The recent death of  another one of our beautiful children has touched us all once again another one of our brave warriors has been sadly taken from us at the tender age of 3. Clover Rosalie Dohman the adorably sweet Daughter of  Patty and Alex was called home to be with the Lord on May 23rd, 2013 after a courageous life long struggle with Dravet Syndrome.
Once again our hearts are feeling the brokenness of loss. The origin of the name Clover is English, the meaning of the name Clover is Meadow Flower. Clover was and is a beautiful flower with a smile that could light up the world, a loving soul one that you could clearly see through her beauty, you looked deep into that beautiful child and you could see the joy, comfort, unconditional love, peace she brought to so many most of all her parents. Children with Epilepsy and Special Needs are no different than any child, they are beautiful, they are gifts and blessings to their family, friends, they love unconditionally, they teach us as adults lessons in life ones that quite frankly we should not need about compassion, about acceptance, about giving spirits, about treating with respect, they don’t judge, they love. The lessons they teach are so amazing and again ones that we should not need to be taught we should already know it.

Clover was one of those children that just brightened the world of all of she knew and those she did not really know. But what IWhen a child dies, it is one of the hardest things in life to understand. We have lost so many children to Epilepsy and 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 Clover home the one thing that is brings us comfort through this new loss is knowing that she is Free. No more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, just happiness and joy and she is probably already running around and 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, Melanie, Jay Jay and having a good time and that puts a smile on my face the way it did from the very first time I saw her precious face.  She 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.

I asked Clovers Mom Patty to share with me a few things about Clover we may not have known here is what she had to say: To say Clover loved Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would be an understatement. She received a Make-A-Wish last November and we took her to Disney World. I don’t know if I ever saw her happier – her favorite part was the meet and greet with Mickey and all his friends. When she met Mickey for the first time she started jumping up and down and wouldn’t stop hugging him. It was so moving, I don’t think there was a dry eye around us.

Her 6 year old brother Jackson, or “Jack-Jack” as she called him, was her best friend. She followed him everywhere and idolized him. Jackson was always very patient and very good with her. When Clover died, Jackson said, “I’m glad Clover is in heaven. Now she can walk and talk like me.” He was always very concerned about her limitations and health.

She loved going to her preschool and seeing her friends there. She was very social and would say “hi” to everyone over and over and over. After school she would get off the bus shouting “mama!” with a huge grin on her face and waiving her hands all around and laughing. She was always very excited to “tell” me about her day through her big smile and one word sentences.

Clover touched more people’s heart without saying one word than she could have with a thousand. She could tell you a whole story just by looking in her eyes. I never knew what courage and bravery was until I saw it in my daughter. She was my hero.

If I can offer any peace or comfort to you Patty and Alex as it’s so hard words never come easy and people really do not know what to say I can offer you this. I have offered this to many of our parents who sadly and recently lost a beautiful child  and I believe in my heart for this to be true. Always remember the good times, their were many, always remember she loved you, she did, always remember that beautiful smile its in your heart beating. Remember that even though she is no longer physically with us she has never left you, she 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 Clover winking at you saying “Hey Mommy & Daddy don’t worry I am doing great, you taught me that” when you see a rainbow after a storm that is Clover 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 Clover telling you “Hey Mommy, Daddy don’t cry you gave me the best of everything, you gave me the best thing a little girl ever needed a family” celebrate her life for their is much for you to celebrate and know that one day you will see her again and what an occasion that will be. To Jack thank you for being the best and most loving Big Brother a little girl could have you were and will always be her best friend.

Clover Rosalie, 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 most of all love you. You taught us all about fighting and staying strong through your grace, dignity and courage and  I/we will honor your memory every day. Epilepsy will not win this battle and we know you will be guiding me and this foundation over the years so that we can continue to build the bridges within our community as we are all taking that walk across the “Bridge of Faith in order to reach and cross the Bridge of Hope to a cure”. God Bless You precious Clover.

This is a favorite song of mine sung by at the time an 8 year old Gospel Singer I hope it brings comfort. 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

From my family and our foundations family we want to extend our deepest condolences to the entire Dohman family during this most difficult of times. We love you and your in our thoughts and prayers as is Clover. 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.”

“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.

For More information on Dravet Syndrome please go to https://dravet.org/