This year hasn't been good so far.

[Slick Fan]

I'm not sure where to start with this, or even what to say...other than the last 11 days have been hell. Even though I don't know any of you personally, I feel as though I do know some of you a little through the threads we've shared in the past.
I logged on a couple days ago, but couldn't do it...I couldn't be cheery & had to go, I'm trying again today. I'm not necessarily fishing for sympathy by posting this, I just want to talk a little...hope you don't mind.

I became Grandpa to a little boy on 1/19/07...he passed away on 3/11/08. It was not from natural causes.

His mother & father are young and unmarried. After a year or so, she decided to move in with a couple friends, for reasons that I'm not going into here. One of the friends was a guy who worked at the same place she did...we didn't know much about this guy at the time.
At 6:45 am on the 11th, my son received a frantic phone call...she said Austin wasn't breathing! He yelled at her to call 911 & ran out the door, with the cell phone on his ear.

This is what happened next...
http://www.sltrib.com//ci_8561013
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/259691

I have felt emotions in the past 10 days I never knew existed within me...by the same token, I have witnessed emotions in others I never knew existed within them. The past few days for me have been surreal, humbling, angering, devastating & ultimately filled with sadness.
The amount of help & support from friends & family during this time has been truely amazing & humbling. At least 60 people were there the day we laid Austin to rest, many of whom I had only met a few days before.

I awoke in tears from a dream the other night, where I could actually hear his voice playing in my head...just as clear as I can hear my own right now.
The amount of love & joy this little guy brought into our lives during his short stay is truely wonderful. I'm sad that I had taken a lot of it for granted while he was here, but now I truely cherish the time I was able to spend with him. It's hard to believe he's really gone.
We love you, little Austin.

(he's about 8 months old here)



(bad pic I took last November, while sitting at the computer.)

[Gritsngumbo]

My heart goes out to you. I can't even imagine what you must be feeling. I'm sure there's a special place in hell for people who abuse children and animals. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

[62galxe]

grandkids are special.cant even imagine what your feeling but I hope it gets better.Ill keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[Fanatic]

You are in my thoughts!
I have told my 2 daughters that they will have to visit me in jail...........since I WILL not wait for a dumb ass jury to decide the fate of a low life like you are dealling with. Try to hang in there! I'm not sure if I could.

Tim

[Kid]

you are in all our thoughts and prayers right now. If there is any thing the club can do as a whole just let us know, we are here for you in any way we can be..................Darrell

[FORDBOYpete]

SF,
Words sometimes don't work right. But I will try my very best. You all are in my prayers, you, your wife your son, and your grandson all.

I feel your pain & helplessness. I understand the burden on your soul. Your loss has to be insufferable for you. Your Grandson was the innocent. No excuse exists for what happened to him. Suffer not the little children for they are the innocents etc. etc. . . . .as it is so written.

As for the perpetrator of your grandchilds untimely, senseless, horriffic demise do not ease up on that evil person. Hold him fast to all the human justice he has earned. But bear in mind, his true reckoning will not come in a courtroom of mankind, but when he goes to seek his peace with his maker. Then he will feel the horror of his act for all of eternity's time. He will never be even, or paid up for the deed he committed.

There is nothing you can do now, but pray for Austin's innocent soul, so he may be in the watchcare of the lord until you all meet again in a better place. May the Lord Bless & protect you all during this hienous tragedy you have come to find yourself thrust in. We care for you.

As for loving those among your own, let no time pass without letting them all know where you stand & how much you really care about all of them. I am thankfull everyday for my family & friends & the opportunity to love them for who they are & what they mean. Once we are parted any chance to say what we should is long gone. Say it & live it now with those around you, and pray it to your grandson Austin, he too will be comforted. Now is when it matters my friend.

FORDBOYpete

[ezernut9mm]

slickfan, i am so sorry. you and your family have my condolences. thoughts and prayers to you and yours.

[Phil]

FBP said what I cant.
tears keep me from typing.

