Dear 2020,

Well lets just say you gave us all a run for our money, literally. For the world you brought much destruction: a global pandemic – several lives lost, an economic crisis, an outrage over democracy, plenty of karens, the great tiger king, new ways to wear masks, and lets not forget a twisted tea right to the face.

Here are some things in 2020 that curve balled my family while the outside world was also heeding a fly ball with the sun right in their eyes:

1. Jocelyn in heart failure
2. Needing another open heart surgery 
3. Getting home way later than expected
4. Not being able to see any of my husbands family/friends on the west coast
5. Not being able to have a big first birthday party for my girls 
6. An ambulatory ride to CHOP with my Jocelyn’s o2 saturations in the 60s
7. Going back to the hospital for Jocelyn
8. Having to calculate every trip out to leave the house for safety of my girls
9. Hardly seeing any family or friends
10. Almost having my family sent to Japan #militarylife (no worries we aren’t going they denied us due to Jocelyn’s complexity)
11. And last but not least jocelyn struggling to eat by mouth resulting in her struggling to gain weight

It has been tough for so many. Most of us are ready to step through the threshold into 2021 and never look back. While I certainly am ready to do the same, I just can’t full heartily reflect on this year without seeing how grateful I truly am. Crazy right?! I know, but here me out for a minute… or a few. I’m sorry I’m a lengthy writer.

Positive things 2020 has brought my family:

1. Jocelyn coming out of heart failure and eligible to receive her next heart surgery
2. Her successful heart surgery
3. The girls first birthday
4. Lucy learning to walk 
5. Finding Jocelyn’s lymphatic issue before it caused significant damage
6. Lucy learning to talk 
7. Vacation with my family
8. My husband being able to work from home and still make money 
9. Jocelyn’s learning to talk 
10. My toddlers just being toddlers
11. Getting our financial situation under control and paying off a lot of debt
12. Our home nurse being able to still work with us
13.  Jocelyn learning to walk
14. No one getting sick in my house  
15. Jocelyn also being cleared for needing any heart interventions until approximately Oct. 2021 (knock on wood)
16. A Christmas home all together where I wasn’t worried for Jocelyn’s well being 

It’s been a wild year of rollercoaster like ups and downs. In spite of all the chaos you, 2020, has created. Babies were still born into this world. Friends still found a way to marry the loves of their lives. This year brought many people together in ways we could have never imagined. Please allow others to take the time to look fondly of the highlights of this year and know they were not alone during the lows. Also know there are only a few hours left of this year before we leap into 2021! 

2020 its been real… crazy! But as Fall Out Boy once said, “..thanks for the memories.” Man, I hope that didn’t just show my age… Hope this letter finds you well.

Sincerely,

      Jordyn Welge

P.S.- I can’t wait to see what this upcoming year has in store for me and my family. Hope everyone has a happy, healthy and safe New Year and to hold out hope that 2021 can only be better than this one was!