Thinking

Thinking about Zachary isn't hard to do, figuring out what to do with all the emotions however is.  Grief is like waves sometimes the water is still and you can see the beautiful beach for miles then other times the current pulls you into deeper water where you can't catch your breath but are hit wave after wave after wave.   Sometimes you can see others on the beach and be fine till one little thing, thought, or person throws you into deep water.  Random things, thinking of Zachary and his sweet sweet smile or as odd as a band aid. Somedays my heart just hurts without a reason that can be figured out or explained. Other days I can be doing something and feel hugs from zach without a doubt I can feel him. Aden has a sweet sweet heart and I am convinced God blessed him with that heart to love zach deeper, however, we have seen that heart love on others and pray for things in ways that we didn't expect fom a 6 year old. As we get ready for him to complete kindergarten I realize this is on of the first milestones that zach will never have. Zach rode the bus, he went to school but he will never have another birthday, be invited to another birthday party, or attend much less gaduate from kindergarten. Sitting down to fill in invitations I realized how having a little brother like zach mattered to Aden. The things that Aden has done to reach out and love on others Zach touched us all.... It is hard cause we know we have people in our lives that don't know zach, they don't even know of him really. How hard is this? To have to explain that Aden has a brother, I'm not as blunt as aden who will flat out say, I have a brother who is in heaven, he died. I, however, am still struggling on how to answer questions. People can tell me all day LONG answer this way but nothing has settled in my heart as the right answer. So sitting here thinking of zachary isn't hard to do

out

I’m out of words… plain and simple

I am feeling very blessed; good family and good friends around me.

I am feeling amazed to see what God is doing… new friends who aren’t only amazing but get me, who don’t run and hide in a dark room unless I am there and they are joining me.  Friends who have allowed me to fall asleep on them while texting or im’ing (no idea how to write that word).  Friends who have been bold enough to share about themselves to let me know that I am so not alone.   

I am feeling a tad overwhelmed and clueless.  This is for several things but I just realized that I am not I a position where I have friends that never knew Zach, not just that they never met him but they don’t know that I have 2 children.  Friends that think that Aden is an only child, almost like Zach was a figment of my imagination which is very hard for me to process how to tell them that Aden had a younger brother. 

Which puts me to Remembering Zachary… To clarify and to make more sense…

I would like to collect items for my immediate family to take, so if you get us the items, Gift cards or whatever we will plan to take them.  I have a list of low energy items that the children and their families will be able to enjoy.  These items will be given to a child or family member (sibling or parent).

·        Markers

·        Playdough

·        Stickers

·        Construction paper

·        Legos

·        Cars like hotwheels

·        Notebooks

·        Crayons

·        Small bags (like tote bags)

·        I tune gift cards

·        Movies (DVDs rated PG13 and lower)

·        Glue

·        Games for all ages

·        Paint

·        Bags of snacks for parents

·        Color wonder sets

·        Colorful pillowcases

·        Mini Buddy Friends (Please contact them at: myminibuddy@gmail.com. You can donate to them through paypal myminibuddy@gmail.com Any amount of money will help, I am not sure how much it costs but including shipping is probably close to 30 dollars.  They will make them and send them to me so I can take them Please make sure to let them know you are donating in Zachary Moody’s honor)

Steps, baby steps

Steps, even baby steps are important. As I am answering all sorts if questions about Remembering Zachary, I'm reminded of how much I am not pepared for. I have new people in my life that never good to meet him but zach has impacted their life as well. I'm forever going to be a different person. Praying for the hurt that is so deep that people are Afraid to admit.

I have learned depression and anxiety are misunderstood.
I have learned heart conditions suck, well, they do no matter the age, you can't live without you heart.
I have learn families are put in positions that others don't understand.
I have learned words are empty no matter who they come from if they are not backed up.
I have learned it is possible to hurt so badly because of a life situation that breathing hurts.
I have learned texting the pastor at 3:30am multiple Sundays in a row will get you to be an example from the pulpit.
I have learned sometimes you need people and they cant be there for you.
I have learned sometimes you cant be there when you are needed.
I have learned that caring if often all you can do when watching a friend hurt.
I have learned listening is extremely important.
I have learned death changes you.
I don't want zach to be Forgotten, there is still days of lts of pain but I'm here thinking and praying for my friends

In Honor... with changing and new info

It’s been a few days and I am just now sitting down to do this…. This morning marked 10 months and I am reminded that this is new to use and that we are walking in territory that we have never been in before. I could write for a long time about the pain, hurt, mad, sadness etc my heart is feeling but instead I would like t take a second to let you know something that we have planned.

