you know what - you should just say it.

Ask if you can have a private meeting with the person or people in question, have no other agenda to it and just say directly to them what you have written down above. Structure like this.

1. Context Describe what was going on, how you were feeling, that you were having a rough time

2. Attribute Describe what they did for during this time

3. Explain Connect what they did with how it made you feel and how that helped you get out of the rough patch

4. Thank them Say that you are grateful for their support and that you wanted them to know that.

Good luck!