This memorial website was created 
in loving memory of our beloved baby,
Elijah Romari Boone 
who was born on September 09, 2003 and 
passed away suddenly in his sleep on May 3, 2005 
at the tender age of 
1 year 7 months and 24 days.




We will remember you forever and for always for you are 
The Light and Love of Our Lives.





If we could have a lifetime wish
A dream that would come true,
We'd pray to God with all our hearts
For yesterday and You.
A thousand words can't bring you back
We know because we've tried...
Neither will a thousand tears
We know because we've cried...
You left behind our broken hearts
And happy memories too...
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted You. 

~~~~Author Unknown~~~~ 



'Say not in grief 'he is no more' but live in thankfulness that he was'
~Hebrew proverb~




  

I know I will hold my baby Elijah again and kiss those sweet cheeks of his again one day...a day I look forward to.

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."

Revelation 21:4



"...A perfect life was his, all joy and love, with tears to make it brighter--
sweet as summer's day beside the Housatonic.  The world loved him; the
women kissed his curls, the men looked gravely into his wonderful eyes,
and the children hovered and fluttered about him.  I can see him now,
changing like the sky from sparkling laughter to darkening frowns, and
then to wonderful thoughtfulness as he watched the world.

"...Blithe was the morning of his burial, with bird and song and sweet-
smelling flowers.  The trees whispered to the grass, but the children sat
with hushed faces.  And yet it seemed a ghostly, unreal day--the wraith of
 life."



-W.E.B. Du Bois
on the loss of his son Burghardt Gomer Du Bois
1897-1899



My breath
             died
                                                       ....with yours!
My heart
stopped
                                                    ....with yours!
My life
ended
                                        with yours!

Nothing is left to me!
except the Love
                                     you brought.

....Always, always,
...I shall have
your Love!



-Joan Walsh Anglund,
in memory of Todd Emerson Anglund, 1954-1992



THERE IS NO PAIN GREATER THAN THE DEATH OF A CHILD...

My 19 m/o baby Elijah passed away on Tuesday morning, May 3rd 2005. He would have turned 20 months that following Monday. We've already held his funeral (the day before Mother's Day) but the cause of death is still unknown.  

Monday May 2, 2005, Elijah woke with a fever. I let him sleep after breakfast and when he woke for lunch I gave him a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and Tylenol chewable tabs. He laid down for his mid-afternoon nap on our couch in the den. I walked into the den an hour later and saw him sitting up looking at TV; he looked better, but even when he was sick he was always smiling and playful. When my older two boys got home from school we went to the grocery store so that I could make something for dinner that night. After dinner I sat at my computer and my oldest son Roshan asked if I could play his favorite song "Numb (Encore)", and so I did. All three of them...Roshan 9....Lorenzo 4....and Elijah 19 mos were dancing all around me as I watched. Elijah no longer had a fever and I even made a point of saying "My baby's not sick anymore" and picked him up and hugged and kissed him. My husband came around the corner from the kitchen, smiling at the site of Elijah dancing because I had mentioned to him earlier that Elijah had a fever. After the kids were done dancing and playing I brought them all upstairs. I laid Elijah on my bed so that he could fall asleep. I sat on our futon folding the rest of the laundry and watched as he fell asleep. All the while my husband was in the shower. When I finished with the clothes...I grabbed Elijah and picked him up off of my bed, and at that time my husband came out of the shower and saw me carrying Elijah out of our room. He was sleeping but he still was peeking out of his right eye at me and I just smiled. I kept kissing him and smelling his sweet cheeks before I laid him in his playpen...not knowing that it was going to be the last time I would see my baby alive. 

  No farewell words were spoken,
no time to say goodbye, you were
gone before we knew it, and only
God knows why.  

My husband woke me up the next morning as it was routine for us all to get up around 5 a.m. to take him to work. He usually gets the older two boys and I get Elijah, but I just could not get up that morning. My husband then woke me up and told me to look at Elijah. I got up from bed and walked out of our room into the hallway and saw my husband sitting at the top of the steps with his face in his hands, telling me to look at Elijah. My heart was beating really fast and I was afraid of what I was going to see because if it wasn't of anything to worry about my husband would've had Elijah in his arms as he had just left from the kids' room. I could feel in my heart that something was terribly wrong but to what extent I wasn't sure. I walked into the kids' room and over to Elijah's playpen. Elijah was lying on his stomach with his face down in the pillow. I leaned over to pick up Elijah from his playpen and he was already stiff. I turned him over and death was staring at me in the face. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life, and for that moment my heart just stopped. I didn't even feel as if that was my Elijah I was holding. I had to put him down quick and run to the phone. I called 911 and paramedics, police officers and even the fire department showed up at my house that morning. The operator tried to tell me to do CPR on my baby but I just kept crying and yelling that I couldn't even look at my baby...that I couldn't even hold my baby. The paramedics all went up into the room and I know they were doing what they could to resuscitate Elijah but I already knew in my heart that my baby was gone.



