Twinkle Bright our Little Star

last updated: Oct 06, 2008

8-6-07 to 10-15-07 4:29 AM 4 pounds 14 ounces

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Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure..You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure

Even from the womb, Matthew taught us that things were going to be done his way and he was a fighter.

Matthew was due September 24, but on June 2 (at 23 weeks and 5 days gestation) Matthew decided to try and break through! My water broke and contractions began. I was hospitalized and spent 9 weeks in the hospital before Matthew said enough was enough and tried to escape butt first! On August 6 (7 weeks before his due date), Matthew was born by emergency cesarean. The same doctor who said he wouldn't make it was there to hear his first cry. After nearly 4 weeks in the NICU, Matthew came home on September 1.

Matthew is a Hebrew name meaning "Gift of God" and that he truly was.

Matthew blessed us on this earth for 70 days before falling victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He is our beautiful angel and we will always miss him. We will keep his website up to remember him and honor him.

While We were hoping for a lifetime of memories with him, I got his lifetime of memories with us. . .

When a child is born, so are parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. These people build the support system that a child can depend on their entire life. Matthew is incredibly loved by so many amazing people, even before birth. Everyday we are reminded of the importance of family and how fortunate we are to have the extraordinary family that we have.

Click on our family portrait to meet the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and spectacular people that Matthew is honored to have as family.

I long to feel the soft weight of you
to welcome you home with kisses on round silky cheeks
Instead my arms ache with the weight of your absence
The empty places that were once meant for you to grow into
My love for you will last an eternity
My hopes and dreams now carried
on the fragile wings of each butterfly passing
compeling me to pause, to savor each moment,
each flutter in my heart - your wings

The story section was created to give regular updates on everything happening in Matthew's life. You can go here to read about his time in his womb, his delivery, his time in the NICU and the fun we had after he was born. It will be updated from time to time with the thoughts we have of our baby.

With Matthew's arrival, Kaitlyn is a big sister! Kaitlyn is a great big sister! She is already fascinated with all things baby and loves to help! Kaitlyn loves Matthew so much and can't stand to be apart from him for even a minute. She likes to be near him at all times. She pats him when he cries, hands me diapers and likes to show him all her toys.
Kaitlyn is a darling 3 year old and you can read all about her at her own website by clicking on her picture below!

The picture section is easily my favorite. Be sure to check out how much Matthew has grown! If you have any pictures of Matthew, please do not hesitate to e-mail them to us. They are all treasured beyond words. If you have pictures you would like us to upload, please let me know and I gladly will.

This is the only video we have of Matthew. It was his first trip to the park, which he loved, when he was about a month and a half old. It was 2 weeks after he came home.

Please don't hesitate to sign the guestbook. We love to read the ways Matthew has touched the lives of others. We know that while we lost a son, he was so much to so many others and you are more than welcome to use this site as an outlet. It is a great place to share stories, memories, thoughts and anything else you desire.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime.

Stories

10/06/08Today, Matthew would have been 14 months old. Kaitlyn and I will be taking him balloons later on this afternoon to celebrate his special day!Matthew is missed more and more each and every day :) He is loved with all of our hearts.
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09/30/08Sacramento Parent's Magazine now has the story online at:SacramentoParent.com
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In 1988 Congress decided that October would be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. October 15 specifically is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Sacramento Parent Magazine (http://www.sacramentoparent.com/community.htm) is a local magazine that focuses on a lot of parent issues on a local level. A month or so ago one of the writers contacted us regarding their October Issue.
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October 1998 was proclaimed Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month. Ronald Reagan proclaimed it in 1988. October 25, 1988 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Each year, approximately a million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child. National observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, 1988
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09/28/08Matthew's brick is in at Fairy Tale Town and helps pave the way for the Yellow Brick Road!
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09/23/08Today is the day Matthew was due. By this time, he was already 7 weeks old! That has always amazed me.It's incredible to think of how different things would or could have been if he would have stayed put until today...On this day last year, we celebrated with a family trip to the pumpkin patch :)
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Guestbook

Hi Matthew. I wanted to stop by and wish you a happy 14 month birthday. I read your magazine story, and it brought tears to my eyes. Your time here was too short and you are missed so much everyday. Hugs and kisses in heaven angel.
-- Marilyn and Alexis     Oct 06 2008
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Denise and family, You're little Matthew is sooo beautiful, and you're story is so touching. I'm sorry for your loss. I heard once that when a loved one dies, you lose them on earth, but gain an angel watching over you in heaven. Matthew was blessed to have such a wonderful mom while he was here.
-Brenna and Braydon Ballestero     Sep 15 2008
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Denise, your story touched me dearly! No words can ever describe what you are feeling. Matthew knows what a great mommy he has!
-Sending love, Stacey G. & kids xoxo     Sep 10 2008
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Hi, Matthew.
I Love You and Miss You and think about you every single day.

-Auntie Jamie     Sep 09 2008
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Just stopping by to say hello and we think of Matthew all the time! His gravesite just shows how much his family and friends love and miss him. He is such a blessed little baby and I'm sure the Lord is enjoying his company right now.

Love,
The Haynes Family
-bhp/ejhaynes     Sep 07 2008
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