2nd Annual Blood Drive Today!

In memory of Ava; 2nd annual blood drive today at the Niles Inn
Help others in our community by being a donor today!

Love you and miss you Ava!
Aunt Trace

FAMILY UPDATE

Something came over me this morning and for some reason I really wanted to post on the blog. I guess my therapist would say that is progress. Brayden and I are at home for our second snow day. He woke me this morning by playing a musical angel snow globe that he got for Christmas from Fran and my dad. It is engraved and tells him that Ava is watching down on her big brother from heaven. We spent some time talking about her and what she would have been like if she were a fifteen month old here with us. We laughed about how crazy her hair would have been and about how she would have been walking and getting into everything! What a great way to wake up - with Brayden crawling in bed with me and a reminder that Ava's spirit surrounds us.

People often ask how we are doing. What can I say? My typical response is "I'm okay" because I don't think many really want to hear the honest answer to that question. It has been a year since we lost Ava and not a minute goes by that she is not on my mind. We all miss her so much. The roughest time for me since she died was September through the first of January. That small window of time that she was here with us last year. It helps to go to my support groups and to do things in honor/memory of Ava. Right after she died we decided to do something once a month in her memory. I will try to post some pictures of a few things we've done. Jamie misses his baby girl an awful lot but deals with it much differently than I do. He chooses to stay busy and doesn't talk about his grief (go figure). Sometimes I worry about him bottling it all up. Brayden remembers Ava with the sweetness of a five year old. He finds signs of her everywhere! Angels, rainbows, stars, dandelions, pacifiers, pennies, etc. He talks of her often. I hope he will always be able to remember his baby sister.

So for now we get up each morning and try to face each day even though our hearts are heavy. Our lives are forever changed, we will never be the same people we were before we lost our sweet baby. The harsh reality that something terrible can happen at any time is all too clear to us now. But, we try to remember how blessed we are for so many things. If you continue to view this blog than you are among the people that we are blessed to have in our lives. It is so important for us to know that Ava touched other peoples' lives and that she is still thought of and remembered. We are thankful to have so many supportive, compassionate people around us. Thanks for lending an ear.

Happy Birthday Ava

Memorial Blood Drive A Success!

Thank you to the 75 people that showed up on July 29th to donate bood in memory of Ava. The South Bend Medical Foundation said they can't remember a time when so many people showed up for a drive. We were hoping to get forty people and they had to add staff and start an hour earlier to accomodate everyone! However, only 45 people (or 60%) were able to actually donate. Many were deferred for various reasons such as, 90 degree temperature, high/low blood pressure, open sores, low iron, etc. The Medical Foundation staff said this is normal especially because of the number of first time donars that arrived. Early in the day they told us not to be disappointed with the number of people who could not donate. They explained that it would be a success if 50% in attendance gave blood. So we were happy with the results and intend to make Ava's Memorial Blood Drive an annual event! Hope you can all join us again next year and we should all be more informed about the procedures to donate. We were especially glad to have sponsored the event as my grandma went into the hospital the very next day and needed two units of blood. Thank you for giving to or community!

Several of you have asked about the Walk in Ann Arbor in September. It is actually a one mile fun run. I had hoped to plan a nice event with matching T-shirts and a picnic lunch to follow. We were hoping several of Ava's followers could join us to support Mott Hospital's Pediatric Heart Unit. However, we are going to postpone this celebration until next year. I found out after the blood drive that I am just not ready yet. It was very rewarding to sponsor the event but also very emotional on Ava's 10 month birthday. So I know I will be a mess in September since she would have almost been one year old at the time of the run. I think it's better if we just go as a family this year. I know that you all understand and we would be honored if some of you would consider joining us next year for the event. Maybe then we can enjoy it a little bit, too. The run is on September 28th (one day before Ava's birthday) and if you would like to help us raise money for the event you can send it to us (email me if you don't know the address). The money we raise will go to Mott Children's Hospital where Ava lived her entire life.

Thanks again everyone! Jamie and I would be lost without you. "Good friends are like Angels, you don't have to see them to know they are there!"

Heart Hugs!

