• Don’t drop off food unexpectedly. Chances are, it will go bad before the Witts get it.
• Do not come to the hospital without clearing it first. Gretchen and Larry are often busy, and your being there, no matter how much you mean well, can be a burden.
• Please don’t bring or send flowers to the hospital. Balloons, on the other hand, make Liam smile.
• Please don’t expect Gretchen to return phone calls. She isn’t even checking messages these days. Also, if you think she has your number, you are wrong. Several weeks ago, her cell phone died, and when she switched to a Blackberry she lost all the phone numbers. If you need to tell her something, email. And if you don’t get an answer, it’s not because she doesn’t love you or appreciate you. She is busy fighting for Liam’s wellness.

Please understand we don’t want to stop you from doing some of the incredible, moving, touching, meaningful gestures you’ve been doing. But if you have a thought about something you’d like to do, consider first whether it requires any response or action from the Witts: if so, it probably isn’t a good idea. For example, dropping off food requires that the food be refrigerated…which is why we created an organized way of handling it for them. On the other hand, there have been many wonderful acts of kindness that warmed the Witts’ hearts—and we certainly don’t mean for those to stop! (If there is something you would like to do for the Witts but you are unsure whether you should proceed, just drop us a line. Email Marge Perry at Info.LiamsElves@gmail.com)