Here’s what’s happenwd with Blake today. 

He was moved to a pediatric hospice center called Ryan House. We first became acquainted with Ryan House when Chloe’s second little girl, Laila, was a day old and spent her last day there. We already came to it with an understanding and appreciation for a place you may never have known existed until you need it and are overcome with gratitude that it’s right here. 

Blake’s friends came here to visit him. I can’t imagine what it’s like for them to witness their friend deteriorate and move on to the spirit world. I never saw someone go through stages of dying when I was their age. It can be hard to watch, even for those of us that have been through many deaths. But they came to him and talk with him as though he could respond. And they promised to keep in touch with me and tell me all of their successes and shenanigans.

Let me share with you what my mom shared with me. It’s from the October 2006 LDS General Conference by Joseph Wirthlin. His wife, Sister Wirthlin, had died and the then president of the LDS church spoke at her funeral. He said that it is a devastating, consuming thing to lose someone you love. It gnaws at your soul. It hasn’t happened yet, but I feel the gnaw starting to happen. But Elder Wirthlin spoke about the events of Good Friday and what a dark day it was. Jesus Christ had been crucified. His disciples must have been devastated and confused. How could this have happened to the man of miracles? And yet, as devastating as Friday was, Sunday came. And on Sunday, Jesus Christ was resurrected and made it so we will all be resurrected. Here’s a quote from the talk: “Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.”

Blake left this mortal world tonight at 7:15 pm, right as the sun was setting. He loved seeing the sun set. This Friday hurts and I’m devastated. But I believe he was welcomed joyfully into the arms of his Savior. He’s smiling with his Grandpa Gillette, who I told him would give him an orientation to the spirit world when he got there. I felt peace in my chest as I felt his spirit leave. My heart is breaking. But Sunday will come. 

More details to follow regarding services. 

Thank you, everyone, for joining your prayers and faith and love for Blake and our family. I couldn’t have done this without all of you.

Much love!

Kim