I know I’ve mentioned how thankful we are about a thousand times. But I really don’t think that many times is enough.
From the moment we originally called back in August through our entire time in Los Angeles you were all so responsive, caring, and genuinely mine and my family’s best interests at heart. When I originally asked to go to California all the way into February, it was basically wishful thinking. Not only did I not think it was possible to actually get to go to the all star game but I didn’t think I would even be able to stand on my own two feet. Once I heard that I was ACTUALLY getting to go to California – my mind was set. I promised myself I was going to be walking by then.
From about October to December my mom and I would go on very strenuous walks around my block while I was still on crutches. Those walks were extremely difficult for me even though they were just a few blocks – on a good day. But on those walks we would mostly talk about how excited we were to go to California. It was like the light at the end of the tunnel. The harder I trained the more I would be able to comfortably walk around Los Angeles. Those walks on crutches went from one block to a few blocks, then from a few blocks to a few more, then from two crutches to one crutch, from one crutch to a cane and then finally I was without a crutch or a cane on December 21st. The excitement of the trip gave me the strength to walk 3 months ahead of schedule. My doctor did not even believe me when I said I was walking already. So that is what my first thank you is for.
The next thing I want to thank you for was for how easy going everything was to get this trip set up. I literally never had any experience less stressful in my life and I KNOW that this is not an easy thing to plan and coordinate it. Our trip was easier on us than it is just to get back and forth from my doctors office in NY lol. So that fact that you both made this so easy on us was truly the most amazing thing you could have done. So thank you for that as well.
Now for our actual time in Los Angeles – I remember initially writing an email to you about the trip saying what I was most upset about was losing the ability to treat my family to fun things and then just playing basketball. Being so close to the players on the most exciting weekend of the NBA season truly made me feel like I was a part of the game again (I even scored a shot in from extremely far at universal theme park, it felt great!). Being surrounded by the players and the LA culture brought such a spirit back to me that I had really lost throughout my entire treatment. I was also able to treat my family to the best vacation of their lives. It is confirmed – we decided- it was our favorite vacation ever. Everything we did just worked out for us the whole weekend (and that never happens to us). Everything went so smooth and ended up being better than we ever could have imagined.
From Murray’s mom:
Words alone cannot begin to express the thankfulness I feel for this amazing trip that you sent us on. It was perfect from beginning to end. The planning was also such a huge part as Murray has already mentioned. It was the light that kept his spirits high and pushed him throughout the past months leading up to the trip. We had so much fun together as a family. You are really doing the most incredible job in helping a young adult cancer patient. This trip was the best medicine. Thank you again for everything from the bottom of my heart. We will miss getting emails from you so if you can please keep in touch!
Love, Murray and the whole family!
Experience Murray’s best vacation ever!
