I've written before about the loss of pro-life friend Leslie Hanks' beloved granddaughter Tuesday, who died January 30 of cancer when she was a little over 2. Tuesday left twin sister Piper behind.
The 2 are pictured together, right, after Tuesday was well into her chemo therapy. Tuesday is pictured on page 2 at the beginning of treatment.
I know Mother's Day is hard for mothers and grandmothers who have suffered losses. This was Leslie's first without Tuesday.
And even little children feel losses like this, sometimes shown in unexpected, tender ways.
Late last week Piper, now 2-1/2, was in the car with her mother and the James Taylor song Fire and Rain came on the radio. The song was only halfway over when they reached their destination, but Piper asked mom to let the song finish. When asked why, Piper simply said, "Tuesday."...
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to...
I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other wayOh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you againBeen walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the groundOh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, nowThought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now
Comments:
AWWWWw, heartbreaking and bittersweet.
Posted by: heather at May 12, 2009 8:59 AMWhat happened to the baby?
Posted by: heather at May 12, 2009 9:00 AMHeather, I just added it to the post: cancer.
Posted by: Jill Stanek at May 12, 2009 9:01 AMHow sad. My daughter had leukemia, but she survived.
Posted by: heather at May 12, 2009 9:03 AMThere is a psychic link/ bond between twins that can never be severed no matter the distance and the circumstances between them...
Each life is precious.
Posted by: RSD at May 12, 2009 9:06 AMnothing breaks my heart more than to see a little child/baby die.
Posted by: Jasper at May 12, 2009 9:32 AMMy heart breaks for Leslie and her family.
Posted by: Lauren at May 12, 2009 9:47 AMI am so sorry, Leslie.
Posted by: Carla at May 12, 2009 10:14 AMLeslie, I'm so sorry for your and your family's loss. :( May God comfort you all.
Posted by: Kel at May 12, 2009 10:30 AMI'm so sorry about your family's loss. May God bless you all for staying so strong and refusing to forget Tuesday. For so young a child, she must have been so brave. She's okay now.
Posted by: Vannah at May 12, 2009 11:16 AMLeslie,
My prayers are with you and your family. God bless you.
Wiping the tears from my eyes now...
Posted by: carder at May 12, 2009 12:21 PMLeslie, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious granddaughter, Tuesday. She was beautiful. No amount of words can express my sincere sympathy but know I am praying for you and your family.
When I hear a story like this I have to express my outrage of what is going on in this nation.
The schizophrenia of the United States and other nations with pro-abortion laws is sickening to me. We are to express sympathy to families like yours when their precious babies die but to pro-aborts the "right to choose" to take her life before she was born is "sacred". Tuesday was always a separate, unique, human being with the right to life even before her mother gave birth to her. No amount of legal or philosophical mumbo jumbo will ever justify what we are doing to unborn babies. Even if Tuesday's mom had found out she was going to be fatally ill before she was born, it still was no reason to take her life, as so many doctors suggest to expectant mothers carrying "imperfect" babies. "A person is a person no matter how small" or how sick they are either. GOD HELP THIS NATION. Please forgive me for going off on this tangent but when I see the picture of this beautiful baby girl and think about how disposable life is in this country it makes me cry from the pain and from the anger that I feel. Leslie, please forgive me if what I have said has caused you more pain. God bless you.
Choose Life.
I agree completely!!
Thanks for the sentiments.
Posted by: Leslie Hanks at May 12, 2009 9:13 PMCL, I must agree!
Posted by: heather at May 12, 2009 9:17 PMThank you Jill for remembering my dear friend's little girl.
It's such a strange small world. Jess happened to notice your website on my blogroll and told me that you had written about her daughter...
I know it means the world to them that sweet little Tuesday has touched so many.
I actually just finished a huge fundraiser for her on my blog today and will fight cancer until no family has to feel this kind of pain anymore.
If only our politicians would put as much effort into saving babies as they do into killing them...
What a very special tribute to Little TuTu! She will be missed.
Posted by: Terri at May 13, 2009 6:46 AMTo the family: I am very sorry for your loss. My daughter battled leukemia. I credit Metro hospital and Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital {and God, above all} for saving her life. My daughter had to have a bone marrow transplant. It was so hard for me to see my daughter and all of the other children on the ward. To this day, it's hard for me to watch a St. Judes commercial. Many of the friends my daughter made along the way didn't make it. Trust in the Lord. Tuesday is in his arms. From one mother to another who has been there. I know your pain. May the Lord Bless you and comfort you.
Posted by: heather at May 13, 2009 7:14 AMThanks for all your amazing work, Debi, with your
fantastic and fun blog party for Tuesday and to fight
evil Neuroblastoma.
Almost $3,000!!!
Most excellent organizing skills. Woo Hoo!
Posted by: Leslie Hanks at May 13, 2009 9:50 AMThanks for all your amazing work, Debi, with your
fantastic and fun blog party for Tuesday and to fight
evil Neuroblastoma.
Almost $3,000!!!
Most excellent organizing skills. Woo Hoo!
Posted by: Leslie Hanks at May 13, 2009 9:50 AMChoose life:
Amen.
Posted by: YCW at May 14, 2009 10:16 AM