Blessing for Ella's Birthday

As I sit to write down my thoughts
It occurs to me that I have not
Stopped long enough in the last week
To actually say thank you

Thank you to friends and family
For their love and support
Today and every day

Thank you to my friend Helene
And to her staff
Not only for donating her yoga studio
But also for hosting a class by donation
So that I can help families at BC Children's Hospital
Live a more comfortable life

Thank you to Danielle
For the gift of beautiful flowers
And that of her presence
Yoga-ing & celebrating Ella
On her birthday

Thank you to my Facebook crew
For sending wishes and words of support
For what I anticipated would be a tough day

Thank you to my PVNH families
For your words of kindness

Thank you to my friend Emma...
For donating some of Jonah's favorites...
Books which will be offered to families...
At Children's Hospital this week...

Thank you to Mother Nature
For sending me some rain
On Ella's birthday
To make sure I took time to stop
Relax
And just breathe

As I sit and write down my thoughts
All I can say is thank you
To all of you
And most importantly
Thank you
To Ella for playing
With Maman on your 2nd birthday

ELLA - Everyone Loves Little Angels

It Only Takes One...

It only takes one...
Big heart...

It only takes one...
Kind soul...

To make a difference...
And brighten...
Someone else's day...

It can come in the form of a smile...
A gentle hand on your back...

It may show up when you least expect it...
From someone you don't know...
Someone who understands your fears....
And shares your pain...

It may be handed out
As a strength coin...
Because it is clear...
You need it...

Or as a hug without a need for words...
To catch you as you spin...
After having the wind knocked out of you...

It will surprise you...
And bring you to tears...
While filling your heart...
With hope...
And a sense of joy...

It can come from your family...
Your friends...

From a complete stranger in the street...
Or from another from across the world...
From a group with common misfortunes...
Or another who just wants to help...

It can materialize...
As one who finds himself...
Facing a similar faith...

It can be done in person...
Or by phone...
By email...
Or through social and traditional media...

It may be monetery...
It may be wordy...

But it is always done...
With purpose...

I was fortunate...
To come across...
The path...
Of one big heart...
The path...
Of one kind soul...

And so...

ELLA...
Everyone Loves Little Angels...
Was born...

Out of my loss...
To fight my grief...

To give a sense...
To my baby being taken from me...

To ensure...
Ella did not die in vain...

To keep her alive...
In the hearts of those...
She touches with her story...
Daily...

To pay it forward...
And bring support...
Maybe some peace...
Onto others...

As it had been done...
For Ella and for me...

It only takes...
One simple gesture...

From you...
From me...

To help sick kids...
And their families...
ELLA's Foundation will one day be...

To support bereaved parents...
ELLA's Wings...
Spread large and wide...

To manage symptoms...
Improve quality of life...
And maybe one day...
Find a cure...
ELLA's Hope...
Is that of those facing rare diseases...

But specifically...
It only takes one...
To restore hope to many...

Ella's Hope...
To eradicate...
One rare disease...

The rare disease...
That took you away from me...

ELLA - Everyone Loves Little Angels