Erline, thank you for sharing this with us. It is heart wrenching and yet cleansing. I hesitated before reading it because I knew it would hit me hard and now the tears flow freely from my eyes as I weep for you and the great pain that you and Roy have endured from the staggering loss of your dearest Chad. I remember when I heard this awful news so long ago. I had only known you for a year or so at that time and I was torn up over your loss. I couldn't even imagine the pain you were feeling at that time, but it made me appreciate every moment, all the more, that I had with my own son.

It is only now, since my dear Mother Gloria passed away in October 2016, that I have come to know the depths of human pain that I am capable of feeling and yet I know even my great loss doesn't compare to the loss of a child! However it allows me to realize now how great loss alters us all forever and yet in order to heal, we must come to the realization that God knows what is best and that while we are still in pain, we are still blessed to be among the living. Fortunately that gives us the strength to go on living better lives and to better the lives of others through our remaining light of love that is the essence of a life well lived, while we make our dearly departed loved ones proud as they guide us from above. Thank you again for sharing your letter to Chad with the world! With all my love, to you and Roy,

Kevin