All of us face death. All of us will encounter it in various forms and experiences. Most of us can pass happily through our days at a distance from this truth. We have a certain comfort in ignoring our finite nature that you will never have. No other loss, in my imagining, can be more horrific than the loss of a beloved child. And as you and Heather explain there is no longer any respite from the terrible knowledge of death. To tell this part of your journey with such honesty, such tremendous courage, and the tenacity to go forward into a future where the only certainty is that your daughter will not be with you is an amazing thing to see and read. I know that it speaks so profoundly to others who are “in the club”. And when I read either of Maddie’s parents I am always reminded of the great beauty of life. We, for brief moments, participate in miracles like the lives of our babies.

Maddie’s birthday week has arrived. I am sure it is such a difficult time for her family. Please know that she is remembered and that you her parents have changed peoples lives. You have been thrown into a club you wished never to join and there you have made a profound difference. I send you love and thanks.
Kelly´s last blog ..A Mean Moon and a Bullet-list

Maddie has been on my mind. I’m sorry I have never commented before. No words will ever describe your loss. Maddie was a gift and I cannot say just how sorry I am that she was taken from her mummy and daddy. Please know that you and Heather are in people’s thoughts and prayers. Sending you love and hugs and strength.
Vic´s last blog ..14 days…….

I always read Heather’s blog and I always think about you and her. I just read your blog about BOY INTERRUPTED. I could not see a place to comment. My son, Tomás, died by suicide at 15 years old and was bipolar. When I watched that movie, it was my story. Thank you for watching it. I feel that the whole world should watch it so that they can understand how we, parents of deceased precious children, feel. I would never want anyone else to know this pain and I can tell you that I think about Maddie every day. Your song is beautiful also. There will never be another Maddie. There will never be another Tomás. We will always be their parents. hugs, Rachel

our culture does not like to look onto sad and devastating things. it is hard to know there is such ache in the hearts of people we care for. but i think with blogging, in some way, allows us to be here, and perhaps deal with our own vulnerabilities and heartbreaks in private, to cry it out…etc… and also to leave words of support.

sometimes all we need is for someone to just say “i am sorry. i am here with you. you arent alone” even if your walk thru the grief IS alone, that presence makes a difference…

much love and prayers,
gypsy

i stumbled across the documentary you discussed just days before you made your post. it was not even a week after my bipolar fiance had attempted suicide. very fortunately he was not successful and was hospitalized to get the help he needs to continue his struggle with this terrible illness. needless to say, it has been a very emotional time for us and watching the scene of the boys mother at his burial and realizing that had things turned out differently in my fiance’s attempt, i would probably have been at his services that week or possibly even at that moment, was heart-stopping. listening to the uncle’s fiance talk about how her life just stopped for years after his suicide and realizing i could have been living those very words. while the words are distant, unfathomable and i’ve blessedly not been forced to live them, it was striking to the core to have that glimpse of the pain of what easily could have been my life. but i think i understand why the parents shared the story. i think they did a great service in doing so, to those who are struggling with bipolar disorder or trying to understand a loved one that is, and to those who have lost a child for reasons that might be medically explainable, but nevertheless we can never really grasp. i don’t know why my fiance has to endure this awful stuggle, or why anyone has to endure losing a child, but i know that sharing the hard times helps us keep perspective and shows us that we are not alone in dealing with the heart-wrenching emotion that accompanies them. i’m so sorry that you are living the stark reality of losing maddie and wish that it was not the case, but thank both you and heather for you words and maddie’s sunshine smile will always warm those that you’ve shared with.