Fly on the Wall

So how did you weekend go?

Just after I put my kids to bed on Tuesday night sirens stopped very near our house. I looked outside but the trees blocked my view. My wife got home shortly there after to say that the flashing lights were by our friend's house. We decided to walk over to see if it was our friend's house and if so to offer help, we often watch each others kids.

Multiple police cars, an ambulance, and fire trucks confronted us. Oh God, it was their house. Worse, something was wrong with the baby. Mom was still at a movie. Dad was home with 2 of their 4 kids. The police would not let us get close. Their 2 year old kept saying in his sweet matter of fact voice, "My baby is dead. My baby is dead." We hoped he was just confused. Mom came home to this scene of chaos. The baby came out on a stretcher. Mom and baby rode away in the ambulance. Dad and his little boy rode in the police cruiser to the hospital.

About a half an hour latter we got the call. The doctors had stopped life support.

When a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly the police treat it as a possible homicide. This included interviews with the neighbors. The detective heard how incredibly good and loving this family is.

Life, the world can be cruel, cold, unfair.... This was the second baby this family has lost. The first suffered from a chromosomal defect and lived only a few hours. This second death is being attributed to SIDS. Everything was done right for this baby. There is no blame. There could have been no prevention. There is only grief.

The funeral was Saturday. The family are "inactive members" of the LDS church. The funeral and viewing were held at the corner church. This is a unique and historic stone church across the street from the State Capitol. I found it striking and peaceful inside with many stained glass windows and graceful lines, arches, and corners. Our community includes accomplished musicians that filled the church with violin and piano music. The pews were brimming, even one of the EMTs came. Dad, siblings, members, and gentiles spoke. There was beauty and love to be found in such a sad, grief filled occasion.

http://www.legacy.com/saltlaketribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=129501459

Fly ~ Your poor neighbors, this news just breaks my heart. Tragedies like this are life's not so subtle way of reminding us to NEVER take life for granted and to tell the one's we love how much we love and appreciate them EVERY CHANCE WE GET.