Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Heartbreaking and Heartwarming

Heartbreaking.....

I have a friend named Kim.  She and I were on dance team together at Texas A&M and lived together with another roommate in a duplex.  Kim is/was one of those radiant people...beautiful inside and out...smart and sweet and upbeat.  She was even a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader - she's that all-American girl that you want to hate and envy but just can't because she is so genuinely nice.

Kim is a mother of two, a little girl named Viv and a little boy named Sawyer.  My heart is breaking for Kim, her family, and her loved ones. 


Kim's words:
Sawyer ... ...
November 21, 2008 – December 12, 2016

Sawyer did not lose his battle with medulloblastoma brain cancer; he kicked its ass for 20 months. 

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; 
and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) 
~ E.E. Cummings

Something like this happens, and I stop in my tracks.  I reflect.  And, honestly, I ask myself "what can I do to be a better person and give more to the world?"  Please, in Sawyer's honor, hug someone you love a little tighter, spread kindness to those that need it, maybe (if you feel so inclined) donate to your local children's hospital, hospice care, or cancer research institute. 

Heartwarming.....

Today, we celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary.  I failed as a good little blogger because I had no "anniversary" post ready to honor this event.  But, when I heard the news about Sawyer, this guy is the one who held me and wiped my tears.  He is the one that recommended we find out if there is somewhere specific Kim's family will recommend donations to be sent.  He is the one who mentioned Viv, Sawyer's sister, and how tough of a time this will be for her.  I'll be honest - he isn't always known to be compassionate or tender-hearted, but I am the fortunate one that knows that side of him does indeed exist, and I know it well.  In this moment of heartbreak and grief, my heart was warmed by the realization that this is the one who is by my side during such times. 

If you want to read about our special day, you can do that here:  The best wedding ever*
Happy anniversary to us!

13 comments:

  1. happy anniversary, lovebirds! you both look fantastic.

    my deepest condolences to your friend's family :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. How absolutely terrible for your friend and her family. We have family friends who lost their son at a very young age and his sister is now studying to be a pediatric nurse in honor of her brother. The only consolation to the heartbreaking is the heartwarming...
    I have one of those closet-compassionate husbands, too. It makes you feel kind of great to know that you're in the small club that gets to see that side of them :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. My heart is just breaking for your friend & her family. :(.

    I am a childhood cancer survivor, I was one of the lucky ones. However, I know the pain all too well for the families whose children didn't make it. One thing I always do is donate to the children's hospital where I was treated. It's my way of giving a tiny percentage back of what they gave to me.

    I'm sending you hugs!

    Also, happy anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh my word, heartbreaking is right. i'm so so sorry to hear about your friend's son. and sending all the love to you too. i'm so glad you have such a loving man by your side! there really isn't much better. sending love and hugs and all the good stuff <3

    xoxo cheshire kat

    ReplyDelete
  5. you two are such a cute couple.

    Oh man. its always so hard to grasp WHY such young souls have to leave this world so early :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Erin. My heart breaks for your friend. I cannot even begin to fathom her loss. Sending love, hugs and positive energy to both you and your friend and her family.

    And congratulations on your anniversary! Such a cute couple and team!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Heartbreaking. I can't even imagine as a parent what it'd be like losing your child. There aren't enough words to convey the sadness and grief....


    On another note, happy anniversary love. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so sorry to hear about this awful news. My heart goes out to you, your friend, and everyone feeling the loss of sweet Sawyer. And though it feels bittersweet, I'm sure, happy anniversary to you and your husband. How lucky you must feel to have him by your side, in hard times and in good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so incredibly sorry to hear about your friend and her little boy! I can't even imagine how hard it is for her and her loved ones right now, especially so close to Christmas. It definitely makes you want to hug your loved ones a little tighter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh so so sad. I'm so sorry to hear about her son. It's always so tough to hear about these cases, especially hard during the holidays. :( Happy Anniversary to you two though! :) XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

    ReplyDelete
  11. oh Erin. happy anniversary to you two, and you hit the nail on the head with how i feel about KC too. he's not someone you'd automatically think was compassionate or nice, or whatever, but i know when he is, i'm the one who gets to see it.
    i am so very sorry for your friend. that is so horrible. hugs across oceans for you, and my thoughts are with your friend and her family. xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh that's so sad. I'm so sorry to hear about Sawyer, I'll be thinking of the family - and you as well because grief travels far and wide.
    And also happy anniversary! Support systems are the most important things ever, sounds like you've got a great one :)

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, and I enjoy our interactions. I respond via email, but if you're a "no reply blogger", I can't. Don't think I'm ignoring you!