My Son

Dear Cooper,

It has been days, weeks, and months since you left our world and entered our heaven above. Many things are different now but many remain the same. Your mommy and I have trekked through our days, "grinding it out" as I say often, and now have been blessed by your little brother. And yet on many days and nights, our thoughts stay with you. I am proud of the two completely separate emotional roads that we have traveled at the same time, and I am proud of who we have become in the process. I hope you are proud of us.

Oh, my baby boy. Please find peace in that no time will ever get between you and me. No days, weeks, or months will go by without you in my mind, my heart and my soul. This is the luxury I have as your father, that even though you may not be spoken of often in public anymore and maybe people do not bring you up to us as often, I am still with you and I am still carrying you with me.

Everyday I am reminded of you and what we are missing out on - the father son relationship that we deserved. The sunny days out on our lawn, the rainy days stuck in the house, and visits to the zoo or to your grandparents...I think of you. That is in my way, a way to take you with me so that I can help you experience these things through my eyes.

Your little brother is now 18 months old. How fast time flies by. There are many things that he does that remind me of how you would have been but most of the time I feel he is very different from you as he should be. He is his own self, my second born, and never to think or feel that he is to fill your shoes in our lives. No one does that and no one will. You will always be my first born son.

I don't believe anyone can ever understand the pain I can feel at times. The pain that I feel in my failure in being your father. This physical divide that separates us also keeps me from making it up to you. But I hope the spiritual unity I feel in my soul will help you understand the father I would have been for you and make you proud of me by the time my body is done in this world and my soul joins you in yours.

I know you are listening. I will see you again. I love you.
Your daddy.

Heart of Cooper Joe Guild BBQ Details

Hello Everyone,

Our 2nd Annual BBQ is on August 15th! Please visit the Guild's website for details!

Love Cooper's family


http://heartofcooperjoeguild.wordpress.com/

Big and Little Brothers

Our Cooper is a Big Brother. His baby brother was born on 11/24th. Cooper and Bradyn are our little boys. Our blessings. Our purpose in life.

Happy Birthday Baby Cooper

October 27th. Cooper's Birthday. Happy Birthday my Baby, Our Son, Our Angel. Mommy and Daddy celebrated by spending the day together and went and visited your forever site and brought you some toys and balloons. We had a family party for you on Sunday which involved watching the Seahawk game and eating pizza, beer and of course your cake. It was a lovely celebration.

We miss you baby Cooper. We miss your crazy hair, your spunky personality and how much you showed your love to us. You were always the calm one in our room at Children's. You were the one that reassured mommy and daddy that you were fighting hard. You are our hero, our sunshine, our son.

We love you so much. Until we meet again my Baby.

Love, Mommy & Daddy

The Heart of Cooper Joe Guild BBQ

Updated!!!

BBQ Contribution Total is in......$2,750!!!

was raised for Children's Hospital Uncompensated Care Fund.

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a wonderful Day we had on Saturday.

On Saturday, August 23, 2008, we held our first Heart of Cooper Joe Guild event. It was an amazing experience for Scott and me. We started the guild last August and at that time, we never realized how important the Guild in Cooper’s name, would be to us. We can’t be more proud of being Cooper’s parents and to give 100% of the money raised to the place that we call "Cooper’s Home," Children's Hospital.

Getting Ready for Cooper's First House Party!! With Red Cups and all!

His Cute little feet have become the Guild's Logo.



Cooper is known to us as our Sunshine and he certainly was shining down on his first official Guild event. The BBQ was a healing experiance for Scott and I. Tank The Official Guild Mascot. Tank even held onto a balloon in his mouth and released it when all the kids released balloons for Cooper.

We want to Thank EVERYONE for supporting Scott, Kelly and The Heart of Cooper Joe Guild throughout the past 10 months. It is healing for us to gather all of our friends and family to remember our beautiful son and we hope that we will many more successful events for many years to come.

One idea was given to us for another event that has Cooper's name written all over it.....A PUB crawl. Hmmmmm..... I think like Father, like Son.

