Skylar Marie Crawford

We said good bye to Skylar yesterday. It was incredibly hot but sunny and beautiful. Gary's grandparents' pastor, Mr. Holland, delivered the eulogy. He was also there at the hospital on Friday while Skylar was in surgery to pray with the family. He has such a calm presence about him and did a fantastic job. The outpouring of support has been so touching and powerful. Several of Skylar's nurses came, many friends and coworkers and so much family. The support and love for Ashley and Gary is incredible. They are feeling some serious love right now, at a time when their hearts are aching and empty.

For me, the thing that Skylar brought to my life is hope. Hope for health, hope for life and family, hope for Ashley and Gary and the love and joy that babies bring. I have never in my life been so hopeful as I have these last five and a half weeks. This is the thing that I have to hold onto. It is easy to think that now the hope is gone, has been shattered and will never return. My message from Skylar, I think, is that hope is a gift and can carry you through good times and bad. Hope can keep you strong and grounded. Hope is not lost.

Webster's defines hope in this way: "To want or wish for with a feeling of confident expectation. A wish or desire accompanied by expectation of its fulfillment. Something wished. One that gives cause for hope."

Skylar gives me cause for hope. Hope that Ashley and Gary can make it through this tragedy together, hope that their relationship stay strong and be stronger because Skylar touched it in such a beautiful way, hope that they can be happy again without feeling guilty and hope that they can someday have the family that they both want.

This beautiful little life has taught us so much in such a short time. She has connected two families who were strangers before her arrival and has joined us all together and for that we are thankful.