Gone Too Soon

The following story started several weeks ago. It was all set in motion with a voicemail message received on Thursday, March 25th. The day started out just like any other Thursday, I got the kids up and ready to go to school, dropped them off, met with my visiting teachers, and then chatted with Dan on the phone while I was on my way to pick the kids from school. He mentioned that he had received a voicemail from his Grandma and Grandpa Woffinden, who were on their way to Oregon. We both instantly knew that this could be a good and exciting thing, or the extreme opposite.

When he finally got in touch with them we learned it was the thing we feared the most - they informed him that his birth mother had had a massive heart attack and was in the hospital in a coma. My first reaction was when are you going? After a very brief discussion we decided that even though he had never met her in person, it would be a good idea for him to be there with his younger brothers and grandparents. I told him I would throw some laundry in and start packing and that he needed to get in touch with his boss to get the time off. So, that's what we did and he was on his way to Roseburg, OR about 2 1/2 hours later. He spent the evening with his grandparents and brothers as they waited for reports from her doctors. Unfortunately she never regained consciousness and her organs began to fail. So on Friday evening (March 26th) Dan stood their with his grandparents, brothers, and aunts as they said goodbye and let her go.

It's been bittersweet for a number of reasons. Dan never got to meet her face to face, but had talked to her a hand full of times on the phone. I keep reminding him that it isn't because he didn't try. He gave her all sorts of options, just stopping short of showing up on her doorstep. She just wasn't ready. He has taken comfort in hearing from a number of her friends about how much she loved him and had decided to meet him, but her time ran out. Even though he never met her, so much good has come from finding her and learning of her. He now has a set a Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, and a handful of cousins, who have been so accepting of him and our family. He has also seen more people, besides his kids who look like him.

Here is a picture of his birth mother, Annette Woffinden Wilson, taken sometime in 1991.

A memorial service was held in her honor on Monday, April 12th. It was nice to get together with family and learn more about this wonderful woman, that we didn't get the privilege to meet in this lifetime. It was nice to hear all of their memories of a daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother who left this life too soon. I am so proud of Dan, for giving the Eulogy at the service. I take comfort and know that she is in a better place and is a much happier person. She is now free from all the pain and struggles this life dealt her. I can't wait to meet her in the next life and I'm so glad that we believe Families Can Be Together Forever.

The entire Woffinden Clan who were in attendance.

Art and Carolyn's Grand Kids and Great Grand Kids. (l to r Back: Andrew, Sean, Tyler, Tommy, Cameron, Alex, Jenn, Noah, Dan; Mid: Kaitlyn, Bannock, Ashley, Talia, Lindsey, Jason, Matt, Courtney, Maddie, Shauna; Front: Zoe)

Annette's Parents, Siblings, Children, and Grandchildren. (l to r Front: Zoe, Noah; 2nd row: Grandma, Matt, Kelly, Shauna, Dan; 3rd row: Charlynn, Jason, Grandpa, Cameron, Dennis, Jon)Dan and his brothers. (Cameron, Jason, Matt, Dan)