How does a Mother or Father say..."Good by?"
Your child is always...your child.
The most precious thing in your world...
A child from the depths of your soul.

You have poured your life into this child,
Your hopes, dreams, visions of life, and love.

How could this child leave?

You shared this miracle with the world,
Hoping beyond hope that the world would...understand
That the world would care...
That the world would cherish your gift of life.

Then comes the news and dark days
yielding darker days still.
Like the storm that slams down at midday...
Then roars into the night
With thunder that shakes the fiber of your soul...
And lightening that shares only a brief flash...
Of the life that was to be...

Your child.

Pleading with God grants little comfort
as you cry out, "Where are you!"
"How can this be?"
"How can this child not be...here..."

Then the days of agony turn into torture...
For your child.
Gasping breath...moaning in pain
and only shadows of awareness.

"Can you say my name...just one more time?"
"Can you squeeze my hand...just one more time?"
"Like when you were a little child...
Afraid in the storm?"

Yet you are here, always in my heart...
So you will live on in solace with pure love...
and stunning memories that will always be
as close as any waking moment...and dreams.

I love you.