Aaron's Story
~Part 3~
(The Funeral)
~Friday March 17, 1999~
It was so cold the day of Aaron's funeral.
We were staying at the hotel that I worked at.
I could not stand to be in our house.
My brother and sister-in-law, came from Maryland.
They had never got to see their nephew.
My brother-in-law, and sister-in-law came from Florida.
I was so shocked they all came.
They never got to see Aaron either.
I was a wreck. I was going to my baby's funeral.
It all was not really sinking in yet though.
I kept saying it is a bad dream right.
It was not, I was living a nightmare.
The Service was at 2:00 that afternoon.
I had not eaten much the past couple of days.
Everyone was trying to encourage me to eat.
We went to breakfast. I knew I needed some food in me.
We had a long day ahead of us.
We got to the funeral home around 1:30.
There were so many people there already.
I felt bad, we were not there when they had arrived.
My stomach was starting to get even tighter.
How was I going to make it through this service.
My mom had taken Joseph, and got him ready.
When I saw him he looked so handsome.
Just so sad. I knew he did not
understand exactly what was going on.
He was only 3 years old;
and He had just lost his new best friend.
We told him Aaron was in Heaven with God.
I knew that was not going to be good enough.
My mom and I walked into the chapel.
I could not hold back the tears any longer.
I was looking at my baby's picture,
surrounded by beautiful flowers.
In front of his picture were 2 angel figurines.
They were like little jewlery boxes.
Now they each contained some of Aaron's ashes.
We did not want the ern set out.
It would have taken away from his picture.
The service was done by our long time Pastor, Don Rough.
Also, a friend of Lewis' family,
said a few words.
(He is also a Pastor.) They both were great.
The end of the service we had
"Angels Among Us", by Alabama, playing.
Aaron was definately an angel among us.
The Funeral Director told us he had never seen that
many people come to a Memorial Service for an infant.
He told us he had to bring out more chairs.
It amazed us as well, since most
of the people there, did not ever get to see Aaron.
He was a truely loved little boy.
We have learned the cause of Aaron's death.
He died of respiratory failure,
due to an enlarged Thymus Gland,
Aspiration pnuemonia, and RSV
(a virus in his lungs.)
He had other enlarged organs as well.
If only doctor's would start
listening to a Mother's gut feelings.
Then maybe tragedies like this would not happen.
~*~"Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff
need to realize that children are our future
and they are just letting them die!!!!"~*~
The Day of Aaron's Funeral Service
I got this in an E-Mail, and thought it was nice.
If I knew it would be the last time that
I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck
you in more tightly and pray the Lord
your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that
I'd see you walk out of the door,
I would hug you and kiss you and call you
back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I
heard your name lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and
word, so I could play it back for days.
If I knew it would be the last time to
spare an extra minute or two, I'd
stop and say "I love you," Instead of
assuming that you know I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I
would be there to share your day.
Well, I'm sure you'll have many more,
So, I'll let this one slip away.
For surely there is tomorrow to make up
for an oversight, and we'll always get a
second chance to make everything all
right. There will be another chance to
say our "I love you's," and certainly there's
another chance to say our "Anything I
can do's ".
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much
I love you and hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike, and today
might be your last chance to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why
not do it all today? For if tomorrow
never comes, You will surely regret
the day, that you didn't take the extra
time for a smile or hug or kiss.
And you're surely too busy to grant
someone, what turned out to be
their last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today and
whisper in their ear.
Tell them how much you love them and that
you'll always hold them dear.
Take the time to say "I'm sorry, please
forgive me, Thank you or It's OK",
and if tomorrow never comes, you'll
have no regrets about today.
Apologize and start anew and tell the
one who loves you, that you love them too!
Unknown
To go to the beginning of Aaron's story:
