Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cade's Tribute

    If you're here for the iPad2 Giveaway, please click here:

   Yes, people think we're nuts. My husband and I set aside money to buy an iPad2 just to advertise this event, and honor our son who passed away.
    If you're here for the blogfest, I'm going to post everyone's links in a couple of hours.  I had just over ten more people signup late last night (woo hoo!) and I want to give them time to finish their posts.

   On a side note: Oh my gosh!!!!!  I am sooooo excited.  I just had to get that out.  My book will be released tomorrow--WOW.  And to top that off, I went to twitter today, and Santa Claus is following me.  How epic is that?
    Anyway, to hold you for a minute, while I compile the list for the blogfest, I thought I would show you a few things.
    Tomorrow, I will be sharing pictures from the time written about in my journal.  I've never shared Zeke's picture with people, but I'm going to do it now.  You can see him in the below video, but I really wanted you to see how beautiful he is/was (for his birthday tomorrow).  I hope he can see all of this.  I've worked so hard--for years--to bring him this tribute.
    Also, for the first fifty copies of my book sold through Abe Books and Barnes and Noble, I will give a free CD of our music, the same music written about in "The Golden Sky."
   Additionally, 5% profit from every copy sold tomorrow, will go to help people struggling to deal with infant loss.
    If you'd like to read a guest post I wrote for today, please go here (thanks Dee):
   
    If you'd like to read a review, please go here:

    And now, for the special tribute just before the blogfest, here's Cade's tribute (now maybe you'll understand why I ran away with him when I was seventeen--he's so handsome and sweet):



    Here's Cade's speech from my journal (in case this is hard to hear or too sad to watch):
    "When I first found out I was having a boy," Cade cleared his throat, "I was in St. George. Elisa called me on the phone and told me how excited she was to have a boy, because that was what she'd always wanted. The next day was so great. Then, I got another phone call. They'd found some complications—something to do with his heart, but they didn't know. So, I came back, and we went to the University of Utah with Elisa's mom and dad.
    "When they first told us his problems, it was hard to accept . . . it wasn't real. They did the chromosome test, and it came back okay. Rather than terminating the pregnancy, we decided to give him a chance. Every day Elisa would sing to him. We loved him as much as we could, because we didn't know if he'd make it after he was born.
    "Well, the day finally came that he was born. They said he'd probably pass in the first twenty-four hours, but he was still here, even after the surgery, weeks later. He seemed to be doing better, and then struggled for a bit. He had trials his whole life. At that point I remember wondering, 'Why does something like this happen?' I thought, 'He tried making an evolutionary leap for man, and just tripped, and didn't quite make it.' It was just yesterday that it dawned on me: he didn't trip, and he didn't fail; he changed every person he came across. And that was more of an evolutionary step for man than he ever could have made in any other way.
    "He's the biggest hero of my life. I've never known someone who tried so hard to hang on. It seems to be the only reason he hung on wasn't for him . . . it was for us. He loved us so much . . . and his life had a meaning. I love him so much! I love you, Zeke."

31 comments:

  1. Elisabeth, I'm sorry for your loss, but so happy to see the family you all have become. Zeke was a blessing. I'm excited for you today and that your book is getting so much positive feedback.

    I'm looking forward to reading everyone's posts later today! Thanks for bringing us all together in this way.

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  2. Santa Claus really? Can you tell him the cat wants a winning lottery ticket for christmas?..haha

    Wow he truly has a way with words, wonderful tribute.

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  3. Oh wow. What a wonderful daddy. Oddly, my blogfest post has a line in it that is almost similar to what Cade said. I promise I didn't steal it from this post, I wrote my post for today last night. I can't wait to purchase your book tomorrow, Elisa. I read the review of your book and as I expected, it is going to be wonderful. No doubt. My post is scheduled to post in less than 20 minutes. I may just go ahead and submit it now!

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  4. So beautiful. It's amazing how our little guys can fulfill such great purpose. God truly does work all things together for good.

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  5. I don't even know what to say. There are no words for what I just saw here. I love you guys.

