Jackson's Heart

It was one year ago today that Jackson went to heaven. If anyone wants to leave messages, here's the place to do it, or you can visit Jackson's new memorial site and light a candle. 
Leave messages on Jackson's journal: http://community.livejournal.com/jacksonsheart/43681.html

I've written a little this week, but not much yet.
June 17 http://community.livejournal.com/jacksonsheart/43257.html
June 18 http://community.livejournal.com/jacksonsheart/43378.html

If anyone on MySpace wants to use one of Jackson's memorial pictures today, those are in this journal entry:
http://community.livejournal.com/jacksonsheart/38891.html 

Here is Jackson's memorial page I started.  I hope everyone likes the song I picked out, I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering who he would be today.


  

Missing you Jackson!
Love, Jessica 

PS
If you haven't done so already, please sign this CHD Awareness petition in honor of Jackson!
 

For anyone on MySpace and/or Facebook, now would be a good time to support Children's Hospital of Wisconsin:
Support Children's Hospital of Milwauke on MySpace
Support Children's Hospital of Milwauke on Facebook

one year ago, the last time holding Jackson in my arms.  of course, this is one of the first songs that played on my yahoo radio station this morning.  some of you may remember this song from last year.  strange again

"Natalie Grant - Held"
Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair

Chorus:
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it, let the hatred NUMB our sorrow
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow

(Chorus) ...
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held

Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held

Later in the day, I heard this song, also one I have listed in my "angel song" blog, I've finally been working on compiling all of those songs, but not all of them are available with pepsi points!

One Moment More
by .. Mindy Smith 
Hold me
Even though I know you're leaving
And show me
All the reasons you would stay
It's just enough to feel your breath on mine
To warm my soul and ease my mind
You've go to hold me and show me love

Give me
Just one part of you to cling to
And keep me
Everywhere you are
It's just enough to steal my heart and run
And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've got to hold me and keep me

Tell me that someday you'll be returning
And maybe
Maybe I'll believe
It's just enough to see a shooting star
To know you're never really far
It's just enough to see a shooting star
To know you're never really gone

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've got to hold me and maybe I'll believe

So hold me
Even though I know you're leaving

I don't know if I ever even wrote about this last year.  Saturday, June 16, the day before Father's Day.  Scott and I went to his parents' house for the day.  On the way up, it rained a little, and then the sun came out.  I was just staring out my window, and I watched as a perfect rainbow formed.  Remember, this was after the comfort care decision was made (June 12).  So we knew it wouldn't be much longer.  But I felt such a sense of peace when I saw that rainbow, I don't even know how to describe it.  That rainbow is the background of the collage picture of me and Jackson.


Fast forward one year.  Almost exactly one year, oddly enough.  Again, the Saturday before Father's Day, but June 14.  This time was a day trip to Scott's cousin's house.  It stormed that day, various areas around Chicagoland.  On the way home, there were times we drove through some rain while the sun was still shining.  This one took more looking, but I finally found it.  Unfortunately, in my state of awe/shock, I completely forgot that I had my real camera with me, so this is from my cell phone camera, and it's the only picture I got.  It was a full perfect rainbow though, and so beautiful.


MISSING YOU JACKSON!!!  9/12/06-6/20/07


There was also a rainbow on June 20, 2008

Take a moment out of your busy day to visit my latest journal entry:

Jackson has been included in the 2008 CHD Angel Calendar. His page is the month of September. If anyone would like to purchase one, click the calendar cover below. You can view each page in the calendar by clicking the picture too.  Profits from the calendar will go to organizations for CHD Awareness, Research, Support, and/or Children Hospital CICU's. The cost for each calendar is $20.29. 

Many many Thanks to everyone
And of course, big thanks to Kai's mom Chrystal for putting this together

 

(September 7, 2007.  Entry post-dated)
One year ago, on September 12, 2006, at 9:30 in the morning, a little angel arrived.  Little did we know he was only to be here for a short time, but he was sent here to do so much for us, his family and his friends.  As Jackson's first birthday draws near, I am thinking so much of the past year, and all that has happened.  It still seems so unreal, hard to believe that he's really gone.  I still think of him often, I still wear red every Wednesday, every month anniversary, and I still have the heart necklace for him.  I've been thinking about checking into getting it engraved, but I'm not sure if it's wide enough.  We'll see.  I have some ideas of some pictures I want to make for Jackson for his birthday, and I have a plan for Wednesday morning that I will be doing.  I'll share that later though.
I started this post for a specific reason, I thought some people might want a place to send Jackson birthday wishes, and messages of support to Jake, Sara and Molly, since I know this day will be very difficult for them.
Also, if any of you "tag makers" out there want to make a birthday tag for Jackson, feel free, and you can send them to me or post them here.  I have a couple ideas for some too, might try and get those done this weekend.
Jessica

Pictures from friends and family:

Free Photo Decorator Generator   

This is the tree that Sue and Dan planted for Jackson, an Ivory Halo Dogwood
 

 

Well I realized last night that I forgot to send out the update I got from Susan yesterday morning!  Sorry for anyone who was waiting...
If I get an update today I'll be a little quicker about posting it!!  Adam still needs some prayers!
Yesterday morning Susan called me, recovery was going ok, they had taken him off the vent on Saturday, which was great.  Unfortunately, he was running a fever, so they had him on antibiotics and are testing some cultures.  Hopefully nothing too serious and the medicine will get rid of it fast!  But because of the infection, I didn't get by to see him yet.  I'll wait till he's better, don't want to risk anymore complications!
Well Susan said she'd call again today with an update, so let's hope that he's better already and his stay isn't too much longer!
Happy Monday everyone, have a good week!

There is a picture of Molly on the radio website from the radiothon on Thursday!
click here!

I just talked to Susan, Adam didn't get to have his surgery today!  They were just getting to the hospital early this morning when a heart came in for a transplant, so of course that got bumped to the head of the line!  Adam is first on the list for tomorrow (Friday) morning, so keeping thinking about Adam and his family!
Susan said she'll try to update his carepage (page name: adambrodersen) tomorrow but she might just call me to send an update.  Depends on how things go.
She said thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers too!!

Tomorrow (Thursday) Baby Adam (picture of me and him below!) will be having his 2nd stage surgery for HLHS (the Glenn).  He did great after his first surgery and wasn't in the hospital for long afterwards, so everyone keep him in your thoughts and pray for an easy surgery and quick and easy recovery!!
Adam's web site is:  http://adambrodersen.com/

If you want to leave any thoughts for Adam and his family, you can do so here and I will make sure they get them!!