#thunderup

At the end of April, Gray had been invited to a Thunder basketball game and the experience included the rock star treatment! Unfortunately, when game day arrived, Gray was too sick to attend but most of his family was still planning to go and they offered to pass on their extra tickets to my family! Woohoo! So, while my boys and Brandon went to the game I went over to the Everaard home to help Jill care for Gray throughout the night. This was the first time for any of my family to go to a Thunder game so they were very excited! And on top of that, this night's experience included meeting some of the players, getting autographs, watching warm ups and sitting in specially designated seats! Wow! The boys (and Brandon!) were all dressed in their Thunder gear and ready to go!

They got to meet players Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant and get their autographs!

As Kevin Durant walked along the meet-n-greet line he asked to hear Gray's story as he signed one of the Pray4Gray shirts. Doug shared the story of Gray's fight against cancer and told him that they expected Gray to go to heaven very soon. Kevin Durant was stunned and very touched by Gray's journey. Just as he was about to go back into the locker room Doug handed Kevin Durant a Pray4Gray bracelet. None of us could have expected what the night would bring. As our families sat and watched the game from the stands and Jill and I watched from Gray's bedside, we were shocked and overwhelmed when Kevin Durant emerged back onto the floor WEARING THE PRAY4GRAY BRACELET!!!! Wow!! He wore the bracelet throughout the entire game and the Thunder walked away with a victory. Jill and I decided the win was in honor of Gray. Gray has touched and continues to touch people further then any of us could ever hope to do in our lifetime. What a little hero!

The boys got to watch the Thunder warm up for the game!

And then they made their way to their seats for the game! Fans in hand! Thunder Up!!!!

While we watched the game from home, Gray stayed in bed most of the time but Jill and I were excited when Gray wanted to get up and do some crafts. I had brought over a wooden dinosaur craft kit that included paints and a brush. I didn't have my hopes up that Gray would be interested in even LOOKING at the craft not to mention actually doing it! But Gray had a little burst of energy and so we helped him to the table so he could paint. He was very meticulous in his painting and did an awesome job! And in true Grayson fashion, as soon as he was done painting and Jill was carrying him back to bed all he was worried about was that I cleaned out the paint brushes RIGHT NOW!!!! So, of course, I obeyed orders!!

That night, Maddox fell asleep still wearing his Thunder shirt and holding onto his foam finger!! He's dreaming of the Thunder victory!!

For DAYS, Maddox didn't take off his Thunder cap. Of course, he couldn't wear it to school...but he would put it on as soon as he got home and would even put it BACK ON after he took his bath at night and wear it until he got into bed!! I think we're raising a true Thunder fan!!

The boys brought home quite a few autographed pieces and souvenirs and so I bought a shadow box and put them all together to hang in the office. We have a picture and a fan autographed by Kevin Durant, a picture autographed by the Thunder mascot, Rumble, a "We Are One" t-shirt, a Thunder and Pray4Gray wristband and I included a synopsis of the evening and a picture of Kevin Durant wearing the Pray4Gray bracelet! These memories will last my lifetime, my boys' lifetime and will live on into history!