My Grandson, Bradley Michael
Bradley
My Grandson, Bradley was born into this world on April 27, 2010 at 1:22 am. He was called home to be with God on Memorial Day May 31, 2010. He was 33 days old.
The picture to the left was taken just 10 hours before his passing and as you can see he was a healthy, happy, loved baby. And oh how we love him so. This was my daughter’s first child and she did not think she could ever have a baby due to she had female problems, but a miracle happened and God blessed them with this bundle of joy, even though for a short time.
I have received many emails and calls and I thank you. Last week was the hardest time of our lives. This is not what life is suppose to be. We are not “suppose” to outlive our grandchildren, nor should a parent outlive their child. But we don’t have control, only God does. Were we all mad at God? You bet. Not only was I pissed that he took a precious life that was everything to this family. But to watch my daughter go through that pain and I as her Mother, could not take it away, could not put a band-aid on it nor say “I know what you are going through” let’s just say helplessness is an under statement.
For those of you that wanted to know what happened is the reason for this blog. For the remembrance of my Grandbaby.
Angie and Joey were fantastic parents! I have never and no I am not being bias, have I seen two devoted, loving, caring parents. Bradley changed their lives. Bradley’s birth was complicated. My daughter after hours of labor had to have an emergency C-section. The doctors found the umbilical cord wrapped around his little neck TWICE and out came this beautiful healthy child born on a glorious full moon. As I sat at the hospital waiting, praying and pacing the floors by the surgery doors, when the doors swung open and out came the new daddy with a smile so big it lit up the skies. There pushing the baby cart with my grandson, I ran to his side. There I saw the most beautiful being I could have imagined! Baby was fine, Mama was fine and God answered our prayers! Our “BMW” was perfect!
Everyday I went to my daughters home to help her and Joey. I would hold that little one and couldn’t put him down. Oh what joy a baby brings. I am very close to my family and yes I was involved 110%. The doctor appointments I attended, all was perfect with Bradley. My daughter was healing beautifully. I watched this young woman change before my eyes and it was an amazing sight to see. The love she had for her son was indescribable. And the Dad? No one could have asked for a more devoted caring man to be the Father of your Grandchild. See between Angie thinking she could never have a child when Bradley came along, it was their new found life. They poured every ounce of love into this child. He was their number one and only.
So everyday I was there to help them, bring them food, and any excuse to see my little grandbaby. 
And every night my daughter held the phone to my Grandson’s ear so I could tell him Gramma loves him and nighty night. The last week prior to his passing Angie would tell me he would lean into the phone everytime I spoke to him like he really was listening. Like “oh that’s gramma” but had a look on his face like where is she though! LOL
Bradley smiled from day one. As you see in the picture above, it was a genuine smile. A happy child. Its rare to see a child only a little over 4 weeks old smile like that! But that shows how loved he was. And still is…
Bradley had two doctor appointments that month. One week after his birth and at 3 weeks old. I was present at both. Doc said baby is perfect. This photo was taken as I was holding him at his 3 week check up.
BMW
Throughout the month I took hundreds of photos and my daughter would be like Mom we have a zillion pictures! I told her you have to catch every moment. Little did I know…
At 7:58 am on Monday May 31, 2010 the phone rang. It was the police. My daughter in her hysteriria asked them to call me to tell me what was happening. I was told they would be transporting Bradley in a few minutes to the hospital. I yelled what happened, what happened and the officer said the baby is non responsive.
That morning Joey woke to feed the baby at 6:00 am. They had a schedule and that’s when Joey would heat up the premade bottle in the fridge and have alone time with his son. He laid Bradley down about 6:45 am. My daughter awoke about 7:50 am and went to move the bassinet out of their bedroom to let Daddy sleep. Normally when she wheeled the bassinet Bradley would move. She instinctively knew something was wrong right then. She picked him up and Bradley was limp. She screamed as she ran out to the living room with Bradley and Joey jumped up and followed. She was dialing 911 and Joey was performing CPR and the cops were there in 2 minutes. Paramedics arrived and took over. That’s when I received the call. Was told go straight to the hospital.
I was crying and screaming NO GOD NO GOD PLEASE!! Take my life not his!!! Once at the hospital we were all placed in a private waiting room. Both sides of the family were all there. My daughter in shock and my future son in law as well. Crying and praying we sat and waited. The chapel arrived and sat with us. I knew for sure then. The parents were hanging on to a thread of hope the hospital will save Bradley. Once the doctor arrived in the room and announced “we did all we could, we are so very sorry” my daughter collapsed in my arms and Joey ran out of the hospital sobbing and every emotion possible. It was not real I kept saying to myself, it’s a mistake it has to be!! The staff said as soon as we clean Bradley up we can go in there to see him.
Once we arrived in the room and saw this beautiful child bundled up as though he was just sleeping. So at peace. The devastation was horrific. Wailing and crying saying NO NO NO!! The whole emergency room staff was in tears. We were there for hours, counselors arrived and talked to the entire family to help.
Before Bradley was transported to another medical facility, we took him with the Pastor down to the Chapel. Bradley had not yet been baptized. Angie and Joey held their precious child and he was blessed and prayed over. Though it was beautiful it was heartbreaking. It would be a final good bye before the funeral. We kissed him and wept.
Hundreds of people came to say their good bye to Bradley at the wake and funeral. Amazing the love that came forward to help support Angie and Joey in their time of the most horrific grief they will ever experience.
Each day that passes, acceptance is entering our hearts that Bradley is up in Heaven playing with the Angels.
Preliminary reports are leaning towards SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It baffles me that to this day the medical profession cannot figure out why this happens. They have come up with statistical reasons and what NOT to do and these parents did all the right things. It just hits with no reasons.
Bradley Michael will always be with me. I will never let him go. The pain at times is hard but I have to believe for all things there is a reason. Maybe he was just too perfect for this world, I don’t know. He was an angel here and now is an angel above.
The outfit I got him to come home with was too big for him at his birth. Little did I realize it would be the outfit he would wear when he was laid to rest.
I wrote this 2 nights ago and I would like to share it here. This is a tiny poem to my GrandBaby I love so dearly and will miss forever…
The light of my life, the love of my heart, you were my ray of sun
I held you, I rocked you, remember the song I sung?
The smell of your skin and your beautiful precious face,
Was filled with love, filled with life with such an endearing grace.
Your eyes filled my heart with a love I will never forget,
The day God called you home, my heart and soul just wept.
Our time together, the kisses, the hugs, your little smiles you gave,
Are locked now deep within my heart and forever will be saved.
I miss you so so dearly and do not understand why you had to go,
No one knows the answer, only God is the one that knows.
Right now you are playing with angels and looking down from above,
My precious Grandbaby that I will always love.
Go walk the streets of gold now and sit on God’s knee,
Forever you will be in my heart my beautiful Bradley.
Love,
Grandma Annie
If you would like to visit the site that was created for Bradley and if you can assist in helping these parents in their time of need would be appreciated. All was put in for the burial of their son and they need all the help they can. If you cannot give monetarily, please say a prayer for them to give them strength and hope to keep moving forward. Thank you and God Bless you all. Remember, hug and tell your loved ones how much you love them. You never know what tomorrow may bring…
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