First, thank you all for the generosity with which you gave of your time and resources to offer items for the auction, and for all of the generous bids. Because we were able to raise so much money, Jacob asked that we hold back some funds for someone else who would inevitably need such a blessing. Gut Pile and I would have none of it, and that was the end of that discussion. Sometimes God has other plans.

Through a friend, we became aware of a young man named Noah, who is in the MUSC Children’s hospital with some pretty serious cancer. He is in pain, and he is facing some pretty serious odds. Today, thanks to all of your generosity, and at Jacob’s insistence, we were able to visit Noah, and give his mother a check for $10,000. That money will allow Noah’s mother and grandmother much more time with him in the coming months. Only God knows how much time Noah has left, but whatever that number is, he will absolutely spend more of it in the company of his family. If you have an extra prayer or two, Noah Madison could use them.

Also, if you are ever in need of perspective, a pediatric cancer unit will provide it in spades. Most of my difficulty in life is self inflicted, but these young people and their families have done nothing to deserve the hand they’ve been dealt.

Thank you all for your kindness. We can’t do everything for everybody, but we can darn sure do something for somebody.