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| Henry (3 months old) |
My baby, Henry Eli Dansicker, is turning 8 years old today. Born in the storm of 2003 with two feet of snow, Andy and I welcomed 9 pounds 11 ounces of sweet, beautiful, Henry. He was the answer to our prayers. Having lost a baby girl just 18 months before, Henry fulfilled the dream of family and hope in our lives. He continues to be my source of inspiration every single day.
He was a gentle baby, very loving and calm...very much how he is today. Though he struggled with asthma for the first six years of his life with hospital visits every other month, he proved to be strong and resilient in ways we could have never imagined. And he taught us how fragile life can be as he struggled to heal his lungs time after time. Now, at 8, his asthma is not a daily concern and he remains a strong and brave young man.
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| Henry (2 months) and mommy |
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Henry has always been a thoughtful child, always curious about the world. His love of birds became apparent around the age of two. He loved reading about birds, visiting live birds and on many occasion acting like a bird. Now at age 8, he volunteers his time on the weekends at Kayam Farm feeding and raising chickens. He is even expecting his own baby chicks to arrive at our home in a few weeks. In many ways Henry has the spirit of a bird, gracefully soaring through life with kindness, dignity and the foresight of a man well beyond his years.
I spend most of my days wondering why we were chosen to raise such a wonderful boy...even hoping that I myself don't disappoint him by being less than I can be. He shows such strength and maturity already in the way he goes about his day, that I am often humbled and deeply grateful that he is mine.
Happy Birthday Henry. You are the paradigm of how all sons should be measured. Know that you are loved, wanted, respected and admired by the people who love you most of all in this world. All my love, Mommy.
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| Henry and mommy 8 months old |
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| Henry's last hospital visit for asthma (age 6) |
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| Birdman aka Henry (7) |
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| Audrey, Henry (3), Stanley |
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| Audrey, Stanley, Henry (7) ice skating |
