In the Arms of Jesus

Back in May, I got to meet my first Reece's Rainbow child.  I wrote about that experience here.  I was thrilled to meet Henry and his mom.  He had come home in the fall of 2011 and was less than 2 years old when I met him.  Henry had a rare syndrome that came with some medical complications.

I instantly fell in love with him and got to see Henry a few times since then.  His mother was clearly in love with her child and his older siblings doted on him.

This afternoon, Henry passed away.  He had spent a few days in the hospital with an infection from a surgery he had about a month ago.  My heart is broken.

If you've followed anyone's adoption journey, you know that it is hard work.  It's exhausting.  It's expensive. It's not fun or easy.  Henry's parents went through this whole process last year.  They survived and got to bring their little boy home---a little boy that had no chance of a future where he was.  A little boy that didn't know the love of a family.

While Henry's time with his family was way too short, I can't help but be glad that he didn't die alone.  He died with his mother there.  He died as a part of a family.  His death will be remembered and grieved.

Please pray for his family.  It doesn't matter how long someone has been your brother, whether or not they were adopted, whether or not they have special needs.  Losing a family member is hard.  Losing a sibling hurts.  There are lots of people who are grieving tonight.  Henry is not one of them.