For those of you who have stood near home plate waiting for a teammate to cross the plate -and then celebrate with high fives, pats on the back and raised fists – this one’s for you. If you have not had that experience, picture yourself at the World Series at Fenway last night. With the Red Sox holding a tenuous 5-4 lead, Eduardo Nunez delivers a three-run bomb over the green monster to help Boston seal Game 1 of the World Series. High fives, pats on the back and two fists raised await Nunez as he crosses the plate. What a feeling!

The Tag Team spans coast to coast, even touching Hawaii and Alaska. Teammates often support you at your lowest of lows. They are there to celebrate the small victories and the Herculean wins. Today is a prodigious win day. We want to share it with all who proudly have been a part of the Tag Team, #teamtags and the Sontag fan club. The team consists of family, close friends and acquaintances. We thank you all for your love and for your support. Jefferson staff members, former students and players fill the scorecard. Of course, we know that they are standing at home, waiting for Dave to finish his race to the plate.

Add the community of Monroe and to all of the youth to whom Dave has given hitting lessons. And thank you to our faith-filled friends. Thank you to all of the churches that have placed Dave on their prayer lists and continue to pray for him daily. The lineup also includes the community of Saline, which has always welcomed us as one of its own. Saline Area Schools staff, baseball coaches and players have proudly supported #teamtags. Collectively, they have been standing near home plate, pumping their arms and clenching their fists with every small victory. The close friends and the Monroe County Officials Association have made last minute changes to the lineup, making our life easier leading up to and during the BMT. As we sit here in the Crowne Plaza during the seventh-inning stretch, we have you to thank.

We salute the team of doctors and nurses, which has spent countless hours on the mound, pitching medications and delivering strikes to cancer. You recorded out after out to seal this colossal win. You need to be hoisted on all of our shoulders. Between Beaumont Dearborn and Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, there is no general manager who would deny them All-Star status.

Dave touched home plate today thanks to all of you. The Tag Team (that means you) brought him home with all the love and support that has been poured out the last seven months. The last two innings actually constitute the next 100 critical days of avoiding infection and rejection. I will continue to update the blog, though not as frequently. If you wish to receive automatic updates, click the “+follow” at the bottom right-hand corner. Dave will still be on close watch at Karmanos, reporting 2-3 times each week for testing and blood draws. His counts will dictate any additional treatment.

We can’t begin to thank everyone, so please consider this our most humble and gracious thank you. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as all of you have been in ours. Finally, please share this with anyone who is on our team.

Go Tag Team!