For Ella

Today was a favorite day of Ella's. About a month ago, she was already planning what we would eat tonight, what movie we would watch and what costume she was going to be wearing. She loved time together as a family. So, we are being very intentional about doing things Ella's way. Last night we carved pumpkins and had friends over for dinner. Tonight, we will have friends and family here as we try our best to honor her. It will be bittersweet, but sweet nonetheless. It's

This picture was taken at the strike of midnight as we welcomed a brand new year together. That night was filled with so much fun and hopes for the year ahead of us. We had no idea what 2016 actually had in store. Like I've said before, Ella presented no signs of anything being wrong. She was perfect one moment and gone the next. I see her everywhere. Toy commercials. Movie previews. Simply walking by the candy aisle at the store brings her to mind as I see her favorit

Our two youngest girls, Ella and Ava, have always shared a room. For most of their lives they have even shared a bed. Not because we didn't have two beds in the room, we did. But, because they wanted to sleep together. They were always together. A few months ago we bought them bunk beds and they LOVED them. They would start off in their own beds, but at some point during the night Ava would end up in the top bunk with Ella. Every night. Ella would also hold Ava's hand ev

Many have asked "what is an AVM?" When the neurosurgeons first made us aware of what we were dealing with, I had the same question. I have heard of aneurysms, but an AVM has never been on my radar. Now, it is something I am learning more about everyday and will forever be a part of my vocabulary. An AVM is an Arteriovenous Malformation. In my very basic laymen's understanding, the best way I have learned to describe it is as a large tangle of blood vessels and arteries. Ty

They intubated Ella and did their best to stabilize her in the ER. She was put into an induced coma so they could begin running tests to find out what was wrong with her. Jody (my wife) and I went with her for a head CT and then quickly to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The results of the CT showed a massive brain bleed. Though the news was hard to hear, I was actually hopeful in the beginning. I remember telling my wife "it's not good news, but at least they know wh

As I ran into the ER at Children's Hospital of Augusta, I wasn't prepared for what I was about the see. They rushed me down a small hallway that opened into a room lined with drawn curtains on both sides. Behind each curtain was a pediatric patient in need of differing levels of medical attention. I was led to one such curtain on my left, and as they pulled it back for me to enter, I literally began to gasp for breath. My baby, my 10 year old little girl was laying uncons

I’ve heard it said many times that “a parent should never have to bury their child”. While I agree with the thought behind this statement, t