Steven Christopher

Every year on the 21st of January my heart rises as I remember the birth of this little baby boy.

15 years later there are still few if any appropriate words that can be wrapped around the events that unfolded and unraveled our friends joy.

15 years later… and every single year since his birth Denise and I make it a point to remember together the day this little baby arrived…it’s his birthday…and we celebrate… and we cry…and we laugh…and we talk about what we learned from a child whose presence on Earth only lasted four short days.

15 years later Steven has a 13 year old sister, 9 and 7 year old brothers who baked a cake last night for Steven's birthday party.

Today I join the celebration of life. I honor this family and lift them in my prayers that their grief not be all consuming and their hearts be full when they look up and let go 15 balloons to the sky.

For parents, their family and friends…the loss of an infant or child can be one of the most shattering experiences one could endure. I have intimately witnessed how the death of child deeply and permanently affects people. I have been profoundly moved to be a better person and I am honored to know Denise and the other families who have walked this path. I have seen first hand how faith carries them…hope sustains them…graces keeps them and just knowing that their children, their Angels are sitting at the right hand of the Father comforts them.

Tears in Heaven