Author Topic: Introducing Our Precious Children  (Read 203990 times)

stella joshs mom

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 20
  • Joshs little sister Tia & Mom, Stella
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2006, 01:36:58 AM »
Joshua James Haight was born September 23rd, 1984 in Billings Montana.  He has one sister older than he by about 18 months.  He has two younger sisters one now a senior in High School and the other now in third grade.  Josh disappered on July 13th while supposedly going to get fireworks in Wyoming with a friend.  This friend  picked him up but 3 days later when we tried to contact him to see why they were not home yet.  The friend said he told Josh he couldn't go after all and they just drove around and talked in the truck and then he dropped Josh off on Main Street downtown.  The last time I saw Josh was on the 4th of July, one of his favorite Holidays, he came and played with his little sister on the Trampoline out back and set off some firecrackers with a couple of his college friends who were home for the summer too.  He left and came back for some home made ice-cream.  Then his oldest sister went into labor the next day so I called him at his dads. (the kids spend an alternating 2 weeks at each of our houses here since our divorce in 1996.) to see if he had decided whether to go with us or not to Washington to see his new nephew.. He said no he had things to do.  He was waiting to move into a new place in Butte where he and his friends were to live while attending their 3rd year in Engineering.  The landlord was already a month past the time he had told the kids they could move in and Josh had called the land lord that week and left a message about wanting to move in soon.  So I figured he was expecting to be moving that week.  We left for Elisa's a day later and got back that following Monday late.  I called the kids Tuesday morning to let them know we had gotten back, and Josh asked if Elis had come back with us.  I said no she decided it was to soon with the baby and all.  I asked him if Bri was there or not and what he was doing and he replyed that Bri was at work or at a friends and he was making a sandwich.  So I told him I would let him go so he could eat, and that I would see them on Sunday when he was back over at the house for two weeks.  I told him love you, bye and that was it.  I never saw him again.  Josh was just two months shy of his 21st birthday when he went missing.  He is listed in the National Center for missing Adults and many other websites.  We have hired an attorney and two Private investigators, a psychic cadaver dogs and a host of others trying to find my son.    I want him back terribly, but if thats not possible then I need to know what happened and where he is so his family, friends and I can try and move forward instead of being in this awful vortex. :'(
Thanks for all the support here.  It is so helpful.  Stella   


Josh and his little sister

CRCmom

  • nospam
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 227
  • My precious child.
    • View Profile
    • Christian's Memorial Website
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2006, 05:04:39 PM »
To everyone,

On may 12 1989 my son Christian was born 10 weeks early.  He was 3 lbs 14 oz and they gave him a very dim future. 

I had been working in the yard and shoving a wheelbarrow around on Sunday.  On Wednesday at work I got very dizzy and almost passed out.  They took my blood pressure and it was high.  Called the Doctor, said not to worry.  Called my then husband to come take me home.  Was at home alone and my water broke along with a lot of blood.  Called 911 and they told me to lie on the floor with my feet propped up on a chair.  They stayed on the phone til the amublance came and we wnt off to the hospital.  Got to the hospital and they immediately did an ultrasound to see if the baby was still alive.  His heart was beating fine.  Of course I burst into tears.  My father had died abut 7 months before this and I felt like he was there with me, enouraging me to hang on.   They hydrated me and wanted to stall as long as possible Cristian's birth because of lung development. 

After Christian was born, I saw him briefly and they wisked him away.   The Dr. came in and said that he had serious lung disease and that he couldn't breath on his own.  Very serious and very grave.  Of course I named him Christian on the spure of the moment because I knew that Christ was my only hope.  Within 12 hours he was off a respirator and within 24 hurs he was off oxygen.  HIS LUNGS WERE FINE.  Now he just needed to gain weight.  He spent 6 weeks in the neo-natal ICU.  I went every day and spent hours with him.  There were a couple of scares with other children and infection, but on June 17, 1989, Christian at 5 pounds came hoime.  One of the happiest days of my life.  I was 34 and I absolutely adored this child.  Never was I frustrated getting up with him at night or fussing or anything.  He was an absolute joy from day one.

He was a delightful child.  Big blue eyes. 



He was so sweet and so spoiled.  His two older brothers adored him and protected and loved him.  Never have I seen so much love and care between three brothers. 

