Today I learned of yet another death of one of our beautiful children John William Stine (LIAM) or Liam the Brave as he was so affectionately called and that he was Brave. He was the bravest little boy I know. Liam Stine was 2 years old he just celebrated his second birthday on December 13th and he was the sweetest and most beautiful little boy. His Parents such amazing people had a phenomenal idea of how to celebrate not only Liam and how much he is loved but also on how to share his story. They came up with Stars for Liam.
When word got out on facebook and thanks to many friends, the local news station it just took off and the response was overwhelming the goal was to collect 20,000 stars and that goal was reached. People were talking about it, passing and sharing his page and the world responded to him Liam was and is truly loved. The heavens have gained another precious angel and are rejoicing in his beauty. Their is yet another STAR shining bright tonight in this world the star is named Liam.
Liam suffered from cerebral atrophy which is a common feature of many of the diseases that affect the brain. Atrophy of any tissue means loss of cells. In brain tissue, atrophy describes a loss of neurons and the connections between them. Atrophy can be generalized, which means that all of the brain has shrunk; or it can be focal, affecting only a limited area of the brain and resulting in a decrease of the functions that area of the brain controls. If the cerebral hemispheres (the two lobes of the brain that form the cerebrum) are affected, conscious thought and voluntary processes may be impaired. He also suffered from epilepsy and seizures and like all our children he faced everything and every challenge with strength, courage, dignity, and was a brave warrior.
Liam always had a smile on his face, he loved his parents, his beautiful Sister and best friend McKenna. The name John is derived from Hebrew, and means “God is gracious” or “God is generous.” William means protector or strenuous guardian and Liam also means protector and this child was gracious, he was a generous soul, and he was a protector he was everything true about his name. Liam was also a fighter he fought hard right up until the very end. He brought enormous joy and love to his Mother and Father Liam was their gift but they were his blessing but to everyone whom knew the family personally and even those that did not you couldn’t help but fall in love with the little boy with the incredible smile after all he was born a Star. To McKenna his Sister Liam was the world, she was loving, kind and nurturing, he loved his big Sister and that you could see in any one of the pictures they were inseperable. McKenna your Brother Liam was honored to have you as his sister and no matter where you are and where life’s journey takes you Liam will be with you.
I have written so many times this year when a child dies, it is one of the hardest things in life to understand. We have lost so many children to Epilepsy or Dravets and again we are looking into the tearful eyes of their parents, and we see one another. We know that without divine help, we could not bear that pain. We think about a precious life snatched away before it was fully formed, like a flower snipped from the stem just as it was beginning to bloom. We question “Why” but only God knows the real answer to that question. But what I do know is that for whatever reason God called Liam home and the one thing that is getting me through this new loss is knowing that he is free. No more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, just happiness and joy probably playing with John, Danny, Scott Jr, Chelsea, CeCe (Cecelia), Adaleigh, Jordan, Piper, Joey, Donna, Eric, Kyle, Ryan, Savannah, Ezekial, Sam, Christopher Adam, Brayden, Joseph, Connor, Dallas, Bradley, Ken, Lydia, Giovanni, Marissa, Lizzy, Tina, Matthew, Clayton, Carolina, Samuel and having a good time and that puts a smile on my face the way it did from the very first time I saw his precious face and that incredible beautiful smile in his photographs. He is another one of our Angels that is going to be with each of us helping us in our cause and advocacy work that we need done to get the funding and research we need to find and get the CURE.
If I can offer any peace or comfort to his parents as its so hard words never come easy and people really do not know what to say I can offer them this as I have to other parents who sadly and recently lost a beautiful Son and I believe in all my heart for this to be true. Always remember the good times, their were many, always remember he loved you, he did, always remember that infectious smile, its in your heart beating. Remember that even though he is no longer physically with us he has never left you, he is in your heart and soul, when you look up to the heavens at night and you see the brightest star sparkling like diamonds in the sky that is Liam winking at you saying “Hey Mom & Dad, McKenna don’t worry I am doing great, you taught me that” when you see a rainbow after a storm that is Liam telling you “Thank you for calming my fears and keeping me safe for seeing the beauty in me through my eyes” When you hear the rain that is Liam telling you “Hey don’t cry you gave me the best of everything, you gave me the best thing a little boy ever needed a family” celebrate his life for their is much for you to celebrate and know that one day you will see Liam again and what an occasion that will be.
Liam, thank you so much for touching me and all those who knew and even those that did not know you personally but only through our extended family it was an honor, privilege to know, learn about and love you. You taught us all about fighting and staying strong and we will honor your memory every day. We know you will be the star guiding me and this foundation and all of us over the years so that we can stop the madness and find the cure. God Bless You Sweet Liam the Brave.
This is a favorite song of mine by 10 year old Gospel Singer Rhema Marvanne which she did when she was just 7 years old. I hope it brings comfort to the Stine Family. Liam give our love to all our children and let them know we honor, love and miss them every day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDlxmsciqY
“WHEN GOD CALLS LITTLE CHILDREN”
When God calls little children
to dwell with him above,
We mortals sometime question
the wisdom of his love
For no heartache compares with
the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world,
seem wonderful and mild
Perhaps God tires of calling
the aged to his fold,
So He picks a rosebud,
before he can grow old.
God knows how much we need them,
and so he takes but a few
To make the land of Heaven
more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still
somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be “Goodbye.”
So when a little child departs
we who are left behind
Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.
In closing I would just like to say Psalm 34 v 18 is one of my favorite verses: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. From my own family and our foundations family we want to extend our deepest condolences to Liam’s Family during this most difficult of times. We love you and your in our thoughts and prayers as is Liam. Gone but never forgotten. God of light thank you for helping to guide us out of the darkness of pain and grief that occurred after the loss of our beautiful children. Now that they are gone every single memory is both precious and holy. Bless each memory we have of our children so that they will continue to live on in our hearts and minds forever.”
DEC