On Your Birthday
Dear Maddie,
Today is your 2nd Birthday. But you already know that. It’s YOUR birthday after all. The day, two years ago, when you came into the world. Amidst fears. Amidst worries. Amidst joy.
I didn’t know your parents then. I wasn’t following along waiting for news of your birth. I didn’t know how much they had been through in the months leading up to your arrival. I was completely unaware of all of it.
I didn’t meet you or your parents until you were home and thriving. I got to know you, like thousands of others, through your mom and dad’s websites. I was lucky enough that a twist of fate introduced me to them on an elevator one night.
I was lucky enough that, because of that one moment, I got to know you. I got to hold you, to play with you. Love on you. Talk to you. Smile with you. Laugh with you.
My boys got to know you, too. You poked at them. You giggled. You stole Zach’s glasses every chance you got.
But it wasn’t enough.
No one got enough time with you.
It’s not fair that you’re gone. It’s not fair that you don’t get to eat twice as many cream puffs for your second birthday as you did on your first.
It’s not fair that your parents and grandparents have to go on without you.
It’s not fair that the rest of the world doesn’t get to watch you grow up.
It’s not fair.
But we will remember you forever.
We will remember the light in your eyes. The size of your grin. The sound of your laugh.
We will remember.
And you will always make us smile.
We love you, Maddie. We miss you.
Happy Birthday, sweet girl.
If you wrote a post for Maddie’s Birthday, please link to it below.
If you are on Twitter, please plan on tweeting with the #Maddie tag between 4 and 5pm Pacific time today.
Also, in honor of Maddie’s birthday, please considering donating to Friends of Maddie. Helping NICU babies and their families by supporting the charity started in Maddie’s name is a great way to remember and celebrate her life.
Related posts:
AmazingGreis on 11 Nov 2009 at 12:05 am #
So beautiful, so missed.
Happy Birthday Maddie!
XOXO
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Seraphim on 11 Nov 2009 at 12:34 am #
You are so right.
It’s not fair.
Sending my love to Heather and Mike ,and to you and your family Meghan. I know your heart has been broken too this year xxxxx
Seraphim´s last blog ..Just when
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mel on 11 Nov 2009 at 5:36 am #
Not fair at all.
Love and missed. always.
You are an amazing friend.
Happy Birthday Maddie!
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Overflowing Brain (Katie) on 11 Nov 2009 at 5:37 am #
Beautiful Meghan. Thanks for giving us a place to come together.
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Karen Chatters on 11 Nov 2009 at 5:42 am #
Beautiful words. Happy Birthday Maddie!
Karen Chatters´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Maddie!
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Melanie @ Whimsical Creations on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:38 am #
Beautifully put. Happy Birthday Maddie!
Melanie @ Whimsical Creations´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday
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Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:39 am #
A tremendous tribute, Meghan. You were lucky enough to know Maddie for her short time here.
Much love to Maddie’s friends & family.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]´s last blog ..Birth Day
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Grandma Pam on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:46 am #
Happy Birthday Maddie!
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ali on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:50 am #
It was definitely not enough. Your words are beautiful,Meghan.
ali´s last blog ..It’s HER Day
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Baking Mad Mama on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:51 am #
Beautiful words Meghan. Thanks for the link widget. Happy Birthday to Maddie!
Baking Mad Mama´s last blog ..Remembrance
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Kelly on 11 Nov 2009 at 6:58 am #
Crying for her today… what a beautiful tribute.
Thank you for all you have done to let the world see Maddie.
Kelly´s last blog ..Other people’s babies
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becky @therealbecks on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:22 am #
perfect. beautiful. we love you, maddie. happy birthday.
becky @therealbecks´s last blog ..2 years old
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Issa on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:22 am #
Beautiful post Meghan. Thanks for doing this Linky Love Thing.
Issa´s last blog ..Happy 2nd birthday Maddie Moo
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rachel-asouthernfairytale on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:33 am #
Love you, Meghan.
Just perfect.
Heather, Mike, Binky XOXOXOX
rachel-asouthernfairytale´s last blog ..Sour Cream Apple Pie
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pgoodness on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:37 am #
Written and linked. Thanks for doing this Meghan. xo
pgoodness´s last blog ..A letter to a little girl
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Angi on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:50 am #
Happy Birthday, Maddie. Well said, Meghan.
Angi´s last blog ..Remembering Maddie
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VDog on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:52 am #
Lovely, Meghan. I miss Maddie.
VDog´s last blog ..Friends in Need by @middleagedwoman
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grandmaother on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:08 am #
My heart goes out to Heather and Mike, their families and their friends.
