Some of you may know, others may not. Thatcher made the long ambulance ride home with us last Thursday (a little over a week ago now). We spent 8 beautiful days together as a family in our home, and last night at 9:12 pm Thatcher Caleb went to his real home. Jesus is holding him now, with his older brother or sister. He has finally gotten to meet Caleb, the man he was named after and who we read to him about every night. We know that he is singing God's praises loud, and is in no more pain. He will never have another seizure, and never struggle to breathe ever again. Our sweet baby boy is home with his Father, and is being held and loved better than we ever could here. We are so thankful for the time that we got to spend with him, and we are so thankful that we got to spend the last week here at home with him. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. There will be a memorial service to celebrate Thatcher's life some time this week, we will post more information as we figure it out. Thank you all for your love and encouragement but as we are still incredibly overwhelmed we'd like to limit visitors to just our families.
Father, thank you for blessing us with a child as amazing as Thatcher, and though we don't get it, and we're mad and angry, and sad and hurt and we don't understand how this is for our good or for your glory, we still trust you. Our hope is still in You, and we will still praise you, for the 2 months and 29 days that we got to spend with Your child and servant. God, please be gentle with us, please give us comfort that surpasses understanding, please hold Thatcher tight and let him know that we love him so much, and we miss him more than life itself. Please kiss him for us, please squeeze his hand, please brush his hair and put him in some really great heavenly robes, and he really likes physical therapy, though he doesn't need it anymore and You already knew that. God please be near, and hold us too... we need you, we miss him, we want to be close to him, we want to worry about alarms going off, we want to worry that he is breathing, we want him here to care for him, we want him here to love on him, we want him here to sing over, and pray over, and read to...
I am so sorry to hear your news. There are no words but I want you to know that MY life was touched by your story and precious baby boy! The picture is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhitney and Eric my heart is broken for you. I pray for the peace only God can provide through this impossible time. You three are loved by so many and your story has impacted so many hearts.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to read of your loss. I can't begin to imagine the pain you are experiencing. But you do not mourn " as those who have no hope." PRAISE GOD FOR THAT HOPE THAT WE SHARE! Thank you for sharing your hearts through this blog.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. The biggest prayers and love sent to you, Eric, and your families.
ReplyDeleteDear Eric and Whitney,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. My heart is aching for you and your family. As one who knows this grief, my hopes rest in the reuniting that one day we will be joined together again with our precious children and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have followed your journey. I have prayed for you. I know that the peace that surpasses all understanding will engulf you in your time of need. I said, when I loss my precious Darcy (at 15 days old), "When God gets me through this, it will be the strongest evidence of His existence." He gives us what we need, when we need it...and not a minute sooner. One of His greatest promises is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. I will always remember little Thatcher's legacy. Thank you for sharing his life with the rest of us so the Lord could bless us through his. If you need anything, please let me know.
Tracy Ramos
So sorry for your great loss. Your faith is inspiring to others, so Thatchers journey had given many people reason to take God back into their hearts. We all loved your family and prayed with you and will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteWe love you and continue to pray God's strength and comfort for you and all your family.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss, while Thatcher might only been on this earth for such a short time he has impacted so many. Your strength is amazing as I do not know if I would be strong enough to have such faith. God bless you and your family and please take praise that u now have another angle watching over you
ReplyDeleteEric and Whitney,
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for you and your family with the loss of precious Thatcher. I am so grateful for God's grace to allow you some time at home with him. What a blessing that was. I pray that God wraps his arms tightly around you all at this time. You are amazing parents and will always be able to cherish Thatcher's life and know that you have impacted us all so strongly these past few months. We love you and will continue to pray for you all.
I am so sorry for your loss. May God be with you through the pain, doubts, and questionas you may have as time goes by. God bless.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for you all. May God's love continue to sustain you in these difficult days ahead.
