It's hard to believe that just 19 Wednesdays ago we were headed to the hospital assuming baby Stella would be born… Instead Stella died, and today we went to donate all of the money we have received for Stella's Memorial to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. What a difference a few weeks make.
That being said, today we feel as though we did something very special. Something that all of our beloved family and friends helped us do. Something we will forever hold dear to our hearts. With our family and friends contributions, we donated almost $6,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of Stella St. Clair Phelan. That is enough money to grant one child a "wish" in honor of Stella. These "wishes" include traveling to a dream destination, meeting a Disney character, etc. And the only way for a child to qualify for one of these wishes, is they must have a life threatening disease or terminal illness. Let us just say, we don't envy those parents. We got to choose to grant a wish for a young girl that wants to travel somewhere, since we love to travel and Stella would have traveled the world with us. They will tell us more as they find this little girl and what her wish is.
The overwhelming sense of peace this created in our hearts is indescribable. We are helping a family, that is likely going to bury their own baby girl someday, grant their daughter a wish that would otherwise be impossible. Stella, with her precious life, lost way too soon, is helping another little girl fulfill her dream while here on earth.
Mark also decided he will be hosting an annual golf tournament in November, in honor of Stella St. Clair, with all donations going to Make-A-Wish. We have been wanting to find a way to honor our sweet baby girl, every year, for as long as we can. Since we will miss her and and dream of her everyday, we want others to remember her as well. What a better way, than an annual golf tournament…something already close to her daddy's heart.
We went to dinner after our meeting at Make-A-Wish. Feeling positive, courageous, and peaceful for once. Of course, a family had to come in with a little girl they couldn't control and treated terribly. Then a family had to come sit right next to us with a little girl, little boy, and an infant in a carseat. Awesome. Too close for comfort, too jealous, and they just had no clue. One day that might hurt less, one day.
So, we've realized once again, the world won't stop turning, as much as we would like it to. We go to bed every night without Stella. We wake up every morning without Stella. Just like we will for the rest of our lives. But since life must move forward, Stella's legacy will live on and she will be remembered forever. We can never have her back, but we will make sure everyone knows about her, no one will forget her, as long as we live.
We will be providing more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Stella St. Clair Memorial in the coming weeks. We love you baby girl and you are doing wonderful things here on earth, because you are gone. Thank you.
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