REMEMBERING JONATHAN

On January 12, 2006, I took advantage of an unusually warm winter day, and armed with my camera, launched my green kayak in Smith Mountain Lake. In one of the coves I saw this red-tail hawk, snapped lots of pictures of this handsome fellow before I paddled back to the house and viewed my pictures on the computer. At his feet lay a snake, Red's dinner, which is why he hadn't flown away.

"There could never be a more perfect day!" I said aloud. I haven't repeated those words.

 Red and his dinner.

Two hours later we received the phone call no parent nor grandparent ever wants to hear. Our precious two-year-old grandson Jonathan had been taken to the emergency room, and was now being flown to Charlottesville to the UVA Medical Center. Ron and I immediately drove to Charlottesville. Jonathan went to heaven the next day--eight years ago today. The cause of death? Arterial venous malformation of the brain.

 Jonathan and Ron enjoying themselves on the dock.

We still miss his smiles, his giggles, the way his arms felt when he wrapped them around our necks. He loved his parents, his big brother and sisters, his chickens, sheep and goats, his dogs. We had him in our lives for only two years and 17 days. We miss him so much, but feel blessed to have had him in our lives.

I usually blog about Jonathan on December 27th, his birthday, but didn't do it this year. Instead, I'm celebrating his freedom from pain, and his journey into heaven eight years ago. 

Grandmother and Granddaddy still love you, Jonathan. 

JONATHAN'S 8TH BIRTHDAY

Today is my grandson Jonathan's eighth birthday. Even though he died suddenly on January 13, 2006, at the age of two years and 17 days, we still count December 27th as his birthday. We always will. He was such a sweet child, loved his five siblings, enjoyed playing ball, "swimming" in the lake, toy trucks and playing in the bed of his Granddaddy's truck. He adored his big brother Jacob, and sisters Micah, Rebecca, Sarah and Susannah.

Unknown to any of us, Jonathan suffered from arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition in which the blood vessels in the brain rupture. AVMs are defects of the circulatory system that are generally believed to occur during embryonic or fetal development. The malformations tend to be discovered only incidentally, usually either at autopsy or during treatment for an unrelated disorder. Google arteriovenous malformations if you wish to learn more about AVMs.

Happy birthday, Jonathan. Grandmother loves you.