Today (May 11, 2015) would have been Courtney’s 18th
birthday. I still miss her so very much….
seeing her sweet smile, hearing her yell “Daddy….” anytime I came home (but
especially after a day at work), and spending time with her (bowling, Predators
games, Titans games, playing Wii, or singing songs).
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When Kelsey turned 18, I wrote her a letter telling her how
much I loved her, what I admired about her, what I was proud of, and gave her
some words of wisdom and advice to use as she faced this new phase in her life.
Although the context and advice would have been on a
different level, I had always planned on doing the same thing for
Courtney. Although she is not here to
read it, I decided I would still write it.
As it was with Kelsey, I have no problem finding things that I was proud of Courtney for or
expressing how much I love her. However,
when it comes to the advice part, I find it quite difficult and realize that I
should probably be taking advice from her.
·
Courtney loved everyone, unconditionally
·
She wanted everyone to be happy (evidenced by
her love of Peace signs and not wanting us to even horse around with each other
thinking we might get hurt or were really be mad at one another)
·
She lived EVERY day to its fullest
·
She persevered through so many procedures,
surgeries, and medical inconveniences and NEVER complained
·
She brightened the lives of others just by being
in the same room
·
She shared a bond with Kelsey that is stronger
than most twins that I know
·
She was determined to do her best at whatever
she attempted, regardless of her limitations
·
She loved Jennifer and I and always tried to
please us
You see, basically Courtney lived a life that was modeled
after Christ himself and she brought out the best in everyone around her. What other advice could I possibly give her?
After raising Courtney and being around so many other “special
needs” children over the last 18 years, I often have wondered why we say that
they have “special NEEDS”. Although they
do have needs for things that are different from the rest of their peers, they
have so many more traits and attributes that we all could use in our daily
lives. Maybe we are the ones that have
the special needs and not them.
I am blessed to have a daughter that had to mature a lot
earlier than kids should have to. Kelsey
had to share her sister with nurses and doctors in hospitals, nurses in our
home for 9+ years, experience things in hospitals that were hard to bear, but
through it all has become a beautiful young lady that will be graduating from Union
this coming weekend and is the best big sister Courtney could ever have hoped
for.
I am also extremely blessed to have a wife that has been so
much more than that. She is a loving mother
of 2 daughters, a primary care provider for Courtney, chief organizer of our
family, my best friend, and the glue that has held our family together for many
years.
Although it is painful that she is not here with us, we were
blessed to raise such an amazing your girl and have her in our lives for 16+
years. I don’t know if she is
celebrating her birthday in Heaven today, but I want to wish her a very HAPPY
18th BIRTHDAY and let her know that one day we will all be able to
celebrate with her once again.
I LOVE YOU Court Court
