My baby boy,

I thought of you today at Aldi. I was putting my shopping cart back and saw an orange butterfly stuck back behind the glass. It couldn’t seem to find its way out, so I caught it and let it go outside of the cart stall.

I got a message the other day from someone on my Facebook, but only read half of it and then had to stop. I finished it today and finally replied back. The person had an incident where they were hyper vigilant at a family gathering and ended up noticing and saving their nephew from drowning. They said the letters to you helped raise awareness and you in turn helped their nephew.

I was overwhelmed and so thankful at the same time. I’m never able to see all the people you and your story actually reach and what positive things come from our horrible loss. You’re still changing lives, my sweet boy. You’re still continuing on.

I saw a little boy in Target yesterday that reminded me of you. He didn’t look like you or anything, but he had a Lightning McQueen jacket on. You loved the Cars movies when you were a toddler and at one point wanted to be both McQueen and Jackson Storm when you grew up. He was getting two Toy Story toys and that reminded me of the time we went to the Disney Store at the South Hills Mall.

Do you remember that store? You guys loved it, but I swear you enjoyed it mostly because you got something every time we came to Pittsburgh to visit and went into the store. Well the one time we went there and you chose to get the Emperor Zurg toy. However, you were extremely disappointment once we got back to Gma’s house, we opened the toy, and you discovered that he didn’t actually shoot balls out. Apparently that was the number one reason you chose him.

I love you more than anything, my baby boy. Goodnight and sweet dreams.