Dear Cathy, Clive and Jacob
We were deeply saddened to here of your loss, thank you for letting us know. I can relate to how you are feeling. I lost a baby at 6 weeks before I had Liam you must be devestated and nothing anyone does can help.
I just want you to know you are in our thoughts. If you want to talk or anything I can do you know where I am. Will be in touch in the future.
Thinking of you
Jane, Bill and Liam
12th December
My Dear Cathy and Clive
I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your son. I simply do not have the eloquence to adequately express my sympathy. Nor can I pretend to understand how you must feel at this time. Just know that I am thinking of you every day, and I hope you can find some comfort in the thoughts and prayers of your many friends.
Please forgive my cowardice in not calling you today. I just have not had the time to collect my thoughts yet and truly do not know what I can say. Kirsty is away in America at the moment so I have no one I can talk to, and this is hard.
I think that one looks for reason when such things happen, when there really is none. I know that you are both good people, and I trust that you will find your own way to manage your grief.
I will speak to you soon, and hope that you take good care of each other and Jacob.
With all my love
Colm
We wrote this to be read out at Isaac's funeral:
Dear Isaac
This is the only letter that we will ever be able to write to you. We won't have your first smile, first steps, your first Christmas, your first words, your first day at school, your first teeth or your first tantrum (not necessarily in that order). We won't have birthday parties, your Christening, your Confirmation, your worries and fears over your schoolwork, over your career, your lovelife or your future. We know that this is the only day we have to make special for you, and that's why all your family and friends are here today. Even though none of them were able to get to know you, everybody was waiting for you and looking forward to meeting you.
We wanted you to know how much we were looking forward to getting to know you. You were, and still are, so much loved and wanted. Even though Mummy moaned when you kicked her ribs, or stuck your bottom out so that her tummy stretched out, we loved watching those first movements and playing with you. Jacob was looking forward to have someone to play with, and to fuss over - although he drew the line at any nappy changing duties! Daddy was looking forward to being Daddy again. From the moment that we knew of your existence you became a part of our family and without you there will alway be a part of us missing.
We don't know why God chose to take you from us so soon. We know that you are a very very special and loved little boy, who was perhaps just too precious for this world. We know that you are with the angels and God in heaven, and that probably Gran is fussing over you now, showing you off.
Isaac, you will always be a special part of our family, and we will always love you. We will miss you very much, but we know that you are safe from harm now and watching over us. One day we will see you again, and we will be able to give you all the cuddles and kisses of a lifetime.
With all of our love
Mummy and Daddy and Jacob
xxx