Goodbye Brady

Please click on the photo above for a video of Braden and Sawyer

Before I move on, I think it is very important that I share with you a sad tragedy we have experienced. First, back story. When Eddie, Sawyer and I moved back to AZ from CA I was very fortunate to find a position nannying for a wonderful family. Their son, Braden, was only 3 days younger than Sawyer and they were instant friends. The boys were only about 6 months old when Sawyer and I started spending our days with Brady. The boys have grown up together and even after I stopped working as their babysitter I was lucky enough to become close friends with Braden's mom.

On Wednesday, March 19th, Brady had routine surgery to remove his adenoids and tonsils. He was sent home with his wonderful parents and the family was ready with Popsicles, yogurts and plenty of movies to ride through the recovery. Something went terribly wrong. Brady stopped breathing during the night and despite the heroic attempts of his mother and older brother, Brady never regained consciousness. He was on life support until Easter Sunday when his parents made the gut wrenching decision we all pray we will never have to make. Brady went to heaven that afternoon surrounded by those that loved him most.

Our family is weathering the storm. We fluctuate between disbelief and sorrow a few times an hour. We think constantly about Brady's family and how they are dealing with things and about our sweet Sawyer who lost his best friend. I wrote in an email that it makes me sad to think that Sawyer will not have clear memories of Brady because of his age but luckily, I am a camera fiend and have documented so much of the boys' lives together that he will always know Braden.

Brady's mom and I used to joke that when the boys got older, Sawyer would be the instigator and Brady would be his big-muscled back up. Together they would rule the school!! Eddie and I still believe that Brady is Sawyer's big-muscled backup except now he is doing it with the power of heaven behind him. I have faith that someday, when it is Sawyer's turn to make that journey, Brady will be standing there with open arms and they will quickly pick up right where they left off...in play, hugs, and laughter.