Caitlyn

February 15,1999 - June 23,2004

Welcome to Caitlyn's Web Page. It has been provided to keep Family and Friends updated about our Caitlyn. Caitlyn had a rare form of leukemia called JCML or JMML, she had been fighting since Feb.2002 and lost her battle after 2 years and 4 months.Thank you for visiting our web page please sign the guestbook we love hearing back from you. :)
2004 >

Grieving Parent's Wish List (author unknown)

1. I wish you would not be afraid to speak my child's name. They
lived and were important and I need to hear their name.

2. If I cry or get emotional if we talk about my child, I wish you
knew that it isn't because you have hurt me; the fact they have died
has caused my tears. You have allowed me to cry and I thank you.
Crying and emotional outbursts are healing.

3. I wish you wouldn't let my loved one die again by removing from
your home her pictures, artwork, or other remembrances.

4. I will have emotional highs and lows, ups and downs. I wish you
wouldn't think that if I have a good day my grief is over, or that
if I have a bad day I need psychiatric counceling.

5. I wish you knew that the death of a child is different from other
losses and must be viewed separately. It is the ultimate tragedy
and I with you wouldn't compare it to your loss of a parent, spouse,
or a pet.

6. Being a bereaved person is not contagious, so I wish you
wouldn't stay away from me.

7. I wish you knew all the crazy grief reactions that I am having
are in fact very normal. Depression, anger, frustration and
hopelessness and the questioning of values and beliefs are to be
expected following a death.

8. I wish you wouldn't expect my grief to be over in six months.
The first few years are going to be exceedingly traumatic for us.
As with alcoholics, I will never be 'cured' or a 'formerly bereaved'
but forever be a 'recovering' from my bereavement.

9. I wish you understood the physical reaction to grief. I may
gain weight or lose weight, sleep all the time or not at all,
develop a lot of illness and be accident prone, all of which are
related to my grief.

10. Our child's birthday, the anniversary of her death, and the
holidays are terrible times for us. I wish you would tell us that
you are thinking about them on these days and if we get quiet and
withdrawn, just know that we are thinking about them and don't try
to coerce us into being cheerful.

11. I wish you would't offer to take me out for a drink, or to a
party; this is just a temporary crutch and the only way I can get
through this grief is to experience it. I have hurt before and I
can heal.

12. I wish you understood that grief changes people. I am not the
same person I was before my child died and I will never be that
person again. If you keep waiting for me to get back to 'my old
self' you will stay frustrated. I am a new creature with new
thoughts, dreams, aspirations, and values. Please try to get to
know the new me: maybe you will still like me.

Journal

Friday, February 15, 2008 6:28 AM CST

Happy Birthday Caitlyn,

Wow 9 years old.

Were going to clinic today to drop off gifts in your name we collected a lot of great gifts. Your going to make a lot of children very happy. Then we will come home and release some balloons so watch out for them. Then of coure McDonalds for diner.

I tried looking at a child who is 8 yesterday and tried to think about how tall you would be. That is the hard part not know what you would look like how your hair would be. I just know you would be beautiful and i miss see that smile and hearing that giggle. I can't believe that where having another birthday without you it just seems so unfair. We miss you baby. I know your in Heaven and God is taking care of you but i wish i was doing that job. Well i better go get ready we still need to load the truck and get on the road.

Thank you to all our friends who still check up on us. I miss seeing our clinic friends. Hope everyone stays safe and healthy. We love you all very much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONKEY!!!!!!!!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Jim & Sara
xxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxoo

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: 5519

At Home in Heaven
9000 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997
414-607-5149

Links:

E-mail Author: buss216@aol.com

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