If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever

Any words of comfort are welcomed and appreciated for this is what we need during this difficult time in our lives.

Weeping may endure in the night
But joy cometh in the morning.

--Psalms 30:6

That morning has not come yet for me...never will, until I have my Lijah with me again.

My Little Sunshine!!!

You are my sunshine
My little sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away

The other night, dear, 
While I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
So I hung my head and cried. 

*Picture courtesy of Diane

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO OUR BABY BOY
 

When we hear a baby laugh, it is the loveliest thing that can happen to us.

- Sigmund Freud

My darling Elijah you will forever be in our hearts and I love you more than words can say.  You are my sunshine and you make me happy.  Thank you for leaving us with so many memories that I've taken for granted.  I'm glad you broke the lamp in the den, tore the wallpaper off the kitchen wall, pulled the lenoleum tile from the floor and the ceramic tile from the bathroom, and pulled off the handle on mommy and daddy's dresser, and continuously pulled the curtain from our room down, always sat at my computer and turned the monitor and the clock radio on, shutting every single door that was left open, pressing whatever it was that had buttons.  I miss cleaning and you standing there in awe.  I still have your little vacuum and little broom, your sippy cups I had just bought because you threw away all your other ones without me knowing.  We still have your toys that play music and they got on my nerves before, but now I'm so thankful you played with them as much as you did because now when I hear the tunes I simply think of my baby.  I still have the sweat jacket you wore the day before you passed away and it smells just like you.  Your only two words were "Daddy" and you had just learned to say "Nigh-Nigh" (night-night), although you would carry on a conversation with a bunch of gibberish as if you knew we understood what you were saying.  I miss braiding your hair and brushing your hair, especially whenever I took your braids out and you'd have this big bush sitting on the top of your head that swayed with every movement you made and everytime you waddled around the house.  The expressions you used to make are still fresh in my mind and I smile at the thought of them.  I miss you Elijah and You will forever be in my heart.  Daddy gave you both of your blue trucks that you loved to carry around so much; he placed one in each hand.  I cannot wait until we are reunited with each other so that I can see you wearing the shoes I bought to go with the white suit you wore the day we said good-bye. 

Mahal Kita Elijah
(I Love You Elijah)

~Grief is the price we pay for love~











Your life will be celebrated for as long as I live...This is My Promise to You My Darling Elijah!!!

*Courtesy of Alma Mills



I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too,
I think of you in silence I often speak your name
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame
Your memory is my keepsake with which I’ll never part
God has you in His memory, I have you in my heart.

~Author Unknown~







What is overpowering is simply the fact that a baby is life.  It is also a mess, but such an appealing one that we look past the mess to the jewel underneath.

- Bill Cosby, Fatherhood





But grief still has to be worked through.  It is like walking through water.  Sometimes there is an enormous breaker that knocks me down.  Sometimes there is a sudden and fierce squall.  But I know that many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.

-Madeleine L'Engle, Two-Part Invention






TO OUR VISITORS:


Dear Lord, thank You so much for my baby's smiles.
His laughter fills me with joy.  He is so precious to me, God.
I don't have enough words to express my love and gratitude.  All I can say is thank You.



For the kindhearted visitors to this site that we've never met  A special Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to all that have lit a candle in memory of Elijah and have left their condolences.  It just goes to show how thoughtful and supportive people can be at a time like this. Your words mean more to us than anything because you've taken the time to offer your condolence to a complete stranger and that is very thoughtful of you.  Your words of comfort brings us a step forward  to being at peace during this tragic and difficult time in our lives and are greatly appreciated.  Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers and thank you again for your thoughtfulness and compassion.  You would have enjoyed Elijah's company.

The best and most beautiful
Things in the world cannot
Be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart. 

