Remembering Marcelle

 

In the first week of David's life I was unable to be at his bedside because I was confined to my own hospital bed. And Rob needed to be at work. So we asked my mother-in-law, Marcelle, to sit with David during the day. She willingly accepted. It meant a lot to us that our baby not be alone at this time. He had an angel at his side―even his loving grandmother.

In that first week David rarely opened his eyes and barely moved. His little body was recovering from the trauma of his birth and had been heavily sedated with seizure medication. Even though there was little opportunity to interact with him, Marcelle remained at his bedside. Hour after hour.

Sometimes she'd talk to him. Calling him "little prince", she told him about all the people who loved him. Other times she just sat quietly while he slept. Undoubtedly his recovery was aided by the influence of her strong spirit and great love.

As she spent long hours sitting at his side, lending her strength, we couldn't have imagined the pending fragility of her own mortality. Six months later she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.

A few months after David's first birthday Marcelle passed away. Her passing made the time she spent with him even sweeter. 

With the simple gift of her time she left a legacy of her love for him.