COL Part One

Yesterday was incredible.  I want to thank all of our family and friends for making it happen.  Thanks to those who worked, helped, performed, created, celebrated, traveled and showed up!  I will try to share bits of the event on this blog over the next several posts.

About three days after we lost Hans it occured to me that his story was more like a fairy tale than anything else. I wrote this to him, and I shared it at the COL via audio recording.

Hans, you were a Fairytale,

A wise, brave boy.

With sea green eyes,

and a beaming smile.

Your blonde curls sprang like life itself.

Not only physically beautiful, you were smart and capable,

kind and gentle.   
You loved animals and you understood machines. 

You were our special boy.

Where but in a fairy tale do we find our charmed boy so cursed by fate and odds?

 You set out with no choice but to embark on your Epic Journey.

 The Journey was yours, and we were but there to help you through it.

It took you to faraway lands to find the best doctors.

And it opened the hearts of everyone you knew; 

your family, your friends, your neighbors.

They helped you and sent you on your way 
with miles and dollars and wishes and hope.

Where but in a fairytale was a boy blessed with so many Fairy Godmothers?

Ladies and gentlemen of the land fell for you everywhere you went.

You were covered in prayer and love and many spoils.

From near and far, people sent you foods and presents.

We were simply blessed to be the family you were delivered into-

 a family somehow perfectly equipped to fight just for you.

Your dad worked hard to secure your every need and want.

The two of you were bonded in pride and joy, and work and play.

And as your mom I had the good fortune and simple luxury of caring for you.

You were my first priority and I was, of course, a devotee to my task.

Where but in a fairy tale does our boy have a sister so fair?

The sister that whole villages think not twice of caring for.

While we were tending to you,

Lists of lovely ladies came to her aide. 

She was able to live her little girl’s life

and all the while be there for you at the end of the day.

You graced us all with your good, sweet love,

your fight and your focus. 

You were incredibly intentional and hard working at your task.

And though we found to the best doctors in the land,

No amount of love and effort would yet keep you here with us.

Science is still a few clicks of the rubik’s cube away...

We have to trust with Hope and Faith

that we in fact have a happy ending, we simply cannot see it.

The happy ending will be revealed as we join you once again.

Your fairy tale shall have one thousand happy endings.

Every one you’ve ever touched will keep 
a little bit of your magic burning within them.

Your spirit will live through us and be a force of goodwill, authenticity, 
and childlike devotion to those we love. 

Thank you for being our special boy.

We will love you happily ever after, Hans.