Friend, Thank You for Helping Me

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Dear Lindsay,

Our friendship is officially old enough to have a drink this year.

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for all that you’ve done for my family through the years and to tell you how much you truly mean to me.

When I met you at Chuck E Cheese back when we were 16 I admired you so much. I never told you that before but I did. Me being a “rookie” was welcomed by you and the other girls.

I thought you were all so cool and I wanted so much to be friends with you and be a part of your group.

Over time naturally we did become friends. Great friends.

My freshman year of college you were on a break from school and we both were still working at Chuck E Cheese. We spent a lot of time together, laughing, driving and talking.

I remember being so sad when you told me you were heading back to school. I even remember when you called me on the phone at work to say goodbye.

Although I was so happy for you (and proud of you for going back and even graduation on time despite your semester off) I was sad you were leaving.

Through the years we didn’t see each other always but we were always in touch. When we did see each other we were those friends that talked and laughed like we were just together last week.

You’re one of the most selfless people I know and I wanted to thank you.

Thank you for standing up with me on my wedding day, despite your broken ankle and my slight bridezilla attitude.

Thank you for loving my kids the moment you met them.

Thank you for giving us our first date night when he was a few months old and for also spending time with him while I was working whenever you could help.

Thank you (and this is something I could never thank you for enough) for coming with me to Max’s appointment the day he received his first ever diagnosis-Cerebral Palsy.

That was a sad, terrifying day and thanks to you I was not alone.

Thank you for helping me when Ross unexpectedly ended up in the hospital. You are one of the very few people who isn’t scared to take Max out alone, also one of the very few I trust to do so.

Thank you for driving Samantha to daycare simply because you’re a kind person and know it helps me so much.

Thank you for coming though in the clutch when we need last minute sitters and being such a fun Auntie with my babies.

I can go on and on, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do for all of us.

Everyone that knows you reminds me how amazing you are after seeing how amazing you are with Max. Hanging out with him, holding his hand, wiping his nose and just loving him for him.

Truth is l, I know how amazing you are and how lucky I am what we met all of those years ago. You’re a treasure for my family and anyone that you love. I

know I can never repay you for all of these things, but I want you to know I love you and I will always be here for you.

Love, Ashlee

Written by, Ashlee Adams

Ashlee is medical coder and mother to Max, a 7 year old with nonverbal Autism and Cerebral Palsy and Samantha, a smart and sassy 3 year old girl.

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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