ReplyDeletePRAYING PRAYING PRAYING
ReplyDeleteBefore I was born, my mother had a son named Samuel. He lived a few days and died. A while later she had twin girls who lived a few days and died. The Rh factor was involved and not as much was known back then about how to deal with it. The doctors told my mother and dad not to have any more children or they would die too. But God wasn't through, my mother had me and then 2 yrs. later my brother was born. And we both have lived healthy happy lives. We are now in our 60's and my mother, who suffers from Dementia, is 94 and lives at The Terrace in The Woodlands near my home. She taught Sunday School until she was 91 and has been a strong Christian servant for these 94 years. She still leads Bible study in the memory care facility where she lives. I know it was God's grace that carried her all these years so that she was victorious over such tragic events in her life and she has never ceased to sing God's praise. My heart and prayers are with you and your family as you climb this mountain....and I know you will reach the top and the hurt and ache will subside a little. Little Caleb may be playing now with my brother and my two sisters that I haven't met yet.
ReplyDeleteBecause you shared, so many lives have been drawn closer to our Lord, and so many people share your hurt. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear the news. You all are in my prayers. Thanks for letting us all walk alongside you (to some degree) with your blog.
ReplyDeleteBrent Dore
Thank you for sharing your joys and your pains but most importantly your hope that you have in Jesus. It has been a great encouragement to me, a Christian, so I know God has used you and Thatcher to shine a strong, bright light to this dark world. I feel for you as we don't understand as humans how such sad, hard, rough things have to happen, so I will continue to pray for you. I praise God for watching over our servant Thatcher his whole life on this earth and now in Heaven. Thatcher is a great blessing and a beautiful child of God.
ReplyDeleteLauren Head
What a journey you all have been on & are still on! Thank you for being so real & transparent - the Lord has blessed many through your testimony of grace & mercy. Continuing to pray for your tender family & all the Lord will continue to do in & through you! To God be the glory!
ReplyDeleteOh, my heart goes out to you. Sweet baby boy got his angel wings. No more suffering for his tiny body. I will keep you in my constant prayers! So sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteIlka McCraren
I am so very sorry Eric and Whit, your strength in Jesus amazes all! Grace and mercy will be poured upon you! Many prayers and much love to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for blessing us with the gift of praying over that sweet angel. Praying peace for you two now.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace sweet baby boy
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry for your loss but Thatcher is being loved on by Jesus this morning and forever til you get their to take over. We serve a wonderful God.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you in the midst of your sorrow. I can't imagine what you are going through. May your faith in our Lord bring you comfort.
ReplyDeletePam
I am so amazed at the faith of which you both have when enduring such pain as a lost of a child. I lost my only daughter several years ago she was an adult and I know only by the grace of the LORD did I and have I gotton thru that. I feel so blessed to have known about the amazing baby Thatcher and his family on this wonderful journey that all of you have taken together. I pray that you will have the comfort you need and desire in the coming days and I know that the LORD will provide you with that comfort. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Thatcher and your beautiful story with us. My heart aches for you and I am praying for you in your unspeakable grief. Praise God for his mercies. He loves you and will take such good care of Thatcher until you are all reunited. I will continue to pray for you.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to you and yours. My heartfelt gratitude for reaching out and sharing your faith and family which has captured so many hearts. There are no words that can heal the pain, but I know Jesus was the healer of mine after losing my mom at a young age. May he bless you richly in this life ahead. My prayers will be with you still.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine or will even pretend to understand the pain you feel. There are no words, and though all of these comments and your amazing family and friends will have the very best intentions, I would guess that you still feel so lonely, angry, and mad. And that is ok, because this is a process. My prayer is that you allow God to hold your hand through this process and be honest with Him and each other about how you feel.
ReplyDeleteThere is a "similar" blog to yours...http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/. This mom, whose faith is also remarkable, lost her son after months of medical intervention. One day, when you are ready, I think reading, listening, and talking to others who have shared a "similar path" might be very healing. But again, that is one day, and that is probably not today - and that is ok.
Thank you for your courage to share Thatcher's story and your faith. Take your time, take a moment, and take of each other.
Praying...
