USCF Memorial Event

So sad I forgot my camera to show you the beautiful job UCSF did to honor their angels. They had a wonderful memorial event to celebrate the lives of all the children who have passed. Danny and I were humbled to have the opportunity to be the parent speakers at the event. This is what we shared in english and spanish. I love having the opportunity to be involved with UCSF. It is such a humbling and rewarding thing to meet so many amazing people that are striving to bless the lives of children and their families.

We are honored to celebrate the life of our son Carl Lavar as well as the lives of your precious sons and daughters. As a couple, I am sure like you, we had countless hopes and dreams of oneday becoming parents and blessing our children. It didn't take long before realizing that parenthood, just like life, is filled with unexpected ups and downs.

We were first blessed with a healthy son, Scott. 2 years later, we were heartbroken to find out that Tyler, our second son would be born with an incurable heart condition. A year later, we were pregnant with our 3rd son and once again devastated to find out that he had health problems. Testing showed a large cyst on his brain.

It appeared that our lifelong dreams and hopes for our childrens future and health were continually slipping away. In a moment of sadness and fear, we turned to God and realized He was awaiting us.

This doesn't make us immune to heartache and pain. Part of this life is experiencing pain as well as joy. There is perhaps no harder trial or pain than loosing a child. There are day that we will miss our children immensley. In some ways this is a marvelous blessing and gift. It helps us remember their beauty, the blessing of being their mother or father and the countless lives they touched and will continue to bless through their example of courage, strength and hope.

The true miracle occurs when we are able to find peace amidst heartache. This allows us to celebrate our children, the miracles they are and the marvelous lessons they have come to teach us. As parents we came to realize that as certain dreams and hopes for our children slipped away, new and marvelous ones appeared.

Our three children are each marvelous blessings that have and continue to bless our lives in unique ways. I believe that all children come into their families with something wonderful to share and teach. Our healthy son brings us love and joy each day. Our chronically ill child teaches us to make the most of each moment and each day as a treasured gift,

Most sacred and perhaps most touching Carl, our angel child, teaches us to be a little kinder, more compassionate and more loving. He inspires us to live our life so that we can someday be reunited with him. He teaches us that although we appear to be separated, we share a closeness that can't be described. His short life brings our family more hope that we could have ever fathomed. He blessed and left our life on Christmas morning which was the ultimate testament to our family and friends of the miracle of his mission as a child of hope.

Whatever your background or belief, I pray that the memory of your child will shine brightly in your heart and will continue to touch countless lives. I pray that you will feel your childs presence, be upflifted by their memory and find peace in understanding their wonderful blessing and mission that they so beautifully fulfilled. We pray that family, friends and loved ones will comfort and uplift you in time of need.