Thank You

Scott and I want to give a huge thanks to our family and friends for all the donations we received to The Heart of Cooper Joe Guild. We raised enough money that in return, Cooper's name is now on the Hospital Walls. His name was placed a few weeks ago and I had a chance to see it last week. (2nd from top) It means so much to all of us. Children's will always be Cooper's home and knowing that because of him, other children will get a chance to get well and be discharged to go home.

Thank you Again everyone. Love Kelly, Scott and Cooper Baby.

Beautiful Head of Hair

My Son,

I love you. I miss your beautiful head of hair. You loved it when mommy washed it in the morning and made sure you had your "Cooper Hair" for the day. I can't tell you how many times I have heard friends and family refer to "Hair like Cooper's" over the past 6 months. Your hair is truly amazing.

We love you

Poem for Cooper Baby

TO FEEL CLOSER TO YOU

When I awake I say Good Morning, My Baby
To Feel Closer to You
When I drive in the car, I sing to you the ABC’s
To Feel Closer to You
When I walk into your room, I sit and read you a story
To Feel Closer to You
I kiss your Daddy on the cheek and pause
To Feel Closer to You
I wash with your baby soap and use your baby lotion
To Feel Closer to You
I sometimes hold out my finger in the air for you to hold
To Feel Closer to You
I brave the toy isle at the store to buy you new toys
To Feel Closer to You
I sit in front of the NICU entrance even to this day
To Feel Closer to You
I speak with your nurses and surgeons when I visit Children’s
To Feel Closer to You
I plan for your birthday party and fundraisers
To Feel Closer to You
When I go to sleep at night I say, Good Night, My Baby
And it is then that I feel closest to you
I am one more day closer to being with you

Written by Mommy to Cooper
4/10/2008

Cooper Frustrated with Elle Video

Press Play Button on the left, Video will appear

One this day, Cooper was a little bored, to entertain him without my arms falling asleep we taught him that when he moves his arms, his friend Elle will move too. He enjoyed this for some time until he realized that Elle shouldn't be flying right above him, so he got a bit frustrated needless to say and started to cry.

Cooper on Jackie & Bender 106.1

Kiss 106.1 had their annual One Big Kiss for Children's. They raised close to a million dollars in two days. When Cooper was born, Sheri promised him that we would bring him back to the hospital to meet Bender (his picture is on the walls of the hospital) when they had their annual radiothon. We went to Children's and brought Cooper's story with us and gave Sammi and Jackie his bracelets. I was too torn up to speak on the air, so I talked to them during the commercial. We were on our way up to visit Cooper when I heard his story being told on the radio. It was so amazing to hear his story and a bit sad at the same time. It wasn't suppose to be that way, Cooper was suppose to be with us. But, his story was told and money was raised and that we can't be more proud of him. He is our son. I hope to post the radio clip soon.

Another Play Date

We miss you Cooper Baby. You filled our days with so many smiles. I remember this day so clearly. I stood by your side for hours because you were so happy and restless. The amazing thing is, you never cried or got bored. You knew why you were in that bed and you never complained. You are an amazing boy. So smart, so bright and so cute.

Poem for my Boy

Vision of Me

Days and nights come and go,
But images of you always linger.
In doubt I can close my eyes,
Feel you near and always remember.

I see myself in your eyes,
Bold and brown and full of light.
As you and I studied each other,
During our talks every night.

I see myself in your hands,
And the family lines that we shared.
Holding hands for hours and hours,
Of the outside world we never cared.

I see myself in your hair,
Soft and spiky and shade of black.
Watching you sleep I loved so dear,
Combing that hair and rubbing your back.

I see myself in your fight,
And the loud temper that only grew.
Even in silence you spoke to me,
In a language that I only knew.

You see, I can just go on and on,
Of how I see myself in you.
But it is you now I see,
In the mirror, a different view.

I wanted so much for you to stay,
To watch you grow into a man.
But it is you who taught me to be,
A man, finally, I can say I am.

I love you, Cooper.
Your Father, I will always be.

Cooper's Infamous Middle Finger

We miss him so much

Cooper's Baptism

Oops, was that me?

Good Snow Man...


Bad Snow Man...must put you in a head lock!

I love his feet.

For many who have not seen Cooper without his tube taping.


Finding Cooper

Mommy and Son Play Date

I love all my friends

Mommy and son play time


My watch dog