Deb'

Tribute to Ryan
July 22, 1992-Feburary 6, 1997

written by Jim

MY SON~MY BIG BOY
A FATHER IS SUPPOSE TO TEACH HIS SON TO BE STRONG:

BUT, RYAN, YOU SHOWED ME TO BE STRONG AND NOT GIVE UP. WHEN YOU FELL, YOU PICKED YOURSELF RIGHT UP. WHEN YOU FELL A HUNDRED TIMES A DAY YOU PICKED YOURSELF RIGHT UP. YOU GAVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO EVERYONE. I HAD NOTHING BUT LOVE TO GIVE TO YOU. I WILL CHERISH ALL THE MEMORIES WE HAD...SITTING TOGETHER ON OUR LAZY BOY...WATCHING THE POPE IN CENTRAL PARK...RIDING MICKEY'S CHOO CHOO AT DISNEY WORLD...PLAYING BALL BY THE FIREPLACE...YOU PUSHING YOUR SHOPPING CART WITH YOUR BRACES... WATCHING THE YANKEES WIN THE WORLD SERIES...CHASING MOMMY AND LAUREN WITH THE SPEED BOATS IN FRONT OF THE MAGIC KINGDOM...YOUR EVERLASTING SMILE...YOU MADE ME PROUD TO BE YOUR FATHER. I WILL THINK OF YOU WHENEVER I NEED THE STRENGTH TO GET BY. WE WILL MEET AGAIN TO PLAY BASEBALL WITH THE ANGELS IN THE SKY...
RYAN MY SON I LOVE YOU!

Remembering

Go ahead and mention my child,
the one who died you know.
Don't worry about hurting me further,
the depth of my pain doesn't show.
Don't worry about making me cry,
I am already crying inside.
Help me to heal by releasing,
the tears I try to hide.
I am hurt when when you just keep silent,
pretending it doesn't exist.
I'd rather you mention my child,
knowing how much he is missed.
You ask me how am I doing,
I say "pretty good" or "fine",
but healing is something on-going,
I feel it will take a lifetime.

Deborah

Adopting Dima was the best decision we ever made. We started our agency search in October 1997. We found One World Adoption Agency in Florida. They were very reassuring and guided us through journey. One month later we were shown a picture of Dmitri(Dima) and we feel in love. There were many tense, stressful times along the way but in the end it all worked out.

In April 1998 my husband went half way around the world to bring our new son home to me and our 10 year old daughter, Lauren. From that moment on it has been the most amazing experience of our lives. Dima was wonderful from the start. He is beautiful,bright, very attached and so affectionate. Everyone says we a little boy's life.... but the truth is he saved ours.