We Remember Them...

The Walk to Remember was a wonderful event for the many families in attendance this past Sunday afternoon. The stone-themed event was complete with music, a beautiful harpist, responsive scripture readings, prayer, and encouraging words from a very special woman at Mercy, Ann Valdez. Ann is very special to me, as she helped deliver my precious Chloe, and most recently was my nurse for the birth of our newest addition, Aiyana.

As families arrived at the event, they were directed to decorate a stone in memory of their baby who died, which would later be part of a dedication in the garden. Gabe did a good job of decorating our stone for his baby sister, Chloe! After the service in the chapel, we walked to the garden outside of the East Tower. Since this is a newer part of the hospital, the garden is fairly new. However, the plantings in the garden were done in conjunction with a previous Walk to Remember, which makes it all the more special. This year's stone theme was topped off by having a large stone or monument inscribed with "We Remember Them" and placed near the entrance to the garden. Families were able to memorialize their child with their smaller stones, by placing them in the garden and saying the name of their child. Gabe placed our stone in the garden, right next to baby Noah's, who I like to think of as Chloe's friend in heaven. Noah is the son of some good friends of ours from church who was born in August of 2007 and lived for 2 1/2 days.




The Walk to Remember also provided an opportunity to reconnect with a couple of "Mommies" who we have crossed paths with over the last couple of years. It is my prayer that these Mommies find the strength to come to our group and receive the comfort and encouragement that only the Lord can provide. I also pray that He would use us to minister to them in a special way.