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Guest Blog - Terri Saylor Wilson (aka. Aunt Terri)Terri Saylor (before she was Wilson) and I met at my first National Down Syndrome Congress convention. A group of us traveled to Memphis together for weekend in 1990. We became fast friends and have been through a lot together. (Some of which we wouldn't admit to anybody at this point. lol)
As we reach five months without Ethan, and those who love him prepare for yet another family holiday missing him, I'm humbled to be able to share some of Terri's memories with you. Thanks Terri T! We love you and we will ALWAYS Remember Ethan!
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My dear friend Stephanie, aka Walkersville Mom, asked me to do a guest blog on her page. After I finished laughing, I decided it was time for me to let you know about my wonderful nephew, Ethan Saylor, who died on January 12th.
If you are reading this, chances are that you already know the circumstances surrounding Ethan's death. Needless to say, my world changed that Sunday morning I talked to my Mom and she told me what happened.
Ethan was born to my brother Ron and sister-in-law Patti on January 9th, 1987 and was the first grandchild in our family. I was so excited to finally have a nephew and can remember that night at the hospital, when they told us that something was wrong with him and he was being sent to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In the days and weeks that followed, we learned that he had Down Syndrome, and spent several months in the NICU unit. I will never forget the first time I got to hold him, so tiny and fragile, so amazing and beautiful.
If you are reading this, chances are that you already know the circumstances surrounding Ethan's death. Needless to say, my world changed that Sunday morning I talked to my Mom and she told me what happened.
Ethan was born to my brother Ron and sister-in-law Patti on January 9th, 1987 and was the first grandchild in our family. I was so excited to finally have a nephew and can remember that night at the hospital, when they told us that something was wrong with him and he was being sent to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In the days and weeks that followed, we learned that he had Down Syndrome, and spent several months in the NICU unit. I will never forget the first time I got to hold him, so tiny and fragile, so amazing and beautiful.
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I was fortunate enough to live close to my family, and got to spend a lot of time with him in the early years. I loved taking him to the park, riding in the car going down hills, laughing and always, ALWAYS listening to music very loud! I remember one of his favorites from his younger days was Will Smith. I think I must have worn out that Men in Black song, playing it over and over for him. Another of our favorite activities was going to the local airport and watching the planes. One of my favorite pictures I have of Ethan, was when he was about 5 or 6 maybe, and standing in front of an airplane that was for sale. He was going to buy that airplane for me and the two of us were going to fly away in it!!! |
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Fast forward twenty years, to the adoption of my daughter. Macy and Ethan had such a special bond. He loved her as much as she loved him. They loved to go to Grandma and Granddad's house and spend time together. They always made each other laugh. One of Ethan's favorite tricks to play on Macy, and anyone else, was an old "Three Stooges" gag, where he would point and say "you have something on your shirt". Of course, when you looked down, his finger would come up and get you in the face! They loved that one!!!
To say that Ethan changed my life, would be an understatement. To explain to my children what happened that night at the movie theater would be devastating, and I hope that they never hear the terrible details. It's hard enough as a grown up trying to understand why things happened the way the did. I would implore you to please, please don't forget about Ethan! Continue doing the incredible things you have been doing for #Justice for Ethan! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Although I will never meet many of you, you have no idea how much your kind thoughts and actions have meant to my family.
Terri
To say that Ethan changed my life, would be an understatement. To explain to my children what happened that night at the movie theater would be devastating, and I hope that they never hear the terrible details. It's hard enough as a grown up trying to understand why things happened the way the did. I would implore you to please, please don't forget about Ethan! Continue doing the incredible things you have been doing for #Justice for Ethan! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Although I will never meet many of you, you have no idea how much your kind thoughts and actions have meant to my family.
Terri
Reminder: Seedlings For Justice
Terri and I are working together to set up the event for Father's Day. We would love it if you could join us and plant a tree, wherever you are, in Ethan's honor. If you are on Facebook, the event can be found here. If not, please send me an email with a picture of you and your tree along with a description of where the tree was planted. Thanks!