Heaven is forever changed because of your precious little one. You continue to be in our prayers. We love you, Connie and Smokey Mc
ReplyDeleteI just found your story from a friend. Thatcher is beautiful and his story has touched us immensely. He IS rejoicing and dancing with Jesus right now. What HOPE we have in the Lord to see him again one day. Our firstborn son is also dancing with Jesus...we are covering your family in prayers for peace. Thank you for sharing Thatcher's life with us! Many blessings, Sarah & Chet Erwin
ReplyDeleteSo thankful I was able to meet Thatcher. You all amaze me! May God continue to bless you guys as you walk this road. Much love, Gretchen and Donald Butler
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Thatcher's story! I have loved him from the beginning! May God give you the comfort you both need now! My prayers continue for you both and your families!
ReplyDeletePrayers for you all during this difficult time. Your faith has kept you strong, and will continue to help you through. May little Thatcher rest peacefully in God's loving arms.
ReplyDeleteTyna-NICU RN
Whitney and Eric, we will never know how God used little Thatcher to draw us to Him. Thousands have been on their knees asking the Father for grace and healing and peace. And now, those same prayer warriers are once again on their knees asking the same thing for you. Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey of faith and love with us. We will continue to pray for you both in the days ahead.
ReplyDeleteLove, Cheryl and Clyde
Continuing to lift you and your family up in prayers to our Heavenly Father. Words cannot express our sorrow for you at this time, but we do want to express our appreciation for sharing your journey authentically with all of us and allowing to join you in prayer. The two of you have been such an example of Christ followers to our four children as you have wrestled in your faith, yet praising Him all the while. We continue to cover you in prayers. Shawn and Jamie Almond
ReplyDeleteI don't know your family personally, but know that I am praying for you two and I am so sorry for your loss. May Thatcher rest in peace!
ReplyDeleteI don't know you all personally either but you are a sister and brother in Christ and for that my heart aches over your loss. I wish I could say something that would help comfort, give you peace or ease your loss but I cannot. Will be praying that God gives you that--that he holds you close in your time of need. Thank you for your heart felt and transparent updates. You all are a wonderful example to us all!
ReplyDeleteThere are no words!!! :(
ReplyDeleteI know you would have never wanted this no matter how many lives you touched but I want you to know that your sweet family has ministered to many souls. Hope you find some comfort in knowing souls are forever and these bodies are only temporary.
Eric and Whit.
ReplyDeleteWe are saddened by the news but rejoice you were able to bring Thatcher home to spend quality time with such a sweet and beautiful boy. We send our prayers your way and will keep the family in our hearts as God continues to comfort the family, with peace and ease your pain.
Love The Flynn family
Whitney, we are so saddened to hear about little Thatcher's passing, but rejoice that he is now perfect and complete, and in the presence of his Heavenly Father. There is so much I could write, but I mostly want you to know that Chris and I and our church have been praying for you and your family! We will continue to pray! Much love to you from all the Pixleys!
ReplyDeleteOur deepest sympathy to you, Whitney & Eric! Although you have suffered a terrible loss, the three of you have touched the lives of so many people along your journey! Thatcher is now an angel permanently etched on our hearts for all times.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for your family left tender and raw, as Thatcher's valiant fight on earth has ended. I'm thankful to your family who willingly shared your journey and demonstrated faith in Christ. Thank you, little Thatcher who counter attacked and triumphed over Satan by uniting and unleashing Christian prayer warriors from all over the world, astounding and surpassing the medically possible expectations for him, and bringing joy to your parents. Praying our heavenly Father wraps your family up in his protective arms, grants you respite from the battlegrounds, provides you peace as you mourn, fills up that empty ache with His love, and turns your tears of sorrow into gladness.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this. My heart is aching for you and you will continue to be in my prayers as you are now facing a new set of challenges. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and for allowing us the privilege of knowing Thatcher's story. He is so blessed to have had parents like you who so faithfully fought on his behalf!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of your loss Eric & Whitney - I am a friend of Steph Graham's (back in Australia) and I have been reading your story for the past couple of months.