~Helen Keller ~

********************************

For the mothers that have lost a baby...please do not hesitate to e-mail me as that is what I need right now, and I'm sure you need as well.   You are the only ones that truly understand the greatness of this pain I am feeling and we can comfort each other and try to ease each other's sorrow.  Please feel free to insert your child's name in your message/tribute so that they can be prayed for and acknowledged as well.

There is no difference in the faces of bereaved mothers. 
-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin,
in a speech on the White House lawn, 1994

If you would like to share with other mothers in your grief please join the following group for grieving mothers.


http://groups.google.com/group/grievingmoms



********************************

For friends and family that have left a message expressing their sympathy and those that lit a candle in Elijah's memory,  we also Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.  We love you all and the support you have given us is overwhelming and we are grateful.  You seem to take situations and even people for granted but when something like this happens you stop to think about the little things because you never know what will happen tomorrow.  We love you all and appreciate your words of wisdom, comfort, sympathy, and encouragement.  You all have helped make us a stronger couple for our other two sons.  Your support and love is our foundation...and that is what is holding us strongly together.  We appreciate every single one of you and love you with all our hearts.

Maria & Rodney




We would like to give a special personal thank-you to all that have supported us the first couple of days following this tragedy.  You have all helped in many ways and we appreciate your being there in our time of need.  We cannot thank you enough and...
We Love Each and Every One of You:



Family

Lito & Mila Javier, grandfather & step-grandmother

Luis Javier "JR", uncle

Joshua Javier, uncle

Celerina & Domingo Javier, great-grandmother & great-grandfather

Emalyn & Neil Datu, great-aunt and uncle

Danilo & Emily Javier, great-uncle and aunt

Virgilio & Alma Javier, great-uncle and aunt

Grandma Remy, great-great aunt

Emy Genuino, uncle

Cora Wilson, aunt



Emma & Larry Mason, aunt & uncle

Grace Boone, aunt

Francene McKinnis, aunt

Scylene Shelton, aunt

Linda Faulkins, aunt

Robbernette  & Derek Brumfield, aunt & uncle

Tonya McKinnis & "R" Christie, cousin

Derrick Mason & Dendy Fowler, cousin

Jennifer Faulkins, cousin

James Faulkins, cousin

Lamont "Chief" McKinnis, cousin

Friends

Ronald De Leon

Victoria De Leon

Robie Ronase

Joann Edwards

Juliet Sawi

Virginia Sawi

Kimberly Cannon

*********************************************

A special thanks to the kids/teens for helping keep Roshan & Lorenzo busy...we are just as grateful for your company... 

Jumilyn, Dallas, Courtney, Trevonte, Krysta, Destinee, Jannelle & "JJ", Anthony, Abbeygayle, Neilson & Emilio

*********************************************

A special thanks to Officer Doug Twiddy, Chaplain, for just caring during this time in our lives.





"Someday, mommy, we will hold each other tight! Then you will cradle me in your arms, and stroke my hair...and once again, our hearts will beat together." 

- Linda DeYmaz, "Mommy Please Don't Cry"


Floral Tributes



Thanks to Fran (Elijah's aunt) for the beautiful vase & plant.  I've gotten 5 different plants from it and will take great care of them.  Thanks again Fran.

Thanks to Sheri Mathis & the Staff of Kellum Funeral Home for the carnations and vase...how thoughtful.

Thanks to Ms. Yusko (Roshan's teacher) & class for the Peace Lilly.  It is growing healthy and I am doing my best to care for it.

Thanks to Ms. Mills (Lorenzo's teacher) for the fruit basket.  That was very thoughtful of you.

Thanks to Amanda, Felice, Loretta, and Diane for sending me that beautiful dish garden.  What a wonderful and thoughtful surprise!!!

*******************************************

A Special Thank You for all the contributions we received from the kind people at:

Mitsubishi Chemical of America
Yupo Corporation
Gordon Paper, Co
HiPage
&
Modern Environment

And Thank You all for those that have sent us their condolences through cards and have given monetary contributions...how very thoughtful and compassionate of you all.  We appreciate all those who attended Elijah's viewing and funeral, thanks for your support during our time of need.  Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.




Grief is in itself a medicine.