Christian was a big boy.  He started to play baseball at about 8 and could wail that ball.  They called hm slugger.  But he had difficulty running. 

He and his cousin Mac were only 3 days apart in age and they were always fast friends.  Real buddies all through the years. 



Christian was truly a gentle giant.  He was overweight and big boned.  He never really found a unique thing for hmself, but right before he died, he was just starting to feel good about himself, had lost weight and was going to start playiong volleyball.  He and Mac had so many plans to do things together.  They just loved the heck out of each other and were always there to protect defend each other. 



Christian was sweet spirited, gentle, patient and etremely kind.  He didn't like his step-father and actually resented his presence.  He was very close to his own father who died 3 years prior to his death. He was so proud of his father and his being a medaled Vietnam Veteran.   He loved everyone really.  He, Mac, Barb, myself and my mother were able to go on a cruise to Alaska the summer before Christian died.  What a wonderful gift that was for all of us.  He had such a good time,  He and Mac.  They made friends on the ship and enjoyed the new friends. 

Christian broke his ankle at the end of January of 2005.  He had to have surgery with posts and plates put in.  He was such a trooper.  He had to walk on crutches and that was so difficult for him.  Beng overweight he struggled.  One day he just melted down in tears and I encouraged him and told him how proud of him I was because of his perseverence and effort to keep going.  In the process he lost weight and was excited about going to the gym after hs ankle healed.  We went to the Dr.  after two weeks and they took the bandaging off and put him in a boot.  I can remember they pushed his toes up and it hurt so for him.  I toled the Dr. that he had had a lot of cramping in his leg and they sent us off.

Two weeks later on a Sunday.  We were going out to dinner for my step sons birthday.  He was having a great day.  He loved go play "Dark Age" on the computer and he and my oldest son taught me to play.  We had such fun playig together.  He thought it was so cool that his mother would play a role play game on line.  My middle so Sean came to me and said there is something wrong with Christian.  I went to the shower and he was dressed and sitting on the toilet and said he didn't feel well and was having a hard time breathing.  I asked him if he thought he would be ok.  He said yes.  Within a minute you could tell he was still struggling with breathing so I called 911.  By the time they had got to the house Christian was on the floor and couldn't stand.  They talked to him and he was able to get up and walk out to the ambulance.  I sent everyone off to go to dinner thinking Christian and I would be there shortly.  Sean and his girlfriend rode behind the ambulance and met me at the hosptal.  Before he got in the ambulance he looked at me and that look is burned into my mind.  He was so scated.  We got in the ambulance and within 5 minutes he wasn't breathing and they were bagging him.  They started CPR.  I kept telling him he would be ok and of course prayng and praying that he would be ok.  Never ever thinking he would die.  They rushed him in the room.  They wouldn't let me in and my sn and girlfriend came and I kept sayng, "what if something happens to him"..  'I;ll die.  My son kept assuring me that he would be ok.  The chaplain came and just chatted with me.  Then they suggested that I go down to a room and wait.  Within five minutes the Dr. came in the room.  I was sure he was goiung to tell me something bad, but certainly not death.  He said "i'm sorry there is nothig we could do for your son."  I don't remember what happened.  My son Sean says I screamd and got up and paced and said how could thius be????  He was fine 30 minutes ago.  What happened"  Pulmonary embolism.  The whole scene is a blur except to say that I went in to see my son and that image is burned into my mind as well.   They must have shot him up with a blood thinner because his beautiful blue eyes were all red .  I kept stroking his newly washed hair in disbelief.  When my husband and other son, step-daughter and step-n got there I had to tell them.  I fell apart and fell on the floor.  I was angry, rageful, numb and dead.  It just couldn't be real.  Unfortunately it was. 



I have spent many many many days since that day almost two years ago questionging the dr, the hospital, etc, but no one can bring him back.  My faith is strong, but I don't understand why he was taken. 

I love you Christian and will miss you and remember you til we meet again in heaven. 



Summer after he died.  My son Sean, myself, my son David and step-daughter, Amy. 



Christian carrying Sean the summer before he died.

The last really good picture of Christian before he died.



