To the editor:

We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to the Niles community and the local businesses that made the benefit for our family possible and a success.
We are truly humbled by the kindness of so many people in our community. This has shown our family how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful city and to have such great friends.
We would like to give a huge thank you to Milano’s, TGI Friday’s, Niles Service League, Niles-Buchanan YMCA, Xquisite Design and to everyone that either donated a prize for the raffle or made cookies for dessert. We would also like to thank the Niles Daily Star for interviewing my family and I about our experience throughout this difficult time in our lives. I would hope that this could help others who might find themselves in a similar situation. I (Melissa) would also like to thank all the wonderful ladies that brought us meals for almost two months straight!
That was a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing that my kids would have a wonderful dinner each and every night. We are truly blessed!
P.S. Thank you to Chrissy Timm, Kristi Pickens, Theresa Suseland and Trisha Schoenleber for surprising us with the benefit and organizing the whole thing! You girls are amazing!

Sincerely,

The Barkman family
Niles