The Memories Still Hold

On June 6, 2008 we had to say goodbye to this bundle of joy. Just as I am writing this blog I am remembering the panicked phone call that we got a year ago when we were told that Brayden was no longer with us. I remember feeling numb and my heart was filled with agony not just for myself, but for Jake and Michelle. All Noah and I wanted to do was get to them as quick as possible, but we lived 600 miles away. So we hopped on a plane to Raleigh and drove the rest of the way to Summerville, SC. It was one horrific week to walk Jake and Michelle through but I would have never wanted to be anywhere else but right beside them.

Michelle send letters to her friend and even blogged about a memory project that she was asking everyone that knew Brayden to participate in this project. So I decided to blog my memory of Brayden Russell Zieg....


My special memory is that Michelle and I carried our babies together. I consider Michelle a dear friends and we have been through a lot together since College. We were so excited that we were pregnant together and when she found out she was having Brayden on January 5th we were even more excited because our sons would be 2 days apart. When we were given the opportunity to spend time with the Zieg family, I always loved holding Brayden and making him laugh. He had the biggest smile and the sweetest spirit. "Brayden, you will be missed but I know Jesus is taking good care of you."

Here is the name gallery project that Davis did for his Buddy...


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Noah here now...

Jacob (Brayden's Dad) and I have been friends for 25 years now. Seeing as how we are both just near 30 years old, we are what you would call "lifetime friends"! Well, so were our sons! Born just 2 days apart, Brayden and Davis (My son) became buddies. Unfortunately, their "lifetime friendship" only lasted 17 months. But, their Daddy's friendship will keep going.

One of the things that I loved the most about Brayden was that amazingly big smile. I remember how that mouth would open up and he would grin from ear to ear. His laugh was contagious. That is a gift that a baby gives. More than they know. I also remember watching Jake play rough with him...really rough!!! Remember, being a first time Dad myself, I was not sure how fragile these Little guys were (or were not). Since Jake was already on baby boy #2, he had determined the limits...and there were none. He flipped him and ripped and dropped him...all while Brayden cracked up and Michelle said "Jaaaake" in that drawn out corrective whine.

One more thing. I feel that over the last year Jake and Michelle have modeled what healthy grieving looks like. Many times, you hear people tell folks that have lost a loved one to "keep the memory alive." But most people do not. Jake and Michelle have!! They have kept the memory of Brayden alive for all of us by writing about him, blogging about him and reminding us of his memory.