Theodore Edward Dungey
October 10, 2007 - October 10, 2007

Theodore Edward Dungey was born October 10, 2007 to Andy and Clare Dungey.

Although Theo is no longer with us, he is loved by so many people, near and far. His brief moment in this world has affected his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends, he will be forever loved and missed.

Hugh Dungey, Theo’s grandfather says it best. I would like to share with you a poem he wrote. Not only does it speak to the love a grandparent has for his grandson, but it speaks to the reason we as parents, medical professionals and friends have to become more active in finding ways to prevent this heartbreak from happening again.

Theo blessed us with his life and death. We have learned more from this little boy in a few hours than most of us do in a lifetime!

Did you hear it too?
They say that angels don’t appear nowadays.

Yet that’s what it was like, a mighty choir, joyful, glorious.

A strange song, ebbing and flowing like the eternal sea,

Far away beyond the stars.

Did you hear it too?

Perhaps I just imagined it. Wishful thinking. Was it all in my mind?

And yet the feeling was real. The love was real, overwhelming,

Beyond all human sense or logic, bright as the sun,

Dazzling my eyes.

Did you hear it too?

Did you hear it as your soul flew to the arms of your Saviour?

Did you know that you would leave us grieving?

Did you know how hard it would be?

Did you know that we would never forget?

Did you hear it too?

That majestic choir would have engulfed all other sounds.

All you would have heard was the music of the love of God.

One day we shall hear it too.

One day we shall all sing together.

by Hugh Dungey

This poem is posted on Theo’s Website.

Wait

by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate…
and the Master so gently said,”Wait.”

“Wait? you say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!”
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?”
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign.
Or even a ‘no,’ to which I’ll resign.
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…
and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.
You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You’d never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You’d never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if you missed what I’m doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still “WAIT”.

Theo, thank you for blessing my life with yours.

Avery Houston
October 13, 2007-October 13, 2007

Avery was born on Saturday October 13th at 3:17 am to Skeet and Candi. Although it was suspected the Avery had a lethal skeletal dysplasia, Candi and Skeet made the decision to carry her to term. Trusting in God, they delivered a perfect, beautiful little girl who made her way to Heaven. Candi is finding her strength within God, knowing she will again hold her beautiful daughter again.

This is the letter Candi wrote to Avery after she was born.

My sweet Avery,

You were born into heaven in the early morning hours of October 13, 2007. For months I had prayed that we would be able to meet you, even if it were just for a moment. But, in my prayers the thing I asked for above all, is that you wouldn’t have to suffer. Heavenly Father answered my prayers the day that you were born. He silently took you home, without our knowledge, before you would have to suffer any pain. I am so thankful for that and for the peace I felt immediately after you were born. I knew that you were happily resting in the arms of your Heavenly Father. You would never have to experience pain or the evils of this world, you would forever be the perfect little girl that I held in my arms that day.

As I watched you being passed around to the arms of those that love you, my heart swelled with pride. The beautiful little girl that everyone admired so was, and will always be, my daughter. I could see it in your daddy’s face too. He was very proud of his little girl. You looked so small and fragile in his strong arms, I know that you two would have had a very special relationship. It makes me so sad to think that your special bond with your daddy will have to wait until we meet again in heaven.

I can’t help but wish every day that you were still with us. I miss you so very much. I miss your little kicks and feeling that as long as you were with me you were safe. I long for the day when I can hold you on my lap and read to you again. Or sing you to sleep with our special song. Sometimes I feel you with me still, I know that you are watching over us from heaven. I look forward to the day that I can hold you in my arms again, but until then I will hold you in my heart.

I love you sweet girl, you were an answer to my prayers. You were the best gift I have ever been given. I thank Heavenly Father every day for blessing us with such a beautiful and special daughter. Thank you, Avery, for choosing us to be your family. I will cherish the time I had with you, and look forward to the day we will meet again. Until then, just know that your daddy and I love you very much.

Love you forever,

Your Mommy

We love you Avery!!

Sheba Marithe November 13, 2007 -July 23, 2008

Sheba Marithe, born Novemebr 13, 2007, passed away July 23, 2008 from Severe Hypoxia. Sheba was born with Achondroplasia and her name means “Gift”.

Please keep Sheba’s family in your prayers!