In his letter, Solder thanked his former teammates, coaches, Robert Kraft, other people in the organization and the fans, essentially everyone who supported him during his time as a member of his now-former team.<\/p>\n
The former Patriots left tackle told the story of what he and his family have been through, especially over his final couple of seasons here.\u00a0 He explained about the heartache, sleepless nights and the fears and frustration he battled through as a husband and father during his son’s diagnosis and treatments.<\/p>\n
But the story of how he and Lexi endured the initial news was tough to take, and anyone with children can certainly relate those feelings.<\/p>\n
“The doctors immediately sent us to Boston Children\u2019s Hospital,” wrote Solder.\u00a0 “They offered us a ride in an ambulance, but we decided to drive ourselves because \u2026 I don\u2019t know. I guess we thought that needing an ambulance would make it feel more serious. More real. So we decided to drive ourselves.”<\/p>\n
“Lexi and I cried the entire drive. Hudson was our first child. So Lexi and I were still brand new parents. You can understand our grief. But for me, I was overcome by guilt as much as anything. I couldn\u2019t shake the idea that I was Hudson\u2019s father. It was my job to protect him from everything, at all times. And I felt like I hadn\u2019t done that.”<\/p>\n
“I felt like I had failed my son.”<\/p>\n
It was a difficult time but Solder explained that both Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels were completely supportive, pointing out that the two coaches allowed him to be there for his family whenever he needed and that “they treated me like a human being instead of a football player or a left tackle.”<\/p>\n
“My relationship with Josh really took off from there,” wrote Solder. “In a cutthroat business where guys are always getting released and winning is everything and it\u2019s all football all the time, I really appreciated the fact that he took the time to say, \u201cNate, what you\u2019re going through with Hudson \u2026 that\u2019s more important than football.\u201d He told me that if I ever needed to dip out of a meeting because the stress got to be too much, nobody would ask any questions. Coach Belichick told me the same. He said that if I ever needed to miss practice or a meeting, it was totally fine.”<\/p>\n
“‘Whatever Hudson needs,’ he said.”<\/p>\n
Solder talked about a lot about the things he’ll miss in New England, like the pregame prayer meetings, which he said were special times because of the bond among his teammates, although he wrote that change is “just a nature of the business.”\u00a0 But he admitted that part of what played into his decision when he became a free agent was making sure whatever team he went to would be located in a city that would also have the necessary medical facilities for Hudson to continue his treatments.\u00a0 New York gives him that, and Solder said “my family and I are excited to start this new chapter”.<\/p>\n
He closed out the letter thanking everyone within the organization and the region for the “warmth and kindness” everyone provided to he and his family, saying he’ll definitely miss everyone.<\/p>\n
“Thank you, Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and especially Josh McDaniels, who became much more to me than just a great coach \u2014 he became a great friend as well. Thank you for all your support. Thank you to my O-line coach, Dante Scarnecchia, for always treating me like a human being, and for never letting what was happening with me off the field impact the way you treated me as a football player. Thank you to my teammates for always being there for me whenever I needed you. Thank you to everybody Lexi and I have worked with in the community, and to everybody who had even the smallest hand in Hudson\u2019s treatment over the last few years. The warmth and kindness you\u2019ve brought into our lives will stay with us forever. Thank you to the incredible fans who supported this team and me and my family, even during tough times.”<\/p>\n
“Thank you, New England. I\u2019m going to miss being a Patriot. I learned a lot about life over the last seven years, and I also learned a lot about winning \u2014 mostly, that it\u2019s not everything.”<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s so much more.”<\/p>\n
“God bless.”<\/p>\n
Best of luck to Nate and his family in their next chapter and hopefully Hudson continues to get the care he needs as Nate and Lexi begin another era for their family in New York.<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/images\/us-presswire\/600w\/2017-Super-Bowl-Tom-Brady-rvnXh-600w.jpg\") Brady is currently in Qatar doing work with his charity, Best Buddies. (USA TODAY Images)<\/strong><\/font>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n Brady Heads Overseas For Charity<\/strong> – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is usually among the first on hand for the team’s offseason program, but it looks like he may be a little late this year – but for good reason.<\/p>\n The MMQB’s Albert Breer reported Thursday that Brady left for Qatar on Thursday to do work with his best buddies charity foundation.<\/p>\n According to the foundation’s website, Brady will join the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar Museums and Best Buddies participants in Qatar at Khalifa International Stadium to launch the new partnership between the organizations as they\u00a0incorporate individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.<\/p>\n \u201cTom Brady has served as an exemplary Global Ambassador for Best Buddies since 2003, and has helped bring an even greater awareness to the infinite abilities people with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess,\u201d said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Best Buddies International. \u201cTom has proven himself to be a committed advocate for individuals with disabilities, always going above and beyond the call of duty to help promote a world of inclusion and opportunity for this population. Tom\u2019s work in Qatar on behalf of Best Buddies will change lives for the better.\u201d<\/p>\n Also joining Brady is his wife, Gisele Bundchen, as well as their two children.<\/p>\n While he’s there, Brady will have some prestigious company bringing him around as hostess, with the release saying that Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani will be with Brady and his family during their visit and will also attend the opening ceremony of the Qatar National Library.\u00a0 She is the sister of Qatar’s ruling Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and daughter of the country’s Father Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.<\/p>\n Today we welcome our very special guest, the @nfl<\/a> superstar, #TomBrady<\/a> to our homeland #Doha<\/a>#BradyInQatar<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/llyHQql5Jg<\/a><\/p>\n — Salam Al Shawa (@salam_shawa) April 12, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n |