It is hard to believe it has been just over a month now since Reid’s funeral and we are quickly approaching the two month mark since he passed. For a while now it has been on our hearts to make a post but knowing it could be our last has caused us to hold off. There are many things we need to do related to Reid that we have been delaying as we know once they’re done...they’re done.  As our to-do list gets shorter, it feels like we have less of Reid to hold on to. 

One of the remaining items on our list is to write thank you’s to all who have supported us over these past few months. We are so grateful for all for your kind words, letters of support, meals, and gifts in memory of Reid and in support of Sally, Stella, and I. In addition to Reid’s endowment and new picnic table to support his preschool, trees have also been planted on the campuses of The College of Wooster and Ripon College in his memory. We are touched by all of you and we could not have gotten through all of this without your support. 

While each week seems to get slightly easier, we have many hard moments. This Thanksgiving brought many memories of last year with all of us being at the rehabilitation hospital in Cleveland and hoping with all we had that he would start to improve. While we grow in our acceptance that he is no longer with us physically, we continue to wonder why this had to happen. What Reid went through is beyond the worst side effect one could imagine from leukemia and chemo treatment and I don’t think that the fear, sadness, confusion, and occasional anger we feel over his slow and awful demise will ever completely go away. We will just keep working to find a way to carry forward with as many good memories as we can. All things considered, I think we are doing as well as we can. 

Some have asked us to share a copy of the family statement that was shared prior to the beginning of Reid's funeral mass. It preceded the playing of "Godspeed" by the Chicks, which feels like it was written for our little boy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12TkyZozl3U).  Our family statement follows:

"In so many ways, Reid was a typical little boy. He liked dinosaurs, nature, matchbox cars, sports, and typical kids shows…especially Paw Patrol. That said, in many ways Reid was extraordinary. He was kind, empathetic, funny, and caring.  One of this favorite Sunday morning activities was to watch Sunday Today and he always looked forward to the Life Well Lived segment focusing on the passing of someone who lived an incredible life of service. While Reid didn’t live long enough to make an impact on the world in the traditional sense, everyone who knew him loved him. He touched the lives of teachers, neighbors, health care professionals and of course his family. His bravery and positive outlook as a patient was the inspiration of the entire pediatric oncology floor at the Cleveland Clinic.  His subsequent degeneration from an unknown neurological condition was heartbreaking to so many. 

It’s important to know that while Reid shined during his illness, being sick only consumed a small fraction of the story of Reid’s life.  Reid loved his family, especially his best friend and sister Stella.  He cared about doing things right and he cared about fairness.  He loved God and had many questions about life. He looked forward to “being a dad” and according to Reid he knew that in order to get to that adult status he would need a wallet, learn how to drive a car, and to get married.  He made plans for how we would reach that status.  He was excited to go to pre-school and looked forward to the day when he could start going to the same school as his sister.  Reid had many questions about what laid ahead for him and it makes the fact that his time here on earth has come to an end all that more confusing and difficult 

While tough times can test faith, it can also help faith flourish.  During his traditional oncology treatment, Reid never wavered in his optimism and while his nervous system was failing him, he never stopped trying to regain the skills he lost. While our faith was challenged over the course of the last year and we questioned why this was happening to our little boy, we know through salvation that we will all be together again one day. We will hear his laugh, see his smile, feel his big hugs, and hold his hand.  In the meantime, he will always be with us in our hearts and in so many wonderful memories of time together.  Thank you to all here who supported our family through this struggle and so many not with us whose support and prayers lifted us up when we and Reid were at our lowest."