Monday evening I was checking in with my Twitter stream as I often do. Random messages, broken conversations, pleas for giveaway entries…the usual. It wasn’t until I casually glanced down the stream and something caught my eye…”Please pray like never before, my 2 yr old fell in the pool” (from @Military_Mom). I did a double take and quickly replied, “@Military_Mom I’m praying for you Shellie, please keep us updated! I hope everything is okay.” Unbeknown to me, my prayers were too late. Shellie’s son was gone. No amount of praying would bring him back from this heart wrenching accident.
The only thing that can be done right now is to hug your children, pray for their own safety and find strength in numbers, support in bloggers. Far too often we as “mommy bloggers” are regarded as nothing more than product pitechers, shills and backstabbing cliques. But not today, and not tomorrow. What you see now is the heartfelt sorrow of mother to mother, praying for Shellie and her family, praying for strength and most importantly, supporting her in her time of need.
Shellie has a long, painful road ahead of her and we as mothers need to be there for her anyway we can. As someone who has lost a child, there’s no pain in the world worse that I can imagine. It tears at your soul, takes you into the darkest places imaginable and spits you out worn and tired, crying, weeping and begging for time to go back. But time doesn’t go back, it marches on and with the love of family and support of friends, you find a way to get out of bed in the morning.
Right now, Shellie is going through her own process of grief and we can help her. A tweet, a card, a prayer, whatever you can find in your heart to do, she needs it.
Trisha Haas, owner of MomDot.com and friend of Shellie of Blog4Mom.com is organizing a card box to be delivered next week. If you’d like to pass on your condolences, please see Trisha’s post to find out how to see that your note/card can find its way to her at Please Pray for Shellie.
For those that would like to show their support via twitter, you can follow Shellie at @Military_Mom. I’ve also created 2 twitter twibbons that you can place over your twitter avatar. #Hugs4Shellie with black text and #Hugs4Shellie with white text.
For Shellie Ross and family, and Bryson Drago Ross, may he rest in peace.
Don’t Tell Me
Please don’t tell me you know how I feel,
Unless you have lost your child too,
Please don’t tell me my broken heart will heal,
Because that is just not true,
Please don’t tell me my son is in a better place,
Though it is true, I want him here with me,
Don’t tell me someday I’ll hear his voice, see his face,
Beyond today I cannot see,
Don?t tell me it is time to move on,
Because I cannot,
Don?t tell me to face the fact he is gone,
Because denial is something I can’t stop,
Don’t tell me to be thankful for the time I had,
Because I wanted more,
Don’t tell me when I am my old self you will be glad,
I’ll never be as I was before,
What you can tell me is you will be here for me,
That you will listen when I talk of my child,
You can share with me my precious memories,
You can even cry with me for a while,
And please don’t hesitate to say his name,
Because it is something I long to hear everyday,
Friend please realize that I can never be the same,
But if you stand by me, you may like the new person I become someday.
Author – Judi Walker
(In Memory of Shane)
Copyright 1998
Other Mom Bloggers Praying for Shellie…
- With a Heavy Heart from A Cowboy’s Wife
- A Parent’s Worst Nightmare from Accidental Mommies
- Fellow Military Wife, Shellie Needs Prayers from Crazy Adventures in Parenting
- Please Pray for Shellie from Last Shreds of Sanity
- Hug Your Kids Tight from MamaDweeb
- My Deepest Sympathies from She Scribes
- A Parent’s Worst Nightmare from Creatively Yours
- Prayers for Shellie from Serendipity Mommy
- My Heart is Broken into Pieces from A Garden of Many
- No Words from Dates to Diapers
About Cat Davis
Beautiful Cat, I love the poem !
Everything you said is ever so right. No one knows the pain and hurt Shellie is going through right now, except those who have also been through it, But they do not know the pain she is truly going through either. I know what her older son is going through and it is hard.
I hope and pray they all have the strength to stay strong for each other. Words will not change what has happened, but they can help in the healing process. My prayers and with Shellie in her time of need. May God Bless us all right now, but more so Shellie.
What a great post Cat. You said everything perfectly.
All my love to Shellie and her family……………………..
Beautiful, beautiful poem and a very well written post. I am at a loss for words, but I’ll say it again and over and over, I’m here if there is anything I can do for Shellie and her family.
Beautiful post Cat. Crying all over again this morning.
How awful. Thinking and praying for Shellie’s family.
That is so sad! I don’t know Shellie, but she is in my thoughts and prayers as well as her entire family.
It is so horrible. I can’t even imagine.
I couldn’t imagine. Praying.
What a beautiful post.
Well, that beautiful poem made my cry all over again. I was hoping against hope when I opened my eyes far too early this morning, that things would be better and maybe it was not quite as real as we thought…but it is.
Our dear Shellie has lost her precious Bryson and we are all grieving along with her in some way.
I pray that she can heal, in part, and go on. Although I know she will never truly be complete again. This changes you forever.