-William Cowper, "Charity"


To Dad & Mila,

I want to thank you both especially for all that you have done. I cannot express how much we appreciate all of your help. I am so glad dad that you were there and don't know what I would do without you. Rodney, me, and the kids are forever endebted to you. We love you so very, very much!!!!

Love,

Rodney, Jing², Roshan, & Lorenzo


Dearest Mom,

 

I know you couldn't be here and you tried your best.  Maybe it was better that you were visiting the Philippines when this happened because you may not have taken seeing Elijah in his state very well.  I know how close you are to Elijah and at times he preferred you over me.  Please don't feel any regrets for not being here because he will always be in your heart and I know he loves you and you love him just as much, if not more.

When we talked on the phone you asked what he was wearing the day of his funeral.  I told you "a white suit" and afterwards you told me that as you were talking to grandma Simplicia there was this white butterfly that flew all around you and you said to grandma..."That's Bolingling".  He will always be your Bolingling and will always be in your heart.  I love you mom.

Love,
Jing²


"Love Lives On Forever in the Heart"




Love lives on forever
in each memory and thought
Of the special ones who meant so much
and the happiness they brought.







Love lives on forever--
it will never fade away--
For, in our hearts, our loved ones
are with us every day.



-Author Unknown


Did someone say there would be an end--an end, oh, an end, to love and mourning?
What has been once so interwoven cannot be raveled, nor the grief ungiven.

-May Sarton, "All Souls"


Maria & Rodney
Proud Parents of ...

Elijah Romari Boone
Sunrise:  September 9, 2003
Sunset:  May 3, 2005



The Light and Love of Our Lives Forever and For Always



You will forever be in our hearts



Mommy loves you "Lijah"
Daddy loves and misses you "Sneeky"

You Will Live On Through Your Brothers

Roshan M. Boone             Lorenzo J. Boone

                            

All of these children have memorial sites, please pay tribute to them and leave a kind word or two for their families or light a candle.  They each have their own stories. They are not just a name...they are not just a face...THEY ARE LIFE.  These children, including Elijah, deserve to be remembered.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these...."
                                                      Mark 10:14


 Sarah Faith Schmidt
March 28, 2003 - June 30, 2005
http://sarahfaithourangel.memory-of.com


Elijah Logan Merritt
April 6, 2005 – April 6, 2005
http://elijah-merritt.memory-of.com


Kiah Grace Boutte
March 11, 2002 – November 30, 2004
http://ourangelkiah.memory-of.com


Preston Jack Drummond
August 4, 2003 – May 23, 2005
http://preston-drummond.memory-of.com


Caylee Marie Cepero
September 3, 2000 – March 8, 2005
http://cayleecepero.memory-of.com
In her memory, her mother Dawn fights a cause--Leukemia, please visit the following site:
http://www.cayleeshope.com


Freya Rose Barstow
September 3, 2003 – April 16, 2005
http://freyabarstow.memory-of.com


Nathan Alexander Montalvo, Jr.
February 10, 2005 – February 10, 2005
http://nathan-montalvo.memory-of.com


Hope Labato
August 17, 2003 – June 19, 2005
http://hope-labato.memory-of.com


Madison Emily Perry
December 15, 2004 – February 26, 2005
http://madison-perry.memory-of.com


Nicole Kathryn Kenney
April 19, 2004 – May 26, 2005 
http://nicole-kenney.memory-of.com


Emily Rose Majka
April 20, 2005 – April 20, 2005
http://emily-majka.memory-of.com


Jaidan L. Swanson
February 8, 2003 - April 6, 2005
http://jaidan-swanson.memory-of.com


Isiah Lee Caleb  Jeffers
April 3, 2004 – June 19, 2005
http://isiah-ike.memory-of.com


Eric Robert Contreras, Jr.
March 9, 2004 – June 18, 2005
http://eric-contreras-jr.memory-of.com

Alexis April Treece
February 28, 2005 – February 27, 2005
http://alexis-treece.memory-of.com


Izaiah Lee Anthony Fair
February 16, 2003 - May 13, 2005
http://izaiah-fair.memory-of.com


Samuel Thomas Keen
November 15, 2003 - June 27, 2005
http://samuel-thomas.memory-of.com


Jose Javier Hernandez, Jr.
