Rest In Peace Little One

Maddie (Update)

Heather Spohr's website The Spohrs Are Multiplying is up and running again, after the outpouring of love, crashed the server.

Sam from Temporarily Me has been hard at work and has gotten March for Maddie live. This site will showcase The March of Dimes walks that are being put together by bloggers across the country. There will be links so people can easily find a walk close to where they live. They will have access to needed information and details.

A service in celebration of Maddie’s life has been scheduled for 2:30 pm (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009. It will be held at the Old North Chapel at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. For more information on the site, go here. Again, Heather and Mike have asked that everyone wear purple in honor of Maddie. There will also be a reception that will follow the service.

I of course, being from the opposite end of the country, will not be able to attend. I will, however, be posting a memorial to her on my blog at precisely the time the service begins. If you would like to do the same, please click here to copy the image for yourself.

Madeline Alice Spohr November 11, 2007 - April 7, 2009

I'm sure many of you have already heard the devastating news. The Internets are rocked to their cores. Two days ago, that sweet child Maddie, left this earth. She sprouted her wings and took flight.

I sit here typing; trying to find the right words. I complete a sentence. I pause. I press the backspace key. I start again. I erase again.

There are no words.

Though I do not know Heather or Mike Spohr, my heart goes out to them. I can not imagine the pain they are feeling. My chest is tight; there is a knot of fear, of sadness. Becoming a mom does that. It makes you sense the loss of another mother. It stays with you. It haunts you.

My son, W., saw a picture of Maddie on my laptop last night. He asked who the cute little girl was. I explained what had happened, in terms he could understand. My boy, my sweet, caring, compassionate boy turned to me, his face somber, "Mom, that's so sad."

So sad, indeed.

And then I thought for a moment. I have always donated to the March of Dimes. Ever since W. was born, I wanted to help sponsor this cause. No parent should have to watch their child fight for their life, as we had.

We were blessed. W. survived his congenital heart defect. We should do more, to honor Maddie.

I asked him if he wanted to start our own team to walk for her. For other babies. He jumped at the idea.

The "Jersey Shore Families For Maddie" team is walking on April 26th in Belmar, NJ. Please, if you can, join us. Sign up here and be a part of our team.

Of Maddie's team.

If you can't walk, won't you please sponsor either W. or myself? No parent should endure the Spohr's heartache.

Sponsor Me:

Sponsor My Son:



*If you don't live nearby, please visit Lotus Carroll's blog Sarcastic Mom. She is listing other teams across the country.