Tom Whittaker's Blog

Over the past three weeks I have asked neighbors, friends, family and co-workers if they would send a Thanksgiving Day card to Dale, since he would be receiving chemotherapy today and not spending Thanksgiving in a more traditional way. I had hoped and prayed for 100 cards, but was overwhelmed to receive 306 cards and packages for Dale.  The outpouring of love and support was amazing!

This was the message I sent to everyone:

Dale will start his 4th round of chemotherapy the week of Thanksgiving.  Since Dale gets chemo five consecutive days, that means Dale and I will be spending a fair portion of our Thanksgiving at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center. I want to try to make Dale’s chemo Thanksgiving as special as possible and thought it would be great if I could get a bunch of you to mail greeting cards to Dale to help make his Thanksgiving a little better.

You can send any type of card and write anything you’d like in it, whether it be your favorite thing about Thanksgiving or just simply wishing him luck on his treatment. It does not matter if you have met Dale or not. It can even be a hand drawn turkey on a piece of paper. Just knowing people are out there supporting him is what he needs. I plan to surprise Dale with all the cards at the cancer clinic on Thanksgiving and figure reading them will be a great way for him to pass the time that morning, plus let him know so many people out there are cheering him on.

I tried to write updates on Facebook and Twitter so everyone could share in the joy that you brought Dale.  Here are those updates:

Dale is overwhelmed and keeps crying with each card. He does not know what to say. I am so happy for him to know he is so loved. Thank you all.

It has taken 20 minutes for Dale to get through the first 12 cards. Everyone's words of love and hope are incredible. Dale is overwhelmed.

Tom is in awe. The cards for Dale are such a poet mix of humor, sentiment, love and good wishes. It is truly the most incredible outpouring.

• Dale is reading the cards made by the 1st grade class in my friend Pat Dee's school. The cards are so funny and sweet.
• Right now Dale is putting on his Spiderman tattoos from Evan and Aiden Lawlor. So funny!
• Dale received the most beautiful card and angel from our neighbor the Messinghams.
• Tom loves that my friend Cathy in Phoenix sent Dale copy of Sixteen Candles on DVD and explained her love of Jake Ryan.
• Dale cried for a few minutes reading Sam and Anjanette's card. Simple, but the words were so sincere.
• Dale is about 40 cards into the 306. Everyone's words have been so full of love. We are truly blessed.
• Tom’s friend Becki Hoffman Hill shared the most amazing story in her card about cancer screening and cancer gene carriers. Amazing.
• Tom wishes he could share all 306 cards here, but sadly Dale reads faster than I can type. Please know all cards are being read and cherished.
• Tom is thinking that Hallmark is probably thrilled this year with the huge surge in Thanksgiving Day cards.
• Tom is happy to report that Dale is 3/4 of the way through the first box & just read a glorious card from the gang at Denver Botanic Gardens.
• It is such an amazing mix of emotions for Dale. He has been crying & laughing for over an hour as he reads the cards. 74 of 306 so far.
• Tom loves that Dale keeps playing with Jill Zeto Kaiser's card and thinks it looks like our friend Michelle Spidell on the cover.
• Tom is reading a touching and beautiful from friend and former co-worker Mark Robie. So touching and inspiring!
• Tom loves that Jamie Streib Nicolson said in her card that she is sure that Dale is a sexy bald man. It made Dale laugh out loud.
• Dale reading a card and letter from my friend and former co-worker Todd Heller. The letter was amazing.
• Dale just read me the most beautiful card from my former Budget co-worker Jaun Panzardi.
• Tom is watching Dale read 3 very funny and 1 touching card from friend and former co-worker Andrew Fox.
• Dale opening a beautiful package from my friend and co-worker Paul Oetjens and family. So incredible and kind. The most beautiful gifts including a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on DVD. Dale is in tears from the kindness.
• Dale is opening cards from Aimee Charlton & her friends from all over the world. They do not know Dale but their letters are so touching.
• Dale just opened the most delicious cookies from Dean and Maggie Burney that came from Maggie's family bakery in Baltimore. So kind.
• Dale is reading the cutest cards from the Kennedy kids. So sweet.
• Dale is reading a beautiful card from everyone at the Bridgeline Boston office. I honestly work with the most amazing people.
• Dale is reading Terri Hill's card and crying. Lots of tissues today. Lots. But also lots of smiles and laughs.
• Tom not surprised that the funniest card from my college friend Beth Verderosa Lacey. She sent a hilarious Mother's Day card. Hilarious!!!!!
• Just listened to Dale read the most beautiful from our friend Doris Boardman. It made us both cry.
• Tom is laughing out loud at a card from Erin Quinn and Mike Minton's dogs to Dale. Woof, woof back!
• Dale read me the more heartfelt and touching card from my best friend in college, Wendy White Paul. She shared the most amazing news.
• Dale is listening to read the most touching story from my college friend Wendy Fitzgerald Fried, which made us both cry.
• Dale just opened a t-shirt from Shannon Spencer that made him smile ear to ear. A cancer survivor shirt with a superman logo. Great!
• Dale received a wonderful Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul from former co-workers and friends Dave & Summer Langley.
• Dale is crying again. His brother, Dean's boyfriend made him hats to keep his head warm. So very kind of him.
• Dale got shea butter soap and lotion from Aimee & Steve Braybrook. He loves it and just keep smelling it every few minutes.
• Dale is reading the most adorable cards from Daisy Troop sent to us by our dear friend Nell Herman Stetson.
• Dale is loving the tea that our friend Bridget Hallock sent.

I so wish I could have written something about each and every card and package as they were so amazing, touching and funny. Each touched Dale and was so appreciative.  My thank to everyone for all the support, love and kindness you have shown Dale today and all days since his diagnosis.  You are all a blessing to us both.

And on a side note, the final count of cards is over 325.  Several of the envelopes contained multiple cards.  Amazing support, just amazing! Dale still has about 50 cards to read & open, but is taking a break to eat our turkey dinner. He has been opening for about 5 hours, so I can understand the need for a food break.

Thank you all for helping to make this the most memorable Thanksgiving in our lives. You are all so wonderful.