†Ethan's House†
Our Angel.....
Zachary Arron
03-09-88 to 07-09-97
Zachary was a very outgoing little boy. He loved to be with people and to share and just be loved. He was partially paralyzed from a stroke when he was six and could hardly walk, but he loved to try to run after the kids and chase them like he was a monster. He would just giggle and laugh. The morning before he died he kept holding and kissing my hand and saying "I love you mommy, I love you". He hugged me with both of his arms which he could never do before and said" I love you mommy, alot". He was always very loving. He was a typical little boy when it came to liking bugs and stuff; he use to chase his sister around with worms and she would just scream!!!
Zachary was born with only a single ventricle in his heart. He was never suppose to live past the age of 6 months, but lived to be 9. He is a miracle child from what the doctors told us. He was scheduled to go in for his 6th open heart surgery on 7-9-97. This surgery was to be the easiest one yet, with only a small piece of muscle to be removed and a new pace maker. The surgery was to only be 4-6 hours instead of 12-14 like the rest. About 8 hours into the surgery they told us that Zach was not doing well. I had to make the decision to take Zach off of the life support machine and he was pronounced dead at 11:37 p.m on 7-9-97 due to cardiac arrest.
I have learned to live for today. I will never ever take anything or anybody for granted ever again. I really regret alot of the things I put off doing with my son. I dont do that anymore. I have learned that love is more valuable then gold! I cant bring him back but he will live forever in my heart. You cant take life for granted for if you do you will never be able to get back what you have lost.
Zach's death has really brought my husband (Zachs step dad) and I alot closer together. We spend more time together with our daughter and we have become a real family. We are really trying to get on and make life work for us. Sometimes we can barely breathe and other days we can actually laugh. I do not expect to ever be okay with this but I know that I can and will someday go on. Zachs sister is not doing well. She is in kindergarten this year and they want to hold her back and get her special counseling due to the grief of losing her brother.
I try not to dwell on the day as a bad thing and remember all the good ones we had together. On Zach's tenth birthday we had a big party and let balloons go and had family and friends here with us. We also decorated the tree near his grave with Easter decorations. These days are tough but I celebrate them for Zach instead of for me and that makes it easier.
To other parents I would say please don't expect to much of yourself too soon. Dont expect for the days to always be sunny as they are not and even when they are you still have tears. Accept the tears and let them flow they are a big part of the healing process.
Copyright 1997-2000 Ethans House,
Inc.
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