the past few days:

As we look back over this past year, we can't believe we have come so far. There are so many people we need to thank for making this possible. To begin with - Dr. Harrop and Nurse Mary and all the staff in Ronan at At. Luke's. Without their diligence and attentiveness we may not be celebrating so joyously. At no point in our journey almost a year ago do we forget anyone who helped us get here - the air medics, the staff in the NICU in Missoula's Community Hospital, The specialists and their technicians who came in in the wee hours of the night to confirm suspicions of diagnosis, even the janitor who passed by and then stopped and apologized and asked if I needed any help. The air medics to Seattle who worked overtime just to get one more patient to a safe place, the ambulance driver who got us safely to Seattle Children's Hospital weaving through traffic and assuring me the sirens did not mean Henry was in distress and the incredible team that took our son in and immediately gave him the "best of the best" care anyone could ask for. Our family and friends who went above and beyond to take in our children and see after our business to assure that each got the care needed to make it through this 'time out'.

We would like to thank each of you for your actions, attentiveness, talents and gifts all of which now give us the opportunity to Say "Happy First Birthday Henry Hanson"

With all of our love,
Debbie & Drew

The video and photos are from a pre-birthday celebration we had so the family that was here could be a part of this special event. Henry will be one on August 10.