Thank you all (From Croydon Guardian)

Thank you all

1:16pm Wednesday 8th May 2002 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

With your help, the James Haddad Appeal has already raised over £6,000 to help fund treatment for the eight-year-old suffering from a life-threatening brain condition. This week James' parents Robert and Sue have requested we publish a thank-you letter to you all.

It is so difficult for us to know how to thank the many kind people who, by their caring and charitable nature, have decided to help our beloved son James.

We have been touched by the continued response to James' appeal, particularly the supportive spirit displayed by the local community as a whole.

It is humbling to know so many of you have contributed even though James is not personally known to you. This proves that in a world where social and neighbourly fabric is apparently collapsing around us, community spirit and generosity remains.

A very special thank you to those who have sent letters and prayers, with words of sympathy and hope for our only son. We have been strengthened and heartened by your kind words.

Our thanks also goes to the Croydon Guardian and their reporter Joe O'Shea, for their continued support and sensitive coverage of the appeal.

Since James' diagnosis we have not come to terms with the reality and severity of his condition and we have never given up hope for his full recovery, praying for a miracle every waking hour.

Here lies an important lesson we would like to share with you.

There is no doubt in our minds many of us, at times, take the precious gift of life for granted. But when confronted with a traumatic experience, we realise what is truly important in life.

With respect, we urge you all to live every day as though it was your last, particularly those with young children. Cherish them and most importantly make sure you spend quality time with them each day because children are loaned and not owned.

We hope and pray that we as a family finally emerge from this ordeal with James fully restored, to give us an opportunity to make a difference to those in a similar predicament.

In closing, we are sure you will understand that mere words could never express our gratitude for your support, therefore we will be dedicating a series of Church Masses to all our kind friends, known to us or not.

With much gratitude, God bless you all.

Robert and Sue Haddad