I'm really sorry to hear this. God bless your family.

[jwh f-100]

Slick Fan, I am also very sorry to hear of your loss. I am also typing this failing to hold it back. I don't believe I have any words to add to the great things these guys have already mentioned.

With the thought of the Easter season that we are within I do believe it is these savage criminals that should suffer and be nailed to a cross rather that the one who died so we all have the opportunity to someday be in the better place that little Austin is now.

My prayers go out to you and your loved ones.

[shawns fords]

Man, just reading the story has brought Tears to my eyes. nothing is more prescious than a new baby. Such a Tragic Event. My Thoughts are Preyers are out to you SF.

I only hope that you and your family can learn to cope with this tragic ordeal. Only time will tell.
shawn

[Johnny Canuck]

Grant. words kind of fail me here.
But I hope your son and you can move on.
All things happen for a reason.
Just sometimes, the reason is not clear to us.

[GLindley]

Words for these kinds of things are hard to come by. There are a few others who have posted some of their personal losses (in the last few months), and I have not responded. It is a difficult thing to know what to say to comfort and give support beyond just words posted on a website. I suppose one of the hardest questions to answer in a situation like this is, "Why?" I think we all understand that we have one life to live, but we should never have to bury our children or even less so, our grandchildren, especially if it was something that shouldn't have happened, or could have been prevented.
My heart goes out to all of our club members who have suffered the loss of people (and pets) close to them.
My sincerest condolensces here as well as to the ones who I did not post a response to.
Somewhere beyond all of this there is a little boy who earned his eternal reward much too soon, and I know is missed beyond comprehension for the ones left behind.

[Greg D]

I really don't know what to say because "I'm Sorry to hear this" seems so terribly inadequate.
Our thoughts are with you though.

[Gritsngumbo]

During a time of personal trouble, more than 30 years ago, I learned first hand how powerful and comforting, seemingly simple words such as: "I'm thinking of you", "I'm sorry" or "You're in our hearts (prayers) can mean to a person. Since that time I never hesitate to share these thoughts with someone who is troubled or hurting.

[frank66]

I am very sorry to hear this. It angers and saddens me to know there are people in this world who can do such terrible things without feeling pain inside themselves. I pray he learns what pain is when the other inmates learn of what he did. And that he will pay for what he has done forever in hell. May Austin rest in peace and live on through his family.

[castruck_1964]

SF
Sorry to hear of your tragic loss.
May the SOB that did it Rot in Hell!
It has been said so much better by previous posters.
But I'm at a loss for words and my vision is blurred.
May Justice pevail. But for Austin there is no Justice!
My condolences to you and your Family

[Ford4jack]

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of one as dear and innocent as your grandson Austin was.

There's a lump of emotions in my throat so large that I cannot put it into words.
There's also a knot of rage in my stomach for the pure evil that caused this tragic loss.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Xcessive]

hey bud,

I aint even gonna try to understand what you are going thru. I dont even wanna think of how it would be if somthing like that happened to my "lil buddy" or one of my nephews/neices.... Just remember you got a lot of ppl out there willing to lend a hand if you need anything and Im sure most of us here are included in that especially myself since I'm closer to you geographically than anyone else here. Just give me a hollar.

Brad

[winr]

I have 2 Grandchildren, a 9 year old boy, He is my everything and an 11 month old girl, I dont get to see her much or the boy anymore and it breaks my heart....

..and I have another one on the way.....

That said..I cannot tell you I know how I feel..there is no way I could..

What I can do is mourn your loss with you and if I could trade you some joy for some of your pain I would do it in a second.

I wish you and yours a world of sunshine and I hope time will heal your broken heart.



Warmest regards.

Richard.

[Alan Mclennan]

Slick Mate!, My heart is in the pit of my stomach after reading what you and your family are having to deal with, I`m not a religious person but my thoughts are of you and yours at this time, just remember what goes around comes around and the sooner the better for that spider.


Alan & Lyn,