I write to extend the most important “Thank You” of my life.

You, and each person involved in preparing Krys and providing support for his service, have done more for our family than we ever could have expected. Each conversation, question, call, and e-mail was met with remarkable care and professionalism. The team’s empathy and ability to know what to say and how to say it is not a learned skill—it is a unique, innate quality.

Krys was well taken care of in life. I loved being his mother. I needed a lot during the first week after Krys’ death. I needed him to be seamlessly cared for in death, as he was in life. My attentiveness and instinct to nurture him did not change from life to death. I needed you to be an extension of me. And you all were. My hands were on your hands as you cared for him. Your thoughts were my thoughts.

Thank you to those who transported Krys from McKee Medical Center to Horan & McConaty in Aurora. Amy, thank you for your call letting me know when Krys arrived. Amy and JaCobe, thank you for spending so much time with us as we made detailed decisions about Krys’ service, reception, and remains. Tori, Vanessa, and Samantha, thank you all for the warm welcome each time we arrived to see Krys. Vanessa, thank you for your patience as I cried in the doorway the first time I viewed Krys’ body. Marisa and Laleh, thank you for preparing Krys’. We needed to say goodbye, and you allowed us that incredible honor. Thank you for coming up to meet me so I could personally thank (and hug) both of you. Kristen, Dan, Catie, Megan, Tavin, Spencer, Jonathan, Benjeman, Alex, Jake, Evie, Chad, Sal, Sylvia, Monica, and Connor, thank you for all of your help caring for Krys. For dressing him, for moving him, for his peaceful appearance, for making sure he was ready for four viewings, for the beautiful service, for making arrangements to live stream Krys’ service for his Icelandic family, for preparing him (and us) for his cremation, and for allowing us to view and begin his cremation process.

As you may or may not know, your care and expertise in preparing Krys’ body, allowed his 9-year-old son to say goodbye. Every second you spent with Krys gave that little boy opportunities for closure. He had several opportunities to view and touch his father, all of which better prepared him for their final goodbye. Those important experiences and memories will comfort him throughout his lifetime.

Your work allowed our family to feel brave. We could not have done that without you.

Language and words seem far too limiting to express the gratitude we feel. Know our “Thank You” “higher than the sky, deeper than the sea, and bigger than the whole wide world”. Our “Thank You” is eternal.

I have one request of each of you. Please go home tonight and read this letter out loud to your family. Really. Out loud. Thank you.