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY

If anyone is still out there thinking of Ava and checking her blog site we are hoping you will join us for a blood drive on July 29th. It is in honor and memory of Ava on what would have been her ten month birthday. This is a great opportunity to give hope to other patients and their families in our community. Your donation could even save someone's life. Ava needed over twenty blood transfusions during her short life (too many to count).

So, this is how it works. The South Bend Medical Foundation will join us at the Niles Inn on July 29th from 2:00 to 8:30 p.m. I have a sign-up sheet with slots available every fifteen minutes. Please call or email me to schedule a time when you can donate blood. They will accept only a few walk-ins on July 29th. We have committed to finding at least forty people to sign up. Please help us meet this goal to help people in our community.

Once again, Jamie and I thank you for your kindness and support during the most difficult year of our lives. It is so incredibly important for us to find ways to keep Ava's memory alive and to give positive meaning to her short life. We would appreciate your help if you can give it.

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands but let it go and you learn at once how big and precious it is." Maxim Gorky. (Stolen from Angie Plude's blog, sorry Ang!)

Walk For Kids

Thank you to everyone that sponsored us in the Walk For Kids fundraiser in Ann Arbor. We raised $2,300! WOW! When I checked the website it looks like there were only about six teams that raised more than we did. The whole event raised $80,000 that will be shared by U of M Cardiac Surgery Unit, U of M Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor and Make A Wish Foundation of MI. Think of the number of children and families that will be positively effected!

The day was of course bitter-sweet. It felt great to be a part of the event and to know that we were helping other children and families. However, Ava would have been 6 months old if she were still here with us. Walking past the hospital where Ava spent her life and Ronald McDonald House where we lived for over three months was also very emotional. Now when Brayden talks about U of M he says "You know, Michigan, where Ava lived..." It breaks my heart.

In September we will be involved in another walk to raise money for the hospital's cardiac unit. We are hoping to get a group of people together to walk with us. We will have T-shirts made for everyone too. Maybe we can even have a picnic lunch afterwards. The date is close to what would have been Ava's one year old birthday. Please let Jamie or I know if you are interested in joining us for the event.

I am going back to school on Monday, April 7th. Just praying I have the energy and enthusiasm to face those second graders. I keep telling myself that it's only for eight weeks and then I'll be off for the summer.

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers. We are taking one day at a time and praying that eventually life will seem more hopeful.

Hugs and kisses to my sweet baby Ava in heaven.
"With love we remember you
With hope we face each day
With faith we will be reunited for eternity!"

Hello Again

Are any of Ava's followers still out there? We just received a bound copy of all of the blog entries and every one's comments to us over the past 5 1/2 months. We continue to be amazed at the support we have received since Ava's birth. Thank you all so much for everything you've done to help us through the lowest point in our lives. Things are still very difficult and most days the goal is just to make it through the day. We have a long way to go in healing our broken hearts.

Jamie and I have decided that we will do at least one thing each month in honor and memory of our sweet baby girl, Ava. Last month I donated a huge amount of breastmilk to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. It will help premature and ill babies that can only have breastmilk. We also donated over $600 of Ava's memorial money to The Hearts of Hope Foundation.

This month Jamie, Brayden and I are doing a Walk 4 Kids fundraiser in Ann Arbor. Here is the information I took from the website:
Date: March 29Time: 9:15am registration begins/walk begins at 10a.m. Location: Downtown Ann Arbor - DTE Parking lot. We invite you to join in a magical day of fitness and fun at the Ann Arbor Walk 4 Kids on March 29, 2008. It was a natural fit for four special children’s agencies in Ann Arbor to come together to Walk 4 Kids! The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Michigan, UM Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor, UM C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital collectively make a difference. Together we can help special children in our community. There is strength in numbers and we are joining forces to make a difference for our kids.

Many of you have asked us since Ava's death if there is anything you can do. Please consider sponsoring us for this walk as two of these foundations made such a difference in our lives. Even a small amount makes a difference. (By the way, I promise not to ask for handouts all the time!) You can send the money to us at 16030 Rivershore Ln in Buchanan or get it to Michelle Asmus by Friday, March 28th. If you would like to write a check you can make it out to The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Thank you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers. Please continue to remember our precious Ava, as well. We take pride in knowing that she touched so many lives in the short time she was alive. We don't ever want her to be forgotten!

Sincerely,

Jamie Zimmerman