Brady Bears are donated in loving memory of my son, Brady Benjamin, who was born and died August 6, 2010. While I was still in the hospital reeling from his loss and trying to process all of the emotions related to him, my brother brought me a stuffed Gundy bear from the hospital's gift shop. I couldn't even imagine it at the time, but that bear became a lifeline for me. It offered me comfort when nothing else could. When I wasn't able to bring my baby boy home from the hospital, I was able to bring my bear home instead. Later, that Brady Bear was even included in family photos with my other children, to serve as a reminder of the little boy we loved and lost. Now, almost 15 years later, I have started a small project to donate Brady Bears to the local hospital where Brady was born, in the hopes that someone else might find some level of comfort in them, like I did, during a time of the most unimaginable loss.
If you are reading this because you received a Brady Bear, I am so sorry. Please know that you are not alone, and as hard and unfair as it seems right now, your precious child's life mattered.
Part of my journey through the grief that you are facing now was recorded in this blog. I know that you won't be ready to read it... not now.... not when you can't imagine thinking about or focusing on ANYTHING except the precious child you just lost. But one day, please promise me, when you feel the rest of your world has moved on and you simply can't... and you feel like no one can possibly understand what you are facing... promise me that you will come back and read these words.
There is HOPE and a path to HEALING to be found, when you are ready for it.
I hope your Brady Bear is a reminder of that for you, too.
Praying for you ~ Ashley
