My husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia April 10 and was sent the next day to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore for what turned out to be a four-week stay.

Immediately our community sprang into action. We were showered with love and prayers.

Wonderful Wendy Cleary started a “food train” with old friends, new friends, church friends and moms from the kids’ sports teams contributing meals four nights a week for our four children while I was in Baltimore. Gas cards and points poured in from far and wide to lighten the financial burden.

Everything culminated in a benefit June 21 at a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game. An incredible team led by Terri Pesante-Close put together the most successful fundraiser ever held at Regnecy Furniture Stadium. Despite the 100-degree temperature more than 500 tickets were sold and the pregame tailgate party was fun and exciting.

It was heartwarming to see friends from as far back as the 1970s and ’80s Surrattsville High School crowd to the 1990s softball coaches and players as well as our current incredible current La Plata and Waldorf communities.

Words cannot express the gratitude this family has and “thank you” just doesn’t seem like enough. Please forgive me if I leave anyone out but I would be remiss in not singling out Terri Pesante-Close and the team she put together of Tricia DeMent, Shannon Stewart, Anne Wood, Barbara Williams Potter and Diana Paton.

There were many others who contributed silent auction items, raffle baskets, sold raffle tickets and worked at the event to make it successful. In addition, Frank Sinclair and Sysco, Rita’s of La Plata and Pizza Hotline all generously contributed food for the tailgate party.

The outpouring of love, prayers and donations will sustain this family as my husband moves forward in his treatment.

Teresa Clark, La Plata