ReplyDeleteAlthough his life was short, Thatcher was given wonderful parents, who loved, cherished and fought hard for him - in return he gave them great joy (amongst other things).
My thoughts are with you during this difficult time, may you find comfort and strength from your faith, friends and family.
Although I am not religious, I will be saying a little prayer for the three of you tonight.
We are sorry to hear about Thatcher, Eric and Whitney. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. We will pray for peace and strength through these difficult times. Your faith has been tested and you have changed others through sharing your journey with little Thatcher. You are an inspiration. Love, the Wysocki family
ReplyDeleteWhitney and Eric,
ReplyDeleteMy heart aches for you! Although I can never imagine what you are experiencing or feeling right now, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. You are truly incredible, loving, blessed people and you, along with that sweet baby boy, have touched so many lives in the last few months through your story. Peace be with you and yours!
Eric and Whitney,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that Thacher is no longer with you. I know in your heart you know that God is holding him and loving him and that he is not haveing any more seizures or pain. I grieve with you as you are home with the silence. You are two of the most attentive and faithful parents I have ever known. You never left Thacher alone. He was surrounded by your love every minute of his life. He touched many lives in his short time here with you as did the two of you. I am praying for you. Chaplain Glenda
Eric and Whitney,
ReplyDeleteWe are so saddened to hear of your loss, but share your faith that he is in the arms of his Abba-Father. Thatcher brought many people closer to the LORD--what an impactful ministry he began during his lifetime! Truly there are no words, but we stand close to you, hoping the nearness says what needs to be said. We continue to pray caring prayers for you, asking the Holy Spirit to comfort you, now and forever.
Our heartfelt sympathy,
The Watsons--Paul, Clarise, David & Elizabeth
The LORD is He Who Will Sustain You. He made you and He will carry you. (Isa. 46:4)
I am so very sorry for your loss and grateful for your gift (albeit short). Last I saw you, Eric (and first met Whitney), was a run in at Ikea shortly after I left Empyrean (still housed at EBS). You were still pregnant then. So when I got news today that "Eric's son passed away" I thought, surely not the baby... right? My fears were confirmed and I never knew of the journey you both were on. Anyway, my heart breaks for you both and my thoughts and prayers with you during this difficult time. Take care. Gail
ReplyDeleteThe Children's Sunday School Class at Urbanna Methodist church want to extend their heartfelt sympathy to you in the loss of precious Thatcher. He taught our children to actually care for someone they were praying for. We shared your family photo before we prayed, they loved him though they had never met him. One young girl Rachel age 10 prayed about 2 weeks ago that God would help us let go of Thatcher so that he could be with Jesus and no longer in pain. There was a peaceful silence at the end of that prayer. This Sunday when the class heard that Thatcher had indeed gone to be with Jesus she prayed that God would bless you with another child soon, not to take Thatcher's place but to give you the joy of having a baby you could hold. Sometimes we need "Jesus with skin on". And so our prayer for you is to have the peace that passes understanding and be comforted knowing that so many people share your loss and continue to lift you up to Jesus. We love you Eric and Whitney.
ReplyDeleteSandra Davis Dize and the UUMC Children's Sunday School
Eric and Whitney, As so many others have said, there just aren't any adequate words to help ease your pain. I cannot begin to imagine all of the emotions you're experiencing, but I know a God who does! Thatcher has reached so many lives during his short stay here, but so have both of you as you have trusted and praised God through it all. We continue to lift you up in prayer, that you may have His peace!
ReplyDeleteDeAnne Puente
I have been following your blog for a while now and your story is truely inspiring! The faith you two have shown through the happy times and the hard times have been a great example to not only just me, but many others. I am so sorry for your loss. Little Thatchers life was a witness of faith in my life. Thank you. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. May you find peace and comfort as you allow God to wrap His arms around your hearts.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about Thatcher. May God continue to strengthen you all and give you peace like never before. God bless you and thank you for sharing Thatcher and your faith with the world.
ReplyDeleteContinuing to think of your family every single day. Praying for supernatural peace. Thatcher was absolutely beautiful and precious!
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