Today I read with shock that Little Captain Snuggles – David – the 7 month old baby of Transplanted Thoughts, passed away. I shouldn’t be shocked – he was very sick, but I was praying and praying and following anyway.
David, and, for that matter, three of her other children had/ have Citrullinemia, which means that they cannot remove ammonia from the bloodstream. Her first son, Nathaniel James, was born a year before that disorder became part of routine testing for newborns. He died before the week was over. Jonathon and Zachary were also born with the same disease and received liver transplants, which allowed them to live. Along with Jacob who is 7 and healthy, the other two are 5 and 3 today. Little David received his liver transplant but it was just not enough.
When I read the news, my emotions threatened to engulf me. Every loss I have experienced, whether my own brother or the orphans or just my natural tendency to mourn the sorrows of this world, was wrapped up in this news until I just couldn’t breathe. I could see the chasm yawning before me until a thought came to me:
“It is not your burden to bear.”
I stepped quickly back away from the chasm, still with a constricted throat, still with tears, still with thoughts of this mother and this child that will not leave me today or even for some time. But I was able to go on, and I need to go on. I need to function because this is not my burden to bear. Not today.
“Each heart knows its own bitterness; no one else can share its joy.”
My burden is for another day, another trial, another grief. But today I must live and care for what’s entrusted to me.
If you can, send Transplanted Thoughts some strength. It won’t make her feel better, but it will make the world a smaller and less lonely place.
So, so sad. I’m thinking of David and his family, and you, too. Because when a sweet child is lost, we are all affected.
I think it’s that line between caring and consuming. Prayers to
david’s family.
How heartbreaking. It isn’t yours to bear, but you have a compassionate heart.
One of the very finest men I know will bury his 34 year old beautiful daughter this weekend. A child is left motherless. A young man lost his life in a snowmobile accident. A friend lost her cousin and another friend this week…just over a year from losing her brother. The list goes on. And now the friend of a friend has lost a precious child. My heart aches. I overlook the inconveniences of my life, and appreciate my children. Even when they are crabby, whining and arguing. The losses are devastating, but they are not ours to bear. This time. We may share in them, and we definately learn from them…how can we not…but they are not ours to bear. This time.
Oh how heartbreaking…..not your burden to bear, but truly shows what a full heart you have.
I wish that family strength and peace.
So very sorry to hear this.
My condolences to the family and to you.
There’s so much tragedy out there. It’s overwhelming, even for those of us (thankfully) on the periphery. That poor mother, that poor baby.
I’ve opened two emails in the past twenty-four hours with the subject line “Sad News.” And sad news indeed, I have read within each message. We can’t bear every burden, most especially those that are not ours, so I guess we just try send our prayers and our love and our sincere offers to help or listen. Then we remember to be thankful for our own lives exactly as they are.