It is amazing to me how fast time flies by! It has almost been a year since we lost our sweet little twin boys, Ethan and Tommy. Because the first anniversary of thier death is fast approaching, we have been discussing how we planned to celebrate and remember them. We have decided on 3 small things and would like to invite our family and friends to participate if they so desire. Please do not feel obligated to assist or attend. We are very open about the loss of our babies and like to be surrounded by our loved ones during difficult times and would like to allow others to remember with us.
1. While I was in the hospital delivering our precious babies, the bereavement program at the hospital provided us with an abundance of gifts and momentos to take home and remember the boys. This was done through generous donations to the program in an effort to prevent any woman/family who was not going to be taking their baby home from feeling empty handed. When women go to the hospital and deliver a heathy baby, not only do they get to take home a beautiful child, but they are generally overwhelmed with the out pouring of love and gifts from family, friends and even the hospital. When a mother does not give birth to a healthy child, whether because of miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death, this out pouring is not always present and she also has to endure the heartache of leaving the hospital without her baby. During the next two months, we will be collecting items to make a donation in Ethan and Tommy's name to the bereavement program of the Banner Desert hospital. We realize that times are tough right now for many people, so if you are not able to participate in this, that is just fine. Even if we are only able to help one mother, that is one more that will feel that she is not alone and that someone cared for her, as other's cared for me during our difficult delivery. Any dontations of items or money to purchase items would be greatly appreciated. We will be making the donation on Friday, December 3rd. Items being collected include the following:
- boxes (such as photo boxes, gift boxes, etc.)
- journals
- pens/pencils
- candles
- picture frames
- photo albums
- disposable cameras
- small scrapbooks (that pictures and names and details can be added later)
- small stuffed animals
- small recieving blankets
- Beanies/hats
- booties/socks
- poems
- music
- bath/relaxation products
- lotions
- baby lotion
- kleenex
- hair bows/headbands (for baby girls)
- Any other baby memento/trinket
- baby jewlrey
**Many of the babies may not be full term, so item sizes can vary from new born/infant to premie and even smaller.**
2. On Friday, December 3rd, our boys' birthday, we will be doing a balloon release at their grave site. The boys are buried at the City of Mesa Cemetary in Mesa. If you would like to travel with us, we will be leaving our home between 4:15 and 4:30. We will be meeting at the cemetary at 5pm and once everyone has arrived we will "send our love to heaven" to the boys by releasing balloons. Everyone is encouraged to bring a balloon with either a message to the boys or a goal or improvement you will try to work on for the next year in their honor.
3. Following the balloon release, everyone is invited back to our home for a BBQ to celebrate our eternal family. Please RSVP for this part so i know how much food to have to feed everyone.
We hope that everyone is doing well and that you know of our love and gratitude for each of you. Our friends and family have been a huge part of healing during this difficult trial in our lives and we are grateful for each part you have played.
Love
Eldon and Stefani
It was very important to us to try to do something positive in Ethan and Tommy's memory for their birthday. We decided that it was most beneficial to "pay forward" the gifts of love and support that we received during the hardest time of this trial (right after the birth and the loss). When I was in the hospital delivering the Boys, I received a huge outpouring of gifts. Most of the gifts came from the hospital. The gifts were a variety of mementos and keepsakes to help us preserve the memory of our sons such as a scrapbook, pictures, picture frames, candles, beanies, blankets, etc. Those precious items have become very special and sacred to me because they remind me of my sweet babies. We decided that we would celebrate the Boys' birthday by making a donation in their honor to help show love and support to other Mothers and families that would have to endure the hardships that we have gone through. I was incredibly blessed to be able to request for donations from our Ward Relief Society, the entire Police Department where I work, and our dear family and friends. We were completely stunned by the outpouring of love and generosity we received on behalf of our sweet babies. Over several months we collected a huge amount of items to donate in loving memory of Ethan and Tommy.