Zachary was often a patient at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. He was a patient in the ICU and the TICU for the last year of his life. As we were there we learned the things that they do to try to make the child’s life and the parents live easier and Zach often got his favorite things from child life. He often got stickers, markers, and playdough.

The Moody Family will be asking that you consider helping us collect items to take up to the hospital, Zach still has many friends that come and go from the ICU/TICU and many that need to have a smile brought to their face. If you knew Zach you knew that he was a happy and loving child and would often share his happiness to others. We hope to present these items to the Child Life specialist that was Zach’s favorite and we have gotten a list from her of items that they are in need of and added some more things to it. We are hoping to go up to Scottish on July 2^nd which would have been Zach’s 5^th birthday to share his love and memory. I will be starting a facebook group and will be posting more details there. I will be happy to answer questions. If you live farther away and would like to donate a giftcard I will be happy to go and get things for you. If you have a child that visits another hospital and you want to donate there please feel free just take a picture of yall doing it. My goal is to put this all in a book to remember

To Touch and Make their illnesses a tad easier for the anniversary of his passing we want his memory to live on through donations of the following items to be donated at Scottish Rite (TICU/PICU) in honor of Zachary.

·        Markers

·        Construction paper

·        Glue

·        Foam

·        Stickers

·        Playdough

·        I tunes gift card

·        notebooks

·        Bags with snacks for parents

·        Crayons

·        Color wonder set

·        Cars

·        Games for all ages

If there are other items please feel free, anything that your child likes that can bring a smile, remember these children may be confined to the bed.

In honor of Buddy Zach’s friend for life.. There is a group online that is making them with build a bear animals.  It isn’t buddy but for another child it would be a friend going through the same thing. We would like to help other families through this as well.

Please contact them at: myminibuddy@gmail.com.  You can donate to them through paypal myminibuddy@gmail.com Any amount of money will help, I am not sure how much it costs but including shipping is probably close to 30 dollars.

Please make sure to let them know you are donating in Zachary Moody’s honor.  We want to try to get a picture of all of them to save.

My contact information will be given by email:

skippyjas@gmail.com

In honor....

It’s been a few days and I am just now sitting down to do this…. This morning marked 10 months and I am reminded that this is new to use and that we are walking in territory that we have never been in before.  I could write for a long time about the pain, hurt, mad, sadness etc my heart is feeling but instead I would like t take a second to let you know something that we have planned.

Zachary was often a patient at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.  He was a patient in the ICU and the TICU for the last year of his life.  As we were there we learned the things that they do to try to make the child’s life and the parents live easier and Zach often got his favorite things from child life.  He often got stickers, markers, and playdough. 

The Moody Family will be asking that you consider helping us collect items to take up to the hospital, Zach still has many friends that come and go from the ICU/TICU and many that need to have a smile brought to their face.  If you knew Zach you knew that he was a happy and loving child and would often share his happiness to others.  We hope to present these items to the Child Life specialist that was Zach’s favorite and we have gotten a list from her of items that they are in need of and added some more things to it.  We are hoping to go up to Scottish on July 2^nd which would have been Zach’s 5^th birthday to share his love and memory.  I will be starting a facebook group and will be posting more details there.   I will be happy to answer questions.  If you live farther away and would like to donate a giftcard I will be happy to go and get things for you.  If you have a child that visits another hospital and you want to donate there please feel free just take a picture of yall doing it.  My goal is to put this all in a book to remember

   

To Touch and Make their illnesses a tad easier for the anniversary of his passing we want his memory to live on through donations of the following items to be donated at Scottish Rite (TICU/PICU) in honor of Zachary.

·       Markers

·       Construction paper

·       Glue

·       Foam Stickers

·       Stickers

·       Playdough

·       I tunes gift card

·       notebooks

·       Bags with snacks for parents

·       Crayons

·       Color wonder sets

·       Cars

If there are other items please feel free, anything that your child likes that can bring a smile