October 24, 2002 – October 24, 2002
www.babyjavi.memory-of.com


Jada Denae Evans
November 9, 2003 – January 2, 2005
http://jada-evans.memory-of.com


Melissa Carlie Adams
June 15, 2005 – June 16, 2005
http://melissa-carlie-adams.memory-of.com

Jameson Leigh Adams
October 14, 2006 - October 16, 2006
www.jameson-leigh-adams.memory-of.com


Brooke Nicole Aguilera
September 9, 1996 – April 3, 2005
http://brooke-aguilera.memory-of.com


DamionTate Bonneville
July 3, 2005 - July 3, 2005
http://angeldamion.tripod.com/


Silas James Wofford
December 21, 2001 - May 14, 2004
http://silas-james-wofford.memory-of.com


Angel Mills
January 7, 2005 - January 7, 2005
http://www.angel-mills.memory-of.com


Autumn Makenzy Jackson
November 6, 2001 – January 18, 2001
http://www.geocities.com/autumnandbrismommy/


Kylie Ann Ginn
April 1, 2004 – May 6, 2005
http://kylie-ann-ginn.memory-of.com


Charlotte Rose Bates
April 25, 2005 – May 26, 2005
Christian Bates 
September 21, 2005
http://charlotterosebates.memory-of.com



*If you would like me to add your baby/child, please e-mail me a picture and link to your memorial site *

Winter is come and gone,
But grief returns with the revolving year.

-Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Adonais"

Bereaved Parents Wish List 



 I wish my child hadn't died. I wish  I had him back.

I wish you wouldn't be afraid to speak my child's name. My child
lived and was very important to me. I need to hear that he was
important to you also.

If I cry and get emotional when you talk about my child, I wish you
knew that it isn't because you have hurt me. My child's death is the
cause of my tears. You have talked about my child and you have
allowed me to share my grief. I thank you for both.

Being a bereaved parent is not contagious, so I wish you wouldn't
shy away from me. I need you now more than ever.

I need diversions, so I do want to hear about you, but I also want
you to hear about me. I might be sad and I might cry, but I wish you
would let me talk about my child; my favorite topic of the day.

I know that you think of and pray for me often. I also know that my
child's death pains you too. I wish you would let me know these
things through a phone call, a card or note, or a real big hug.

I wish you wouldn't expect my grief to be over. These first years
are traumatic for me, but I wish you could understand that my grief
will never be over. I will suffer the death of my child until the day
I die.

I am working hard in my recovery, but I wish you could understand
that I will never fully recover. I will always miss my child and I
will always grieve that he is dead.

I wish you wouldn't expect me "not to think about it" or "be
happy". Neither will happen for a very long time, so don't frustrate
yourself.

I don't want to have a "Pity party", but I do wish you would let me
grieve. I must hurt before I can heal.

I wish you understood how my life has shattered. I know it is
miserable for you to be around me when I'm feeling miserable. Please
be as patient with me as I am with you.

When I say, "I'm doing okay", I wish you could understand that I
don't "feel" okay and that I struggle daily.

I wish you knew that all of the grief reactions I'm having are very
normal. Depression, anger, hopelessness and overwhelming sadness are
all to be expected. So please excuse me when I'm quiet and withdrawn
or irritable and cranky.

Your advice to "take it one day at a time" is excellent advice.
However, a day is too much and too fast for me right now. I wish you
could understand that I'm doing good to handle an hour at a time.

Please excuse me if I seem rude, certainly not my intent. Sometimes
the world around me goes too fast and I need to get off. When I walk
away, I wish you would let me find a quiet place to spend time alone.

I wish you understood that grief changes people. When my child died,
a big part of me died with him. I am not the same person I was
before my child died and I will never be that person again.

I wish very much that you could understand ~ understand my loss and
my grief. But, I pray daily that you will never understand.



--Poem from  Compassionate Friends.





*Picture courtesy of Diane



Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

-Helen Keller




Thank you for taking the time to visit Elijah's tribute honoring his life and memory.  Please, take the time to also light a candle in his memory before you leave.
Thank you.



I have also created a couple videos, one for raising awareness on SUDC and the other is a memorial tribute honoring Elijah's life and why he will be missed so very, very much.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3WDZyV-56Sw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gbzYZZHk2fc


Graphics credited to the following:   


    http://home.att.net/~scorh/Animations.html


http://www.butterflywebsite.com/index.