[Mom2ddb]

Thank you to Shellysarita for posting of our loss of our precious little boy, Blake. I have kept in touch with many Adoption.com friends, but I never got around to posting on here. Reading Shelly's post reminded me that there were MANY people here who prayed for us and especially for Blake. I am VERY thankful for your prayers.

Here is a message I sent out right after Blake passed.

With great saddness I tell you our precious Blake passed away at 9:30 am Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006. He fought so hard for so long, but he was tired and we needed to let him go. Blake made all the decisions just as we prayed he would. Blake's Co2 levels had gotten very high and he was having difficulty breathing. This was caused over time by Blake taking shallow breathes. We spent four days in the hospital with Blake praying, crying, making creative keepsakes, taking many photos and MOSTLY SNUGGLING my precious little boy. Blake even rallied on Wednesday and we thought we might be able to bring him home. Greg,myself, Daniel and Drew were all holding him as we ushered him into Heaven. He went so peacefully just as we had hoped. He is such a brave little boy and we miss him immensensely. Brielle was with a friend and we had her come up afterwards to say her good-byes to Blake.
Blake fought his VGM much longer than the doctors thought he would. He was an amazing little boy who is loved so deeply by many, many people.


Blake also as an online memorial with his life story and pictures that can be viewed at On-line Obituary For Blake Ehli Stuesse

Blake's services were very nice. On Saturday we invited about 35 friends and family to go up to a river near our home. It was a beautiful day. We said a few prayers, my brother sang a song that he had written for my dad when he passed away almost 14 years ago and we spread some of Blake's ashes in the river. Everyone threw a flower in the river and then we all waved up to the sky at Blake because that is how I see him. It was terribly sad, but also very beautiful. The river is special to us because it is the same place where 9 1/2 years ago we had a memorial service for our baby Erin who we lost half way through my pregnancy with her.

We were touched by how many people came to Blake's Celebration of Life service on Sunday. There were 350+ people there. It's hard to describe, but I know that Blake was honored on that day. We loved sharing his pictures, video and stories of his life. Many people shared about Blake and our children's pastor read a letter I had written to Blake.

After the service we let 100 balloons go up to Heaven with messages for Blake. It was another beautiful sunny day and a very touching moment watching all the balloons float up to Heaven. We all waved again to our sweet Blake. Tears...


As you can imagine it has been a very difficult 6 months without our precious Blake. We all miss him deeply. We have been doing things to keep him alive in our hearts like create a special Blake garden with a tree that was given by many of my adoption friends. I am also making photo bracelets for other moms of children who are terminally ill. These bracelets are given to the moms when they have their photographs taken by a non-profit called Soulumination. Blake is funding the bracelets thru his savings account and it is a blessing to be able to give to others in Blake's name. Soulumination
I'm attaching a few photos that were taken just a few weeks before Blake entered into Heaven.

Brielle has been home with us for one year and brings us a lot of joy. I'll attach a couple of recent photos of her.

I realize this got a little long. Thanks for your prayers and support.

[becky716]

Thank you for sharing Blake's story. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

[StefB]

Thinking of you and your family today.

Stefanie

[auntiepippi]

I am sorry for your enormous loss. Blake sounds like such an amazing child. Your beautiful family is in my prayers. I am sure you will be an inspiration to so many others in the years to come...

[scottskaggs]

Wow! What a beautiful story, you can tell that Blake has and continues to touch the lives of many. I will pray that your family may be comforted. Brielle is so beautiful also.
Kadee

[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

I am in tears!! How sweet and sad! Those pictures are pricesless! But I am sure knowing that your boy is with Jesus is all so comforting to you that he is in no more pain! My heart is sent out to your family!
Wow your baby girl has really grown up too!

[ourjourneytwo]

You and your family are in my prayers.

[mommywannabee]

I am so sorry for your loss. I can tell from reading your story that your faith is strong. This is what's getting you through this time I'm sure. The Lord provides perfect peace for His children and you will see your little boy again one day. It's what got me through my mom's death in 2004...faith in knowing we will be reunited again - her death wasn't the end - and it wasn't the end for Blake either. Life goes on for believers...all things on earth will pass away, but we will spend eternity with our loved ones who believe...

Thank you for sharing your precious story...

[candkss]

Thank you so much for sharing this story with us. I must have missed the post about little Blake passing. I was thinkin g of your family a few days ago...I loved your pics that you took in Hawaii and I had saved your announcement in my pictures on my computer and came across it this week. I wondered how Blake was doing...so I pretty much was boo hooing reading this. I know these last six months must have been so hard. Your family will be in our prayers...thank you so much for sharing the pictures...Hugs Candy and Kya Blu

[bamagirl]

Oh my heart - I am so choked up and my heart just aches for you! What a wonderful thing you are doing in Blake's memory!!

[redru2004]

I am so sorry for you're tremendous loss and you and you're family continue to be in my daily thoughts and prayers.

[wvamom]

Denise,

Brielle is so beautiful! I'm so glad to see new pics of her.

I was so sorry to hear about Blake from Shelly. I have been thinking about you all. He was such a wonderful child, and a blessing and a growing experience for all of us who came into contact with him. I can tell from your pics just how much your other children loved him, as well.

You are in my prayers.
Carolyn

[rapf777]

OMG the pictures are absolutly precious. I love the one where she is hugging her brother. It brought tears to my eyes. Your precious son was born the same day I was and I am honored to be sharing the same birth date with this precious angel.

Your are in our prayers and thoughts.

Rose

[Anne1377]

Denise,

I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Blake was a very special boy and I always looked forward to your posts about your family.

I am very sad to hear about Blake but I know that he will always live on in many people's hearts.

Diane

[Pudding]

How lucky you were to have had your son and for your son to have had you. God bless you and your family. You have made some many good things come out of something that is so tragic.

Beth