Gut-wrenching.

This morning, Em went downstairs and made coffee while I rolled around in bed and "woke up".  She brought the coffee up and we laid in bed and looked at Post.Secret together.  After that, we came across a blog that I haven't stopped thinking about all day long.  Actually, all day long I have had "something in my eye"...as, when I remember it, I can't help but get emotional. 

The blog is here: Matt, Liz, and Madeline.

Matt and his pregnant wife, Liz, were expecting their daughter in the spring of last year.  Madeline came a little early, with her cord wrapped around her neck.  When she was delivered, she was generally okay, and no long term effects were expected.  She was to be in the NICU for a few days, and then let free to go home with her parents.  27 hours after she was born, Madeline's mother Liz unexpectedly and suddenly died of a pulmonary embolism.  Maddy was only a day old, her mom passed away, and suddenly it was just Matt and an infant.

He originally started a blog to keep everyone informed about the pregnancy.  After his wife died, the blog became a way to chronicle his raising of Maddy and what it's like to do it by himself.  He also receives a lot of support from people around the world.  

For a better explanation of what happened, read this: 'Without Liz, but not alone.'

The one thing that broke my heart is, when we were looking at photos of Matt and Maddy, we realized that Matt was wearing Liz's wedding rings on his pinky.  

Photo taken by Gina Lee.

Tragedies occur every day.  We lose people that we love, and it's not fair and it's sad beyond belief and we ask "WHY?" over and over..  But when we figure out how to honor our loved ones and live our lives the way that they would have wanted.. well... I think that is something to be proud of, and something that is completely commendable. 

Also check out the foundation that Matt started in memory of his wife: The Liz Logelin Foundation.