Christian's first birthday!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE AND GRACE ON THE JOURNEY,
PAULA


Pauline

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #17 on: December 20, 2006, 06:39:56 AM »
My little girl came into this world at 7:03 am MST on 27 April 1972.  She was born on an air force base in Northeastern Alberta, Canada.  When I went into labour, I was 6 weeks away from my due date.  Long story short, she was born 4 weeks prematurely and weighed 4 lbs 3 oz.  She was a healthy child, not even a sniffle in her first year.  Such a sweet, precious little girl.  She grew up into a beautiful young woman, and married her high school sweetheart on 30 July 1994.  She left us to be with her husband and I said goodbye to her for the last time on 10 July 1995.  I suffered from the "empty nest syndrome" 3 times...when she left to live with her boyfriend only 10 mins away from our home, when she left to be with him after they were married and he was on his training in Ontario (we were in Nova Scotia and she came back to live with us while he was on his basic training), and then again when they came home for a visit and then they left for Alberta which was the last time I saw her alive.  She was doing fine so far as we knew...she had several jobs while there, and seemed to be enjoying life.  We got a call from David that Anne had had a bad seizure and had spent 3 days in the hospital.  We talked to her and she seemed to be doing all right.  This was on a Monday in Nov.  Then on Thursday, she called to say that the doctor said she probably had epilepsy and would see a specialist in February!  My husband took the call, and it was brief, since she knew that we would be going out to do some grocery shopping.  I was going to call her when I got home, but felt so tired that I put it off until the next day.

Then I got the call.  At first, there was no voice on the phone...I said hello three times, but something made me not hang up the phone.  Then, a quiet voice said, "It''s David."  A long silence...and that is when I knew.  He then said, "Anne passed away this morning."  I was numb!  I had no words to say...so there was another long silence.  I finally said, "I'll talk to you later and hung up.  I can replay this scenario over and over in my mind...it is etched forever on my brain.

She died on friday 22 November 1996...aged 24 yrs and 7 mos.  And married for only 2 yrs and 4 mos.  My baby, my only child, gone and never to walk through my door again!  After I could calm down, it was about 15 or 20 mins and I thought I should call my husband.  He wasn't in at work, but someone was there and he said he would go get him if it was an emergency.  I said it was.  So he didn't know about her until he got home.

It was nine days until we had the funeral.  It happened on Friday so an autopsy would have to wait (at least, it did) until Monday...she had to go to the nearest city which was 180 miles away.  Her body was released and she flew home with a military officer escort on Wednesday.  David had arrived on Sunday night.  Oh, yes, David was treated like a criminal because he had gone to PT in the morning, and had come home to shower and change, and found her.  They had to rule out that he had not caused her death.  He won't speak of that day to anyone...it was such an awful day for him.

We waited for results of the autopsy and it was "no apparent cause of death".  They were simply ruling out foul play...no effort was made to ascertain what really caused her death.  I think that is so unfair.  But, knowing would not change anything or bring her back, but it has been hard for me because I always have wanted to know the whys of things, and to have everything tied up in a neat little package.  After ten years, I am doing okay, but there are certain times that are very difficult for me...like Christmas time.  We buried her on 30 November, and 25 days later was Christmas and my birthday.  I had not been worrying about turning 50 at all, but now that 50th birthday has become the worst birthday I think I will ever have.

She was a precious little girl, so sweet, so smart, so friendly.  Things changed a bit when she was a teenager, but then that is normal.  She never did drugs, never hung around with a bad crowd, wasn't drinking a lot.  Safe and sound in her own home, she died...just like that.

So I am left being very sure that all of our children go when it is their time.  They did on this earth what they came here to do, and the got to go home.  I just wonder when I will be done with what I came here to do and I can go home.  That reunion is one that I cherish and it won't come too soon for me.

One final thing:  her body rested in the very hospital where she had been born, which is rather unusual when you are a military brat.

{{{Hugs}}} to all of you,
Pauline

Donna Jasons mom

  • nospam
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 118
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #18 on: December 28, 2006, 07:14:26 PM »
Hi everyone:
I have been away for awhile but I feel unfortunatly there are some new people here who don't know me and my story.
My Jason was killed in a tragic car accident on Dec 15, 2004.  He was fighting with his girlfriend and decided after my pleading with him not to go, to go look for her.  He left our home at 8pm and was on his way home not a mile from our house and hit a tree, he died instantly.  He was in college for electricity only had one more year to go.  Was never married and still lived at home but was making arrangements to buy a house and move out.  I am very proud to call him my son and will always treasure the priviledge of walking on this earth with him even if for such a short time.  He was 24 years old.  Had a smile that would light up a room.  I miss my boy very much, I know he was a man but to me he will always be my boy, my firstborn and my precious son!!
One day, one moment, one breathe at a time!!
hugs and love
Donna (Jason's mom)

