The Magic Number

Before I can tell you about today's good news, I need to give you the back story. Here's a post from mid-December:

"Every day of missing Ryan is hard. But when I look back on this journey so far, the hardest moment was when we had to call in a nurse to take out baby out of our arms and take him away from us forever. To somewhere I can't even speak of. Cold and alone. We only got about 12 hours with him. Overnight mostly. And the exhaustion of the horrible day before had us sleeping through most of it. Sleeping with Ryan, but not awake to soak in every moment of him. I regret our lack of time every day. Only a lifetime would have been enough time, but we definitely needed more than hours. 

The other day I got a call from my cousin, Angela. Through her restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, The Breakfast Pig, she takes pride in being part of the community and in giving back to the community. She asked Rich and I if we would be comfortable with her raising money this Christmas for a Cuddle Cot donated in Ryan's memory to the Sault Area Hospital. This has been a quiet dream of mine since Ryan's passing. I was so overwhelmed and immediately told her "Yes!" That we would be so touched..."

Well, through our fundraising efforts at Christmastime, we were able to raise just over $2000, mostly through the generosity of friends and family. An amazing feat in only a couple short weeks. But this still left us $1500 shy of the necessary $3500 for the Cuddle Cot. 

But today I got the good news that several local businesses and a "mystery donor" from my former high school stepped up and donated the difference we were missing! Our goal to bring this medical equipment to the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is going to be realized! And it'll all be donated in the name of our sweet angel, Ryan.

I could not be more proud of my family, my friends, and my hometown for pulling together to help make a difference in the lives of families who may have to suffer such a horrible loss as ours. My ultimate dream would be if these losses didn't exist. But in the meantime, giving the gift of time to parents who so desperately need it, is a good start.

Today I'm sending the biggest thank you to Angela at The Breakfast Pig, and those responsible at Exit Realty Lake Superior, Superior Nissan, and Superior Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Sault Ste. Marie for getting us to our goal.

And as always, so much love to my family and friends who have supported us not only in this little Ryan-related endeavour, but for supporting us in all things these past (almost) 5 months. Just. So. Much. Love.

Thank you. From our little family of three.