Happy Birthday to my Baby in Heaven

It's the 10th year without your charming smile

It's the 10th year without your angelic scent

It's the 10th year without your tiny embrace

It's the 10th year with your guiding spirit

It's the 10th year with your spell-binding wisdom

It's the 10th year with your infinite love

And after 10 years, no rain fell upon your grave-site,

The sun shone

On this 10th year, the son rose again

Carlo is an author, motivational speaker, storyteller, singer/songwriter, dramatist, and more. She loves to inspire, motivate, and uplift! Become a member of the Semblance of a Footprint Infant Loss & Pregnancy Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252413869135003/

You may follow her on FB at @carlolchelledawson or connect on Twitter and Instagram @carlolchelle

And, did we mention that her weakness is a yummy donut or funnel cake, but she's being healthy so salads are her friends!

I wrote this poem two days ago, on December 22nd, in memory of the day my son was born and the day he died--December 22, 2006. Cade Dawson was a still-born baby, but he was "still born" and his life was not in vain.

As my family stood in front of our baby boy's grave, my husband said, "We didn't think we would survive, but we did." Indeed, we all survived. We survived individually. We survived as a couple when many do not. We survived as parents. We survived as a daughter and a son. Our family members stood by us. We survived and will continue to thrive. In honor of Cade Dawson, I say to you "Survive and Thrive". Live. Find Joy. After 10 years, I am so grateful that I am using my pain to help others dealing with loss through the strategies and scriptures found in my book "Semblance of a Footprint". I am grateful that over these 10 years, I have comforted families and mothers grieving loss one word at time, one scripture at a time, one prayer at a time. In the Bible, 10 represents completion. May you, grieving parents, be complete and whole, lacking nothing.

Happy Birthday, Cade Dawson. Indeed, you're 10!

*To purchase the book God gifted me to aid your healing process, "Semblance of a Footprint", visit carlolchelledawson.com.