Maddie was a treasure.
The tributes are remarkable.
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Jodee on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:10 am #
I am thinking of Heather, Mike, Binky and especially Maddie today… I just wish I could of met her… What a special little girl she was… Happy Birthday Maddie..
Jodee´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Maddie
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cindy w on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:23 am #
Thank you for doing this, Meghan. You are an amazing friend. We should all be so lucky to have someone like you in our lives.
cindy w´s last blog ..Two
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Alison on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:40 am #
Maddie’s love lives on, today on her birthday and every day. Beautiful post.
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eatplaylove on 11 Nov 2009 at 9:46 am #
Your a beautiful friend, Megan.
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Nanette on 11 Nov 2009 at 9:49 am #
Sweet, sweet Maddie. We miss you.
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Molly on 11 Nov 2009 at 9:51 am #
Maddie Moo!
happy birthday sweet girl. We miss you. We love you. We’ll eat cream puffs today for you.
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Stephanie Dulli on 11 Nov 2009 at 9:54 am #
It is no fair. Not fair at all. I love reading your thoughts, as you knew her and loved her in real life, not just through the magic of blogging… I’m wearing purple today. For Maddie’s birthday!
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Liz @ The Wit Factory on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:19 am #
I’ve cried today. I have smiled today. But tonight, I will eat my very first cream puff.
Happy 2nd Birthday, Maddie
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Chantel on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:56 am #
Life sucks and is very unfair. Maddie Moo we miss you and your sweet sweet smile! Happy Birthday sweet girl.
Love,
Chantel, Zae & Natalie
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Shannon on 11 Nov 2009 at 12:38 pm #
Happy 2nd Birthday Angel in Heaven ?
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Shannon Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
that was supposed to be an ! not a ? but I dont know how to delete…
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Alicia @ bethsix on 11 Nov 2009 at 12:38 pm #
Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I never knew.
Alicia @ bethsix´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Maddie
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knoxvillepixie on 11 Nov 2009 at 1:07 pm #
Maddie, I think of you and your family everyday. Happy Birthday. XOXO
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Kristel on 11 Nov 2009 at 1:12 pm #
Thank you so much for doing this, Meghan. My every thought, today, is of the Spohrs. The world lost something wonderful the day Maddie died. Huge *hugs* to Heather, Mike, Binky and Rigby. And everyone who has been touched by Maddie. And *hugs* to you too, Meghan. For all you do, for all of us.
Kristel´s last blog ..Remembrance Day
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Lisa on 11 Nov 2009 at 1:41 pm #
Beautiful post, perfectly said. It wasn’t enough. Happy Birthday Maddie, we miss and love you. Heather and Mike are in my heart and on my mind today and always.
It is awesome to see how many people have written about Maddie today. Sending her such love and doing everything they can to support Heather and Mike. It is truly incredible.
Lisa´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Maddie
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Stacy on 11 Nov 2009 at 2:33 pm #
Happy Birthday Maddie! Thinking of Heather and Mike today, and everyone who knew and loved her.
Even though I’m a terribly infrequent blogger, I posted for Maddie today and linked above. Thank yo Meghan for giving everyone a place to do so.
Stacy´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Maddie!
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Rachel on 11 Nov 2009 at 3:09 pm #
Happy birthday, sweet sweet Maddie.
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Kim on 11 Nov 2009 at 4:29 pm #
Beautiful post for a beautiful girl and her amazing family.
Happy birthday Maddie…..
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Jennifer on 11 Nov 2009 at 5:53 pm #
Happy Birthday, sweet Maddie. We think of you every day!
Jennifer´s last blog ..The little girl that stole my heart…
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Loukia on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:25 pm #
Very beautiful, so touching.
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Colleen on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:06 pm #
Love to Heather & Mike. Love to Binky. Love to their families. Love to their friends, to you.
Maddie was so very, very special and so very, very loved.
<3
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Allison on 11 Nov 2009 at 9:39 pm #
Wearing purple tonight, and thinking of Maddie. Thank you for allowing us all to share our “Maddie” blog entries. She (and her beautiful mom and dad) will always be an inspiration.
Allison´s last blog ..Inspiration
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anymommy on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:52 pm #
So not fair. I’ve been reading posts all day. Thank you for collecting them all!
anymommy´s last blog ..Sweet Surrender
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Katrina on 14 Nov 2009 at 11:35 am #
Happy Birthday, sweet Maddie Moo! Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you! You are loved and misssed by so many. I hope you are enjoying a BIG cream puff in Heaven on this special day!
Katrina´s last blog ..Halloween
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