They Can Run

I absolutely love all the kids that go to the school that I work at.  Even though Noah went to school there, a lot of the kids are a lot different to Noah.  This year a beautiful little girl - Mia started Kindergarten.  Before Mia was born her parents knew that she would be disabled, but they decided like Aaron and I did, to give Mia the best life possible for however long she was here for.  Out of all of the kids at school Mia reminded me the most of Noah.  She held her body similar to Noah, had chubby little cheeks like him and seemed to have a lot of similar health issues to Noah.

When her Mum mentioned that she found it hard to take Mia out at times, I offered to look after her if she needed.  I knew how hard it was to leave Noah with anyone, and hoped that her Mum would feel comfortable leaving her with me since I knew how to handle all of her health issues.

I was so happy when she took me up on the offer a few months ago, and the boys and I had a lovely time with Mia in our home.  She loved hearing the boys play the Wii and would giggle and smile when they would make a big noise or if we would sing to her.  

Last Tuesday, on Kobe's birthday I got a message to say that beautiful Mia had passed away.  I couldn't stop thinking of her parents and what they were going through, as so many memories of the day Noah passed away came back to me.

Mia's Mum and I messaged each other back and forth and I hated saying the usual 'let me know if I can do anything' as I know it's so much better to just jump in and do anything to help out, so I was so happy when she asked me if I would take photos of Mia's funeral for them.
I knew it would be a hard day, but I was so glad that I could do something for them and keeping busy during the funeral was the best thing that I could do.  Mia looked so beautiful.  It was heart breaking watching her Mum cry over her, and just wishing you could fix things, but knowing that I couldn't. 
Mia was buried in the children's section at the cemetery. After lots of rain in the days leading up to funeral, it was lovely to have beautiful blue skies. 
Mia was actually buried right across from Noah. Noah's grave is at the tree just to the left of the crowd of people. 
Mia loved pink so it was lovely to watch the pink balloons being released.


Because Mia passed away on Kobe's birthday I didn't tell Kobe about it.  On Friday while I was at the funeral he was looked after by some friends (thanks Alison, Amy and Eleanor) and when he was leaving to go with them he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was going to take photos,  but I didn't tell him what it was of.

On Sunday we went to the cemetery after church like we do every Sunday, and Jay and Harri asked me where Mia's grave was.  When Kobe realised what we were talking about, I told him that Mia had died and he said 'she is now in Heaven with Noah and they can run'. 

I wish that knowing that they can now run, could heal broken hearts.