For a little Angel.

As many of you know, yesterday we lost another Hydran child. Brayden was four years old. FOUR. His mother, Alicia, was the first person to contact me who had a child with Hydranencephaly. She brought so many families with children like this together, she made a safe haven for them. A place for us to go and get advice, rant, or just be. So for her to lose her son is heartbreaking to me.

I never did get to meet the little guy, but he touched my heart. his story and everything he went through was something I went through with Carsyn. So in a way, his story was teaching me. I learned a lot about Hydranencephaly and what to look for with Carsyn from them. So it was a shock when I logged on this morning to find that he had passed. even scarier was the fact that he was smiley just before.

The loss of these children is a constant, and horrible reminder that we cannot keep our children with Hydranencephaly forever. It's the saddest part of this for me. Every child that passes, it's almost like my own, because we rerad each others stories, the kids weasel their ways into your heart, and when they are gone all you can do is look at your own and think. I held Carsyn close this morning and cried for Alicia. I cannot imagine the pain she is going through right now, and my heart goes out to her and her family. So this is for all of the Hydran kids we have lost. For Brayden, for Andrew. All of them. So whether you have a child with special needs, or your child is healthy, hold them close tonight, because you never know when their day will come. You never know what will happen.

My mom just said something to me that I agree with 100%.

"They're not ours to keep. They are loaned to us. To teach us. Not sure what? unconditional love? patience? Whatever it is...we were lucky enough to get one of them. Love him, squeeze him a little tighter tonight ."

No matter who you are I hope you know how blessed you are to still have your babies. I know I'm feeling this way right now.

It's always like this. We lose one, and we feel the grief like its our own, but then we look at our babies and feel lucky. I'm not saying this to rub it in to anyone, it is the truth.

I know its hard to lose a loved one, but it just hits me harder when they are children. These kids keep getting taken way too soon.

For more of Brayden's story or to donate to the Harper family visit Alicia's Journey of the Bee's Blog:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/braydenharper

So until next time.. Hold those babies tight.