All we can do is pray and be there for her and her family.
my prayers are with shelly and her family i cant imagine what she is going through I love the poem I cried so hard it made me think of the baby i lost and my nephew I lost thanks
It’s just devastating. I can’t imagine Shellie’s pain. My heart breaks for her and her family.
This is a beautiful post. I have lite a candle of strength for Shellie. My tears have fallen in selfish thankfulness as I gathered my children to take a moment to send strength.
Wonderful post, Cat. I am praying.
I have no words. Saying a prayer for Shellie and family.
Beautiful post…oh my I am so sorry for her loss..I will be praying God bless her and her family and also you guys as her friends…
I will be praying…I’ll pass this along to others..
I am sitting here crying and praying for Shellie. I do not know her, nor do I know what it feels like to lose a child, and I cannot imagine, but I know that she and her family could use all the prayers they can get. Thank you for making us aware of this.
I cry everytine I read that poem.
No woman should ever have to lose a child.
Very Beautiful Post Cat and I love the poem. Words really cannot express how a mother who has lost their child feels. I don’t know Shellie personally but as a mother I feel her hurt. May God be their comfort in this time of need.
Thanks, Cat! Praying for Shellie today and supporting my blog also. Thank you for supporting her and sharing this.
Just beautiful, I hope you dont mind but I linked back to you in my post.
What a beautiful and heartfelt post Cat.
Thanks for sharing
Cat, I just loved your post but that poem totally got me. As I sit here in tears I can’t even express in words what I am feeling. Thanks for sharing.
I had no clue what the tibbons were from I saw a bit of a new post about the toddler falling in the pool but didn’t know who or the outcome.
My heart breaks for her. No words can express what she’s going through right now. Prayers
Wonderful poem Cat.
I am still numb over this news, not really sure what to do with myself. It all seems so….pointless….
Watching TV with my kids is about all I can work up the energy or desire to do…and hugs…lots of hugs.
My heart goes out to Shellie and her family. I know exactly how she feels because I have lost my daughter. It is the most gut wrenching, horrific trial anyone could be asked to face. I remember those first few days were like a haze of shock and not knowing which way was up. But I bring good news in the midst of tragedy. God is good all of the time. In good and bad, we are to give thanks and praise. It seems impossible, yes I know, but God is always faithful. Have I done that 100%, of course not, but that is the beauty of God’s AMAZING Love. I have had to endure alot, just like Shellie and her family will, but look at the outpouring of God’s love already just in moving His faithful servants to come and comfort Shellie and her family. He doesn’t remove the pain (God knows that I have prayed for that many of times, and my pain is just as real today as the day of the accident), but with His Strength, Love, Mercy, Comfort, Grace and Patients, He has grown me expeditiously spiritually. I rejoice today, and I know one day, with the Lord’s help, Shellie will too. Knowing what I have to look forward to keeps me going for my remaining children. Being able to be used by God, for His glory, is more than I could desire for.
Shellie is going to need your constant and earnest prayers. Please add her to your prayer list at your churches and ministries. God does answer prayer, Amen? As a mother that has lost a child, I don’t know if it is the same for everyone but most mothers concur with me, please don’t be afraid to say the wrong thing, it is so much better than not saying anything at all. Talk about her child. Sure we may cry, but that just might be what we need at that moment, I know I did.
Sorry to write a novel, it is just near and dear to my heart, but I totally trust God and know Shellie and her family is in good hands.
In Christ,
Cheryl
Cheryl, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. What you’ve said is so very true in every way.
I lost my son 9 years ago and it’s still so hard for me to talk about to this day. The pain is always there but somehow, we find a way to move forward with the love and support of friends.
It’s just so senseless, and so random, and that is what breaks my heart. Sending all my thoughts and prayers out to Shellie and her family and friends.
So beautifully said . I never saw that poem,I am going to print it out
Thanks
I found your post while searching and I will have to tell you, OMG I can’t believe. I can’t imagine the pain she is going through and as a mommy of 3 and a one of them being a 2 year old, I would be torn apart. So, I can’t feel the pain she is feeling but I will be praying for her and her family!
Thank you for posting this, it definitly puts life into a perspective.
I’ll be praying.
Beautiful post Cat! I woke up this morning hoping it was all just a bad dream. Sadly it wasn’t. I wish there was more we could do for her. ((hugs)) to Shellie!
Since I’ve also had a child who died suddenly, my heart breaks for Shellie and her family -but it also rejoices to see the 35 comments ahead of mine of other moms rising up alongside her.
Perhaps Shellie and her family might like to have a small event in her town in honor of her Bryson for Global Hug Your Kids Day next July 19. I started the holiday to remind parents all over the world to stop and hug their kids every day – not only because tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us – moms OR kids – but also because our kids grow up so quickly. For more info, http://www.hugyourkidstoday.com .
A hug for Shellie, her husband and other kids, and for all you moms who listen and care! Michelle Nichols
The poem is beautiful….. prayers and more prayers.
Oh my goodness-My heart aches for that family! I can’t even imagine…
My heart and prayers go out to that family in their time of sorrow.