Marianne

  • nospam
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 460
  • Alek's Mom
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2006, 09:49:55 PM »
My son Aleksandr was born at 4:35AM on November 28th, 1986. (That's right after Thanksgiving dinner)  Oh ya, I ate enough for everyone!  As soon as the doctor laid Alek on my stomach, I knew he had changed my life.  He was a gift I cherish every minute of every day.  Thank you, Alek, for being my son.  I will love you forever!

My baby left me on September 28th, 2005.  I found him lying on the floor with his video game controller still in his hand.  My life will never be the same.  There are still some days when I smile - it's just not the same smile.  There are still days when I laugh - it's just not the same laugh...

My baby is in Heaven and some day through the grace of God I will be with him again.

Until then, my love, my life... I will miss you and love you.

Forever - your mom.

Marianne
Marianne (Alek's Mom Forever)

Duke

  • Guest
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #20 on: December 31, 2006, 07:51:13 AM »
Hello to everyone. We just found this website and are very excited to have found someone to talk to about our wonderful son Remy.   We will  introduce you to Remy as soon as we get off work.  Thank you for  finding your way into our home.  We need you all. Love to everyone.  Remys Mom :)

Karen Paul

  • nospam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1181
    • View Profile
    • Chris Bascom Memorial
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2007, 08:44:06 AM »
My brother Brian was 23 and Amy was 19 when they had Christopher. I remember when Brian called to tell me I was an aunt! What a surprise it was and I was thrilled. Christopher was born December 1, 1986 in Buffalo, NY. He captured my heart as soon as I layed eyes on him. He had his mom's beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair and Brian's cute little nose and beautiful smile.

Brian and Amy split when Chris was about 6, but they made it a point to keep him the center of all things. Chris grew into a great kid. He was very outgoing and generous of spirit like his mom and had his dad's love of sports, his silly giggle and corny humor. Amy remarried and Chris gained a step dad and brother and sister who loved him. Brian eventually remarried as well and Chris had a step mom who loved him too, and extended family on both sides...he was loved by so many people. He longed for a cousin and would ask me every now and then when he might expect one. I tried for years to have children of my own, but it was not to be. I grieved for the child I would never have, but decided I could be happy loving my nieces and nephews and friends kids.

Chris grew into his teenage years. He started playing volleyball and ran track in high school. He was doing well in school and earned the respect of his volleyball teammates when he was given the Mr. Hustle award. He had his first serious girlfriend, Katie. He was learning to drive, perparing for his license and spring so he could take Katie to the junior prom. He was growing up so fast!

He started growing taller all of a sudden. He had always been small. Pretty soon he was measuring himself against me, which seems to have become a right of passage in our family. I am only 5' 2" so it doesn't take them long to grow past me.

Chris always had that amazing smile. It could melt your heart. He was always very caring. He would always ask how our animals were. He loved our dog Putnam and the cats, he had a couple of cats too. He was a devout Red Sox fan, which he got from my father and brother. So sad he did not get to see them win the World Series (or did he have the best seat in the house?) He was very into RAP and Hip Hop music. He wore the baggy pants and my husband would always ask him if he needed a belt. He loved Eminem and 50 Cent. I never quite understood that music, but have listened to it more since he died and though I still don't like some of it, some of it I have found meaning in. Chris loved board games and card games. Games of all types actually. Chris was very good with little kids. He wanted to be a teacher and I think he would have been great. Chris had this goofy sense of humor (like his father and grandfather)....we call it the Bascom humor... so corny, he and Brian were like a comedy team together

He was a loyal friend. I did not get a chance to meet many of his friends until after his death. But they all said how he was a good listener and would always try to cheer them up when they were down. How he was there for them and always made them feel better.

Chris was just 3 weeks shy of his 17th birthday when he was struck by a hit and run driver in November 2003. He was riding his bicycle home from a friends house and was thrown into the only stone wall on the entire road. Chris' mom had a feeling that night and left dinner on the stove to rush out and look for Chris. She found him not far away, and the nightmare began. Chris was rushed to the hospital. He was very cold as he had been there for probably 15 or 20 minutes before Amy found him.

