The Gift Of Ava
I want to remember what an amazing privelidge it is, to have been Ava’s Mummy.
She was my every wish granted.
My dream, literally, come true.
I want to reflect on the pure joy that she brought us, every single day.
To never forget the wonderful impact she has made on our family.
To truly celebrate the gift of Ava.
I’m trying, with all my heart and soul, to find peace, to be brave, as her birthday arrives.
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Happy Birthday, my darling girl. Iloveyousomuch.
Oh God, Sheye, she is just so beautiful! Such a beautiful life. Hugs, thoughts and prayers for you today. We sent balloons up, four pink ones with the Ava’s Rule postcard attached to each ribbon…. and Abby yelled: “Happy Birthday” as they disappeared into the clouds.
that song is so perfect! and beautiful! i hope your day has been as good as it can possibly be! i have been making a painting for Ava’s birthday for you…..i was wondering if i may send it to you???
Amelia xxx
Sheye,
I can’t imagine the pain you must be feeling or how much you must miss her and long for her.
Know that she is somewhere watching over you all and I pray that she comes to you in your dreams.
Thinking of you all.
Zoe
she’s so so pretty sheye. i hope you can find peace. those images are breathtaking…….i can’t imagine what you are going through.
peace.
tara
Sheye ,
My heart breaks for you today , as it does every day , but more so today . Again you humble me with your courage , with the selfless way you share the gift of Ava .
We will be sending up balloons for her Birthday tommorrow …its only the 21st here ….that way she gets two days of continuous balloons floating up to her …..
My heart and the hearts of thousands of mammas you have touched are with you today ….
All our love ,
Dean family
Sheye,
My heart just hurts for you all right now. I can’t imagine how difficult this day must be. Thank you for sharing, and you know I’m praying for you all.
All my love,
laureen
She is yours, always. Thank goodness you have her birthday to celebrate- she was in fact a part of your life. And will ALWAYS claim a piece of your heart. Here’s so pink princess memories…even when they’re bittersweet. I hope the clouds dance for you today. In a truly magical way- lifting your heart and soul.
There’s a party in heaven,
the Super Princess is four,
there are ponies and carousels,
no little girl could want more.
Close your eyes and you’ll see her,
rosy cheeks on her precious face,
twirling and laughing,
filled with love, peace and grace.
She’s dancing with angels,
squealing with glee,
through the carpet of balloons,
with fairy lights in the trees.
Her cake is a castle,
there could be nothing less,
it has pink icing and lollies,
perfect for a Super Princess.
She is surrounded by new friends
and there are presents galore
they sing Happy Birthday
for the Super Princess who turns four.
For a moment she turns her head,
a sound from the distance breaks through.
A huge smile lights her face
and she answers i loveyousomuchtoo!!
Written for Sheye 2007
Happy Birthday Super Princess!!
Remembering you with a tear in my eyes and love in my heart.
I can’t even express- I am so truly sorry. Happy Birthday to Ava-
I am thinking of you all!
I don’t you know you but I have been blurking your blog since march 2007! I guess it’s time to say something…Happy birthday beautiful Ava! I feel like I know you and love to read your blog. I live half way around the world from you but you are one of my biggest inspirations. I have four children of my own and I can only imagine what you are going through….I cry with you and try to take your words to heart. God be with you on this day. Thank you for your openess, and your beautiful pictures.
Robyn
Sheye,
I am just so sorry for your, and your family’s loss.
My heart just breaks for you. I have no words.
I’ll be sending balloons tomorrow, no doubt.
Happy Birthday Gorgeous!
amazing. your blog is incredibly beautiful and sweet. i have been inspired by your strength and your story and tribute to ava.
may peace be with you. may the sun shine on you and may you feel her in your heart on the special day that your angel was born.
Dear Sheye,
I lurk here often. Your story, your days, your broken heart have really affected me. Please know you are in my thoughts & prayers. You have a little angel smiling & dancing from above. Happy birthday, sweet Ava!
thank you for sharing something so precious and dear…
i am thinking of you and dear sweet ava! you have been a strength to me in my loss and i am grateful to have “met” you.
i pray that you will feel peace and love and that you will feel her near. she is absolutely beautiful!
Sheye, thank you for sharing the gift of Ava. You write so beautifully about her. I think she has made a permanent impression on my heart. Thinking about your family today and wishing you peace and comfort. Lisa B., Alexandria, VA.
Happy birthday Super Princess
Love to your mummy,daddy, and your gorgeous brothers and sister. We will be thinking of you and your family more than ever today
Happy 4th Birthday Ava and all my love to Mummy, Daddy, Mason, Luca and Ivy.
My love and thought each and every day.
Daniellexxxxx
Just lit a candle and took a moment to remember everything you’ve so generously shared with us Sheye – the birthday pics are so beautiful. The girls and I are going to play catch with Ava this afternoon and of course they are gorgeous in pink without grumbling today!
My heart is with you today – you ARE so brave, even when you think you’re not.
love love love
Sue
xxx
I knew Ava’s birthday was coming and knew you’d be struggling. I have a big knot in my stomach after reading and rereading and looking and relooking over your post. There are simply no words except that may you get through one moment at a time savoring your family’s love, and all our love as we think of you from afar.
