Wesley Theodore Foundation

Eight months ago we handed our forever eight month old to heaven.

The worst day of our lives was his best day. The day he entered heaven and was free of the hard fought hospital stays.

This journey has taught us more than I ever wanted to know. How fragile life is and how fast time can really move.

Milestones pass and the world keeps turning.

We know what it is like to leave a hospital for the last time, knowing you baby isn’t coming with you. The weight of going through photos, clothes, toys, and hospital bags. Hanging up dreams for harsh realities.

But we also know hope, prayer, and action. Not allowing overselves to be consumed but rather launched into service.

Our mission is now his legacy. And our actions will shape not only how we prepare to meet him but how our family views devastation.

Craft kits, parent esential bags, care packages, and end of life memories all wrap up the beginning of that charge forward. Meeting needs that are overlooked.

Its been 8 months of pain with purpose. Not purposeless pain.

We love you, Wesley Theodore!

Hospital stays are hard on everyone. You want more than anything to take away the pain and struggle that your kiddo is facing. The hospital is overwhelming, stressful, and unpredictable.

We often have no idea that we are about to embark on a lengthy hospital stay until an emergency happens. For example, Wesley had a GI study and was admitted into our home hospital. THE DAY we got discharged and home, William decided that he needed some emergency attention. Having a tet spell and turning blue. Off to the ER we raced. One emergency transfer later, we ended up at Vanderbilt. We had nothing but adrenaline and a prayer.

That first night is always rocky, and most of the time, you have nothing. We feel strongly about meeting these needs. We love doing footprint crafts and making memories with sweet babies. We love caring for nurses and staff that help heal and nurture our children. But we also love showing support to parents who are juggling all of the emotions and stress that come from having a baby in the hospital in a world that doesn't stop moving.

If you are interested in supporting us as we start this project, please check out our Amazon wishlist. We want nothing more than to take some of the burden of unpredictability by providing some of the essentials that make us all feel a little better and a little more human.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14WJXPNNM97DJ?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for your constant care and compassion. The hours both on and off the clock that you spend think about and caring for those under your care.

We have been blessed with a fabulous care team and family who have displayed for us the highest standard compassion, knowledge and courage in the face of every challenge we have been faced with.

One week will never be enough to celebrate you.

One cake gets smashed while one sits perfectly intact. And our heart breaks for what should have, could have been.

The understanding that HIS plan is greater than ours is one of the hardest things to come to terms with.

I will admit that their birthday was hard; the birthday party was hard. We put on a mask of being okay, took pictures, and smiled. We did it for Will, and he is worth it. Don't get me wrong, we count every single moment as a blessing. We did all of the things that you do as parents as we embraced the fact that half our heart was missing.

It hurts, but how thankful we are for the pain. The pain means he lived, that he was loved fully, and that he is missed...fully.

CHD sucks, and we will do whatever we can to strengthen, educate and support a community that we didn't want to belong to but proudly represent.

I miss you, Wesley, every moment of every day. It is our honor to carry on your legacy each and every day.

Happy Birthday to our two amazing little men. Our two heart babies who challenged us and showed us so much love.

William, watching you grow and thrive is such a joy. You have overcome so much and we are so proud of your reliance. You are always happy (unless you are hungry) and so much fun. We love you so much and look forward to watching you grow.

Wesley, our forever 8 month old. It doesn’t seem possible that life continues to move without you in it. But here we are celebrating your first birthday with broken hearts. I can’t help but wonder what you would be like. It’s hard to image your smile brighter that it was but I am sure you would have looked so cute with little teeth. We love you and will spend our life continuing your legacy.

It’s amazing how much can change in a year. From some of the first photos of the boys to where Will is now and where Wesley was right before the blood clot.

Thank you for journeying with us.

- Matt & Kailey