We gathered at the hospital. But we were not prepared for the news the doctor would deliver. Severe brain stem injuries, not much hope. Our world fell into darkness as he uttered those words. The doctors wanted to warm him up and see if brain function improved. Hours went by as we were left to wait and absorb this horrible news, this most unfathomable information...so impossible, so wrong! Very late that night we were finally allowed to see Chris. I had seen him just a month before at my grandmother's 92nd birthday party. I remembered thinking how nice it was that even at 16 he wanted to come to these family gatherings. To wish his great-grandmother Happy Birthday. He and Brian were like a comedy team that night, bouncing jokes off eachother. I cherish that so much. Now we were faced with saying goodbye...forever. I thought, how can I just kiss him one last time and walk away? How can I make this last goodye....to last a lifetime??

Early that next morning Brian and Amy had to make the agonizing decision to take Chris off life support. He breathed on his own for a while, then passed away. We all lost part of ourselves that day. Chris was the only child in my family, my parents only grandchild. Our future had been stolen from us, Chris' future had been stolen from him. The next days were a blur, helping Brian choose a casket for his only child...the wake which saw more than 2,000 people come to say goodye...seeing my brother kneeling over his child's casket at the cemetery, knowing he just wanted to lay down beside Chris that day.

The guy who killed Chris had several prior DWI arrests and had just gotten his license back in 2000. He was caught the following day, but it could not be proved that he was intoxicated. Though the police gathered testimony from a local bar owner that this guy was there for several hours before heading home that day. He was charged with "leaving the scene" and "tampering with evidence", as they found him trying to repair damage to his truck from the collision. Christopher's mom was galvanized by inequality in the laws, which rewarded people who leave the scene of an accident with less jail time than if caught drinking and driving. She got a law passed in NYS which raised the class of the felony with greater punishment time. The guy who killed Christopher is serving 2-6 yr sentence. He has already tried for parole twice in the first 2 yrs and applied to get his license back. We will fight him every step of the way, for Chris who cannot speak for himself any longer.

Chris wanted to be an 8th grade history teacher. He would have made a difference in this world...he did make a difference in so many lives in his short 16 years, 11 months and 11 days. We will miss him and hold him in our hearts forever and long for the day we are reunited.

luv and hugs, Karen
proud aunt of Christopher
12.1.86-11.12.03

bottom photos are: Chris and mom, Chris and stepdad Bob, Chris little, Chris with dad and grandpa, Chris with me


tim

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
    • Jenae's Life Celebration
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #22 on: January 07, 2007, 12:08:00 AM »
To avoid being redundant, please see http://jenae.gallegos.home.att.net
Tim (Jenae's Dad)

           Jenae Jasmine Gallegos
    July 16th, 1995 - May 30th, 2005
  http://myangeljenae.com

sykeller (Ray's mom)

  • nospam
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 152
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2007, 10:26:29 AM »
Tim,

What a beautiful website you have created for your precious Jenae.  I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, special prayers for your wife Sandra and Joel. 

Wishing you comfort and peace,

Sy (Ray's mom)

http://ray-guerrero.memory-of.com/


AmberandJohnnysMom

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Jenn and Johnny
    • View Profile
    • MySpace
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #24 on: January 17, 2007, 08:44:41 PM »
Hi. I am very new here...and am not sure where I will fit in, but the pain of losing my precious son is hurting me so much and I need other people to talk to.

I have a daughter who is 12, and she was a wonderful sister to her little brother, my angelic little boy, Johnny. Johnny was born January 15, 1998. He was breech and had trouble breathing after birth. He spent a lot of his time in a Children's Hospital. He had a trach, a feeding tube and was on oxygen. He was never able to do anything for himself, but his smile made my world a much brighter place, as it did for his sister and his daddy.
Johnny's love for us shone on his face, and I miss him so much. On Thursday, November 9, 2006, our precious Johnny passed away peacefully in my arms at the childrens hospital with his Daddy and his Sissy by his side. We made it through his birthday...baking cupcakes for the family and taking a letter and a poem and some balloons to his grave site.

How do you get through each day?


