This week marks the Jewish New Year, a time to celebrate new beginnings; reflecting on the year that has been and the year that will be. Looking back across this year, the words ‘gratitude’ and ‘thankful’ don’t come close to describing the overwhelming love we’ve felt in what could have been a very lonely time. You’ve made the impossible seem ordinary and the unbearable feel manageable. Our home is filled with hope and aglow with your love. As we begin to look forward it is with tremendous humility that we ask your forgiveness for a year in which we struggled to be the friends, family and co-workers we aspire towards or that you’d hoped we would be. Thanks and we wish you all a sweet and healthy new year!

Tomorrow Abby goes in for her next 5-day stay at the University of Washington. As she gets comfortable in her hospital bed tomorrow night, she will be able to begin counting down her treatment days using both hands! After this 5-day stay, she has a 1-day out-patient treatment in three weeks and her final 5-day treatment scheduled for the last week of October.

The finish line seems so close, but Abby knows there’s still much work to do. She’s currently three weeks into, and half-way through, her radiation therapy and her body is talking back more than it has most of these past 9 months. As Abby says, she’s at mile 20 in her marathon – that point at which everything hurts and mental discipline and focus is critical. Abby is inspired by all of you and determined to finish strong.

Help Abby finish strong and visit her at UWMC this week. She goes in this afternoon and is there until Sunday (Sept. 20th) and would absolutely love to see you. If you can’t make it over, or if you’re not feeling 100% healthy, give her a call or text her, she’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for everything you do for us and stay tuned for the next update with details on how we plan to celebrate!

Love and Healing,

Justin, Abby, Jaren, Miri and Ari