03/06/2025
Please wear a helmet.
Boy this day seems to come faster and faster every year. How could it be 4 years?! Without my own permission, my brain is flooded with horrible memories of losing you. It is as if it is all I am allowed to think about. Every memory that tugs at my soul returns to me in a flood of tears, deep sadness, and grief. For today, my body
responds as if I was still standing next to your bed in the Children's Hospital, wanting all of it to be a nightmare that I will soon wake up from. For today, I can see all the faces of the ones I love the most as they are twisted in grief and disbelief. For today, I am transported back in time, the last time I held your hand. I have never shared this picture before. In fact, it is a picture I find difficult to look at. It resides in my photos and is one I can almost never bring myself to view. This year Berrett should be turning 18. This year Berrett should be graduating from high school. This year as we navigate the pain of wishing we could celebrate all the big moments with him, I wanted toshare the last time I held him on this earth. There aren't enough descriptive words on this planet to describe the feeling of yearning to be able to wish Berrett happy 18th birthday and enthusiastically ruminate over that fact that we can't believe he is 18 already and where did the time go.... share baby pictures and feel an overwhelming sense that he will do great things on this earth... feel the hope of his future as he walks down to retrieve his diploma. We feel downright cheated out of these moments and it just sucks!! Berrett Michael, there isn't a day that passes that we don't miss you. Missing you is like a necrotic disease that threatens to eat at your soul with each passing moment. We love you, Berrett, and take comfort in the knowing that you are such a big part of us and for that we can be grateful. Thank you for sharing your light with the world, thank you for saving lives with your story, thank you for the wonderful, albeit way too short years we got to be with you on this earth.
To honor Berrett, please remember to wear a helmet. Please remember to ensure your children to wear a helmet. wear it for us, wear it for Berrett, wear it for you!
I love and miss you so much Berrett - Love Auntie