^j^ We love and miss you so very much, Buddy Bear! ^j^

Karen Paul

  • nospam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1181
    • View Profile
    • Chris Bascom Memorial
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children - Johnny's mom
« Reply #25 on: January 18, 2007, 03:01:56 PM »
Your sweet Johnny is so beautiful! I'm so so sorry that you have reason to find this group, but glad that you have. I hope you find this a safe place to share and vent, when all the world seems clueless and cruel. Please know that you are not alone and we would love to hear more about Johnny when you fee like it.

luv and hugs, Karen
proud aunt of Christopher


marzz

  • nospam
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 85
  • Kelly I won't you back my beautiful girl.
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #26 on: January 19, 2007, 04:49:41 PM »
Amber
You do fit in here (( which I'm sorry to say ))
there's no words to say but sorry you have lost your
precious son Johnny.
My heart goes out to you, your family, Keep coming
hear it helps so much to know that people hear care.
I would like to introduce my daughter here too
but just not ready too the reality hurts to much for now.
But thinking of you Amber sending you love (( hugs )) marzz
Thank You Kelly For Being My Daughter.

  

sykeller (Ray's mom)

  • nospam
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 152
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #27 on: January 19, 2007, 05:50:47 PM »
I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Angel Johnny, sorry you have a reason to find this board.  This is such a painful journey to have to make.  You have come to a place of caring and understanding, a place where everyone understands your pain.  Please tell us more about Johnny when you are ready.

Wishing you comfort and peace,

Sy

http://ray-guerrero.memory-of.com/


Patti

  • nospam
  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #28 on: February 01, 2007, 06:13:55 PM »
Jason Robert Filion
June 17th. 1975- April 2nd. 1987