~Sara Moon
Sheye and Crayton ~ like everybody, we will be thinking of you and your beautiful girl today. Kara has the day planned for Ava ~ it involves lots of pink, balloons and a visit to the beach, which is where Kara remembers Ava most.
Ava ~ wherever you are Princess, I know there would be many fighting over how to most spoil you!!
Beautiful pictures as always Sheye ~ she is just so beautiful.
xxxx
Sheye you don’t know me but I wanted you to know today of all days what a privilege I consider it that I discovered your blog and that you are touching so many people with your honest sharing of your journey. I have blogged about you here http://www.jokneller.blogspot.com come and visit one day when you have a chance. Happy Birthday little one.
Joxx
Sheye
We are all thinking of you today. I am also thinking that Ava will be surrounded by all those beautiful people with pink balloons, pink cupcakes and all things very girly.
All my Love
Sue xx
Wishing darling Ava pink clouds today. Wishing Sheye some joy in her heart as she reflects on the day her beautiful girl came into this world, rather than the total sadness of the day she left.
Happy Birthday princess!
Kate F
Thinking and praying for you and your family today, Sheye. And celebrating the life of that sweet baby girl.
With Love, Jenna (Ga, USA)
Happy Birthday Ava.
You are greatly missed.
xxx
Thank you for sharing your precious Gift. You have touched my life and I am forever grateful.
I know Ava is having a Princess Party in Heaven right this minute!
Peace and love to you and your very special family.
Tami in Carson City, Nevada, USA
Happy Birthday Super Princess!
Wow she steals my breath still, truly a beautiful soul.
Thinking of you all today & hoping it is a day of good memories & pink balloons xxx
PS – T that is such a beautiful poem x
I have been reading your blog for quite a while now but have never left a message before, only because words sometimes seem so inadequate to express such strong emotions. Peace to your family and thanks to you for the reminder to rejoice in my four sons everyday, even those that aren’t that great.
Blessing to you and birthday wishes to your Princess,
Sue.
Sheye,
Ava is absolutely beautiful and your new song is simply precious…
Wishing you and your family peace, comfort, and joy on this day as well as each and every other day xx
Happy Birthday sweet Ava!
Beautiful photos Sheye of your darling Angel Ava ~ Happy Birthday little Sweetie , hope it’s a day full of pink :)Much love to you Sheye as always but more so today.
Toni
xoxox
I just happened to stumble onto your blog via a link to the entry you wrote on March 1. I am truly sorry for your loss and while I have not lost a child, I lost someone very close to me in March 2000. I can tell you from experience that holidays (especially birthdays)and the anniversary of their death are the absolute worst days. In the beginning I found that I closed myself off to others on those days and fell into a cave of darkness. However, over the years I’ve found that by doing my best to turn those days into a “positive” is the only way to survive them. I try and show others that life can be short and that we need to learn to fully appreciate every beautiful moment we have. Your blog on March 1 is very reminiscent of those feelings.
While it will be a very difficult day, I hope you are able to find some sunshine in it. I know she’ll be looking down on you and doing her best to comfort you. The sister of my lost friend takes her children out to a place that holds special memories for them and lets them each release a “Happy Birthday” balloon to their Uncle Lewis. True, it’s hard to do but this is their way of ‘celebrating’ a special day with a very special person. I wish you the best of luck and will hold you close in my thoughts and prayers.
-cyndi
Thinking of you Sheye and family. Holding you gently in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Birthday Princess!
Becky
thinking of you today….happy birthday ava
Happy Birthday beautiful princess Ava.
We are thinking of you sweetie & we made pink cupcakes for you today.
Big hugs & kisses for your beautiful Mummy. Hugs for Daddy, Luca, Mason, Ivy & Grandpa as well.
xxx Melissa
heh honey… Sending you & your beautiful family, so much love, today more than ever. xox
Happy birthday sweet Ava. You will never be forgotten. I’m sure that you are playing with balloons in heaven today! And big hugs to your mummy and daddy, too! Thinking of you all!
Happy Birthday Ava – Hope you liked the balloons we sent you…
With all my love
Sylvia xx
Sheye
Like so many other mums I too read your blog regularly and it has touched me in a profound way. You are an inspiration and a teacher that speaks to the hearts of all mums. Your precious family has been in our minds, hearts and prayers today on this Ava’s 4th birthday. Thank you for sharing beautiful Ava with us – she has truly touched the hearts and souls of so many people throughout the world.
Happy Birthday to the Super Princess.
Love from Elise, Troy and Savanna.
Always in my thoughts and forever in my heart. The gorgeous Ava lives on through your photos and words Sheye.
Loads of love to you, Crayton, the boys and the sublime Ivy.
Hugs
k8
I have been thinking about Ava all this month, because I remember her birthday was in August, I just couldn’t rememember the date… My thoughts have been with you today honey… I LOVE the second image of Ava ~ She is just stunning!
Happy birthday to the super princess!
Jodie xxxxxx
Hi Sweetie,
She is your sunshine & although the light is different now, no one can ever take it away.
