Dear Melissa,
Your daddy and I went to a beautiful dinner last night celebrating Huntsville Hospital Foundation. They showed a video where they interviewed people whose lives had been touched by foundation donations.
Two of those families had babies in our NICU in the last three years. As they told their stories, I grabbed your daddy's hand and gently cried. Both babies had been in Giraffe OmniBeds purchased by your fund, Melissa's Fund. Both of those families have now become friends of mine and advocates for the NICU and your fund.
Your daddy and I don't take one ounce of credit for the money we've raised through your fund. We know it's not about us, but about all of the people who have so generously supported the fund.
But, I do believe it's also about you. Had you not come into our lives, there would be no Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund. Had God not blessed us by making us your parents none of this would have happened.
I remember soon after you died being angry at God. How could He allow a mother to carry her child all of those months and then take her? It didn't make any sense to me.
But now, while I still hurt, I understand. Your life was about something bigger. At your memorial service your daddy said, "Some people go their whole life not knowing what their purpose is. Melissa knew her purpose."
At the time he said that, there was no Melissa's Fund. He was talking about the way you held on - defying the odds - inside of me those seven extra weeks, giving Ann Catherine a chance to live. Without your fight and your strength, not only would we have lost you, we would have also lost Ann Catherine.
And then your purpose grew into something bigger. I'm not prideful about that. I'm incredibly humbled.
As long as I live, I'll count it one of my greatest joys that God allowed me to be your mommy.
And I just wanted you to know.
By the way, Lily Baker's balloon from Red Robin accidentally flew out the window of the car yesterday. She was devastated. We told her it was going to see you.
It was "lellow," her favorite color. I hope you got it.
I love you to Heaven and back,
Mommy
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More "happy/sad" tears. :-) His faithfulness endures from generation to generation. . .somehow I believe that someday you (and I hope I also) will witness Ann Catherine, Lily Baker, Abby and Ellie Kate (along with many more) experiencing and sharing his faithfulness with others. . .and we are just a small part of His infinite puzzle!! (That puzzle where all the pieces fit PERFECTLY - even though we may not realize it at the moment. . .)
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