Although his life here on earth only lasted not quiet, 12 years it would take a book to fill my thoughts of the legacy, he left behind and I do have plans to write that book one day. However, for now I can tell you a brief history behind this face of an angel.
From 1975-1980, life was very normal. We had two wonderful children from my first marriage, Jason and Candy, Candy is the oldest.
In 1979, I became pregnant with Ken and mines child after surgery to put my tubes back together. On February 6th, Shawna was born and to say we were happy would have been an understatement. On February 7th, we noticed Jason had many bruises all over his body all of a sudden. He had a bit of a cold but had been very healthy up to this point.
We called the Doctor, this was on a Saturday and by Sunday morning, Jason really started feeling bad, he was four at the time. His pale white skin against his fiery red hair just made him look sicklier so we called the Doctor and Ken, his dad took him in. It only take five minutes to get to the doctors and on a Sunday I knew they wouldn’t be gone long so I enjoyed the company of Candy and our brand new baby Shawna. I waited and waited and finally Ken and Jason returned. I knew something was terribly wrong just by the expression on Kens face, and the remaining tear in his eyes.
Ken said they did not know for sure yet but they believed Jason had Leukemia and they would call as soon as the blood test came back.
My heart dropped to the floor in a moment I will never forget then the phone rings and the doctors suspicions were confirmed. Jason had childhood leukemia and his platelet count was so low a good bump could have killed him. The Doctor told Ken to get him to Seattle ASAP so not even knowing where he was going, Ken picked Jason up and left for Children’s Hospital where I would join them later.
Our life from that point on was something out of a si fi movie it seems like, and less than a year after all this occurred, our other son, Justin was born. To this day I don’t’ know how we kept our sanity, I believe faith and family and friends and the close bonds that were formed with the Doctors and nurses and most of all, Jason himself gave us courage beyond words.
Through seven long years of chemo and radiation, Jason never lost hope. He would always say, I might go to heaven and visit but I’m not going to stay mom, I’ll come back and I would always say”Ok Jas”. This particular line would later have more impact on us than I have the time to tell you, just remember these words.
Now I have to admit, I am glad I was not his Doctor or his nurse as this cute little child had a red headed temper and he used it to the max! It was generally his way or no way but the only control he had over his life was his mouth so he put it to good use, I smile as I say this now but back then it wasn’t to funny.
Jason had 3 Doctors he became very close to, his primary outpatient Doctor in Seattle, Barbara Clark and his home town Doctor which was good old Doc Gene Turner who I felt very badly for after Jason would be on predispose for weeks at a time and make some of the worst looking food combinations you have ever seen in your life, them make Doc Gene try to eat this stuff with him (balata). However, Gene always tried it no matter what it was. Last but not least was dear Doc Jim Mantooth whom to this day I remember Jim coming up to our house and driving us to the hospital as Jason spiked a 106* fever with a white count of 0. Ken was at work, there was no time to call him, and Jim just lived down the road.
Now when Doc Gene and Doc Jim got finished with their treatment it was good old Barbara Clark at Children’s in Seattle that usually ended up taking care of him, as he never did anything normal, he always had to do it in a big way and would end up back in Seattle for treatment of some kind. Thank God Barbara loved redheads and their sharp wit!
By the way, if you three Docs stop by this page to visit and see this, I just want to say one thing to you. If you see Jason when you get up to heaven, ha don’t be wearing any hospital clothing, just come with a bass master fishing hat and he will be one happy kid!
Back to the story (I get sidetracked easy). During the good times, and there was a lot as Jason even when he felt bad would want to go camping or fishing, we tried to be a normal family but after seven years of this kind of life you forget what normal is. We did things a lot with family as in camping trips to wherever it was warm and Jason believed the fish were biting. Gosh I remember one time we were getting ready to go out the door on a week camping trip to Eastern Wa. and we were waiting on the Lab to call with Jason blood count in case we encountered any problems while we were gone and the lab called and said the cancer was back. Ken and I looked at Jason and Jas said “lets go we can deal with cancer later” so that’s what we did. You need to understand we had already been through the relapse thing several times before so in Jason’s eyes it was routine, he just wanted to go fishing!
Many things happened from this point on, many relapses a bone marrow transplant, none of the family matched so they took his own marrow and stored it after they got him back in remission and treated it and gave it back to him. Well obviously this did not work. He relapsed five months after they started the transplant and never really went back into remission. He had had the best of the best by now. The best of modern technology, the best of the best Doctors and still we faced what we knew would come in the end. Jason light never stopped shining though. His hope was alive and well, to him he was still breathing and very much alive.
To wind this down quietly and peacefully I will tell you through all his zest for life and his courage to stand up for what he believed in even though he was just a child with the body of a little old man he stood firm on the statement he always made about visiting heaven but not staying until 3 days before he died.
Ken and I had went to get some pansies, which were his favorite flower and I was planting them on the deck so he could see them from where he lay in the living room. After they were planted, I walked in to see this skinny little pale body setting up smiling from ear to ear. It is a smile I had never seen on him or anyone before. It was so peaceful and so real. As I walked in the room Jason just looked at me with this smile on his face and said “mom I’m afraid if I get to heaven I won’t want to come back, is that ok”? As I felt my stomach and my heart drop to the floor, trying to hold back the tears, I said" sure Jas, that’s ok”. Three days later, he died in his sleep at home with his family.
There is just no way of putting seven years of blessings that this child gave to us in this website, there is far to many. He showed all around him how to live life to its fullest and enjoy every second they you are given. He is and will continue to me my inspiration and I will continue to write and share our experiences during this period in our life so you can see why I have the need from the deepest part of my soul to help those going through loss of a loved one to know that in the end we don’t have to let go, just let loose and move ahead till we meet again.

God Bless,
Patti
_______ 
 
 
 
 




SusanA

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Introducing Our Precious Children
« Reply #29 on: February 05, 2007, 11:52:01 AM »
Hi everyone,
It's been a while since I've been here... trying to get used to the new board.  It's nice to see some old friends.  I'm sorry for the new ones.

I lost my beautiful little boy, Justin, to an aggressive type of Pediatric Cancer called Neuroblastoma.  He was diagnosed when he was just 14 months old.  He was such a funny, cute, amazing little boy.  He helped us stay strong for him.  He initially did very well and we really thought he would beat it.  He went through several chemos, surgeries, medications, a stem cell transplant with 100 days of isolation, radiation, a zillion tests, etc.  Through it all he was his precious and charming self.  He relapsed with a brain tumor when he was 23 months old.  We were told his chances were slim to none.  I lost it but managed to pull myself together for him.  Again he started to do well, and we were determined that he would be the first child to beat a relapse of this nature.  One week after his make-a-wish party, the Cancer started spreading again.  We were told there was nothing else to do.  We called doctors all over the country and researched treatments all over the world.  Because of his young age and the fact that he was n-myc amplified and MIBG negative, they all agreed.  He went into Hospice at our home.  He passed away a week later, at the age of 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days.  My husband and I miss him so much.  He was our only child at the time.  Things will never be the same.

Thanks for reading.