So much love to all of you today & everyday.
Lea xxx
May you find strength in the precious memories you have of Ava, may you find peace in knowing that the life she lived was full and good and happy, may you get through this day and the many to come knowing that Ava and you and your family have inspired many many others to live better lives, to love more deeply and to truly appreciate all that they have.
Thankyou for your words and images – they are truly beautiful.
With kind regards
Nicky
Sheye, you & your family are in my thoughts & prayers sending lots of love & hugs your way… Sheye these photos are precious… Ava is so beautiful… Happy Birthday sweet Ava. xx
I can’t begin to express myself succintly and appropriately, Sheye.
We’ve never met, and likely never will, but Ava’s life and her story are with me every day. I am so grateful to you for having shared her with us, and so incredibly sorry for you that you have had to do so.
As always, I will be thinking of you today. And wishing Ava the happiest of 4th birthdays.
Peace and love, strength and hugs to you.
You and yours have been very much in my thoughts and prayers today, Sheye.
Wishing you peace and beautiful memories on Ava’s birthday.
Happy Birthday Ava, you gorgeous, luminous, beautiful little one.
Paulyn xxx
Sheye and Crayton,
Be brave, I know you are and can continue to be brave. The love just oozes from this blog.
I am sending my love to you and the gang on this day. Thank you for sharing your little girl and you family with us.
I think of you often,
Shayne
Thank you for the beautiful pictures on such a special day! I know always, but especially today, Ava feels the love being sent to her, especially from her family. May God bless you all.
I have never met Ava.. nor Sheye and her family.. however I feel as though I know you all so well from reading your life layed out here for us all.. I see the love your family has for each other I see the way Ava lights up the screen of my monitor.. I have a little girl she is 3 and I can only imagine your pain and grief.. I wish you Sheye and your family a day of rememberence for sweet Ava.. a little girl who it seems to me has touched so so many people around the world myself included and Ava sweet girl.. happy birthday you are never far and always loved
Thinking of you today…
Melanie in USA
Thank you for sharing your sweet Ava with us.
She is truly beautiful!
You are in my thoughts always, but today especially.
I hope you can find some joy in this day as hard as it might be. Take some comfort in knowing that so many of us are thinking of you and your family today.
Happy Birthday Ava!
(((HUGS)))
Heaven Only knows how hard it is to live through the birthday of our angel’s who aren’t here to celebrate with us. I wish I had some profound thing to say to make this day better, but there simply is nothing I can say to take the longing go away. I am grateful for Ava’s beautiful smile and personality so brilliantly demonstrated in your photos. What a blessing it is to have so many memories captured on film, what a blessing God has given you to remember her, and to help others capture those same memories for their children-they may not lost their children to death as we have, but they will lose them to time. Sheye, my heart is with yours from the other side of the world. I think of you, I pray for you and I love you and Ava.
Happy Birthday sweet Ava!!! Sending birthday hugs to your pink party in the sky where little ones laugh, smile and play.
Sheye, those photos are as precious and as sweet as the subject. Thinking of you and your gorgeous family.
I have no words but please know your family is often in my thoughts.
Christine
It is the 22nd in the US right now and I posted a special post on my blog just for Ava. She is never far from my thoughts. I know that she had the most magical and fabulous birthday party today! Extra love, wishes, and prayers to all of you on this beautiful and hardest of days.
Happy Birthday Ava, I hope all tha Angels spoil you rotten.
Think of you all.
Happy Birthday, Darling Ava!!
Sheye, I can’t even imagine the sheer hell it must be to lose a little babe. The thought alone is more than I can bear. I wish there was something I could say or do to ease the heartache. I’m just so very sorry. She is so beautiful!
xoxo
Morgan
Los Angeles, CA
Happy Birthday superprincess! You are truly missed.
My thoughts is with you and your family Sheye.
Sevcan xxx
I hope your day was not to hard and that your heart didnt feel like it was going to explode… I know she paints rainbows in the sky for her sister and is spinning the earth in dizzy circles for her brothers. She makes the waves splash for her pre-school pals and whispers on the gentle breeze to her mummy and daddy, the view is nice from up here try not to miss me too much … with heartfelt thoughts Emma xxx
sheye,
i have come here from mandy’s site with a heavy heart.
i have seen her drawings.
admired your photos.
read your story.
words fail me…but i wanted so much for you to know that i was here…that i am holding you and your super princess in my thoughts and prayers…in my heart. that i am sending birthday wishes to your sweet, sweet, Ava on her 4th birthday.
I think about you guys everyday ,wishing somehow I could take your pain away all i can do is pray
Much Love to you all
Sonia
oh sheye! i’m so sorry for you.
all over again.
~ happy birthday super princess~
Hi Sheye,
I came across Ava’s story on another blog a few months ago, the story moved me to tears. I sent everyone in my email contact her story in the hope that another life may be saved. I had many people email me back and say how moved they too were. I have thought of you and your sweet Ava many times since then. I can’t imagine how you can find the strength to move forward but I am pleased to know that you have.
Thinking of you.
Cathy xxx