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  6. Such a beautiful tribute...early morning tears. Ooooh Elisa and Cade, my heart feels for both of you...I pray for you, and thank God that you're sharing this story with the world!

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  7. Oh, that is so beautiful. I feel the pain coming through his words. I have posted my tribute and your button today.
    http://mamawolfe-living.blogspot.com/2011/11/tribute.html

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  8. a, speechless dear elisa
    your hardwork will definitely bring the expected result.

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  9. Tears in my eyes, but my heart feels full.

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  10. What a fantastic tribute - Cade has such a tenderness about him - thanks for opening your heart and sharing this with others so it can touch their lives!

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  11. You're both obviously incredibly strong people. I don't know what else to say.

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  12. What an awesome tribute. I'm speechless.

    I cannot wait to read The Golden Sky. It is my honor to have won a copy.

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  13. It's an odd type of special day, bloghopping to stories of loss and life. Thank you for making this happen, Elisa.

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  14. I am getting used to coming here and sobbing. I read fishducky's story today as well and now I love her even more too. I loved your book; it spoke to me every page I read. I desperately wanted to hug you all and help take away the hurt.
    This is an amazing tribute and I am proud to be part of your event.
    You will undoubtedly touch many people with your story and have brought together a huge community all supporting one another inn their shared tales of loss.
    Tomorrow is your day- it's your day to celebrate Zeke's brief but important life. It will be a huge success and I wish you and your wonderful family every future happiness.
    My love to you all.
    Carol

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  15. Dear Elisa--

    I've stopped trying to dry my eyes while going to one blog from another, because I know each new one will bring fresh tears. Cade's eulogy was such a moving tribute to Zeke--as is your journal.

    Thanks to you both for sharing your hearts with us (& with The Golden Sky--the world)!

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  16. Cade's tribute is incredibly touching and holds such profound insight. Yes, I can see perfectly why the two of you are so well-matched, Elisa. I am so happy for you both. The release of your book is certainly a momentous event and you have every right to feel as excited as you are right now. I know that the pleasure you are deriving from this, comes from a place of great depth, the holy place where Zeke is held and nurtured in your heart. Right now, you are enveloped by the love and admiration of all of your followers and everyone whose live has been touched in ways inimaginable to you at the time you were mourning the death of your precious baby boy...this, through your determination to honour Zeke's life and to keep his spirit alive.

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  17. That was so incredibly touching. Thank you so much for sharing your life!

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  18. wow...this is so incredibly sad and touching! it made me cry. I know Zeke is so proud of you too for everything you've done and who you've become!

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  19. Thank God the two of you had each other to lean on get through that horrible twist of fate. A spectacular story of loss and the love that makes it possible to endure it.

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  20. I think you should change the Blogfest to CRYfest...seriously. wonderful.

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  21. How difficult that was, I don't know how you and Cade managed to speak and share so much at such a grief-filled time. Wow.

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  22. Dear Elisa and Cade,
    At the end, all that matters is love, Zeke's love for you and yours for him.
    He has planted the memories of your life together in your heart. You have found them in the years since his death and they have comforted you.

    Now you offer those memories to all the mothers and fathers who have lost a child. Your memories will comfort them too. So the story of Zeke's great gift of love goes on. It will continue as long as you two and the Scribe, Hippie, Zombie Elf and Doctor Jones live. It will continue through your words and your music. Zeke's life blesses us all.

    Elisa, thank you for being courageous enough to honor Zeke this way.

    Peace.

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  23. *sniffle*

    Pass the tissues please.

    Well done Cade. Beautiful.

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  24. Elisa, I think you're so courageous to share all of this with the world. Well done. Hugs to you and yours.

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  25. tears rolling down my eyes.
    thank you for your sharing and how incredibly touching.

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  26. Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for helping bring the ipad giveway to us :0) on Makobiscribe.

    truwinner@gmail.com

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  27. Thank you for sharing your touching story with us, I'm so sorry for your loss.
    bluesun1218@yahoo.com

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  28. You are all such blessings. Cade and I have been very touched by all of these comments.

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