Preston's birthday was a wonderful day. The morning started a little emotionally, but as the day went on, it was happier and happier. So many people participated in #SpreadHappinessForPreston. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for allowing our son into your lives, into your hearts. Thank you for letting him be the reason you smiled, and helped others smile.
So many acts of kindness occurred. I'd like to share those that I know of:
- Cynthia smiles at everyone she saw on November 19th. Additionally, she let someone go ahead of her at the gas station. She donated to a food drive. She also shared with me that on the radio that morning, they talked about random acts of kindness. Coincidence? This led me to learn a new quote: "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous" - Albert Einstein. Signs are everywhere. They really are. Thank you bella.
- Trina spread some joy in Maryland. Thanks Trina!
- Lynette played "elf" to struggling mothers in need of diapers and wipes. She does this every year in memory of her grandson Barrett. She gives a letter to the recipients to explain why she does it, and she was so gracious to add Preston's name to the letter this year. Thank you Lynette. I'm so touched that you included Preston. I can just see Barrett and Preston looking down on you with huge smiles.
- Dana brought dessert for the person behind her at the drive-through. How sweet! Thank you Dana.
- Carol donated to the Calgary Food Bank. She also bought 10 Tim Horton's gift cards to give away to people who were in need of a hot meal. So generous Carol. Thank you for your generosity. Not only helping people, but bringing smiles at the same time.
- Jocelyn and Burnell spent the day visiting local charities to make donations. They gave away coffee and filled baskets with food for those in need. Additionally, my lovely aunt shared a nice quote that made me smile: "Tell someone you love them today. Tomorrow is not promised. To my family and friends - I love you". I love you aunt Jocelyn. xxx
- Natalie gave out gift cards to Tim Horton's and donated to a food bank. She also shared Preston's message so that more people could spread happiness in his name. Thank you Natalie <3
- Lori bought a lotto ticket and proceeded to give it to the clerk who sold it to her. That's so sweet. She also packed groceries for a food bank, drove some coworkers home so that they could avoid waiting in the rain, get a break from public transportation and also donated to the Children's Wish Foundation. So incredibly generous and thoughtful. Thank you Lori!
- Lisa donated to pencils for progress which helps build schools in Africa. My son's soul and smiles are travelling all around the world. I'm so moved by this. Thank you so much Lisa!
- Paula and her 4 year old did a large grocery and donated it to a food bank. Thank you for donating your time and money. It's so special to see that my son's legacy is not only creating smiles, but helping people in need. Thank you!
- Alicia and James donated books to their daughter's school library and brought Tim Horton's to their other daughter's preschool. They gave coffee to strangers, donated toys to charity and have helped spread Preston's message like no other. So many people participated because of these 2. Thank you guys. xxxx
- Vicki donated to a local food bank and donated 2 new toys to a local charity. I like that. Maybe I'll have to do that next year, donate 3 toys for Preston's 3rd birthday, and so on each year. Thank you for your generosity and wonderful idea!
- Meghann made to-go breakfast for her husband who was running behind on the day. She spread a lot of love in Washington and encouraged positivity. Thank you lovely <3
- Jamie bought a lady who was celebrating her 50th birthday a drink from Preston. How sweet and thoughtful. Thank you for participating and sharing Preston's message again this year. <3
- Brittani sent flowers to someone special.. and from what I saw on Facebook later on, those flowers totally made your friend's day. How super sweet <3. Thank you Brittani!
- Andrea shared Preston's message. Thank you!
- Dayna bought lunch and a cupcake for a 7 month pregnant homeless girl. Such a thoughtful act of kindness. Dayna, I was so touched. xxx
- Kimm sent me some onesies, pyjamas and bibs for Samantha. She also sent me month stickers to take pictures of my little girl as she gets older. She also sent me homemade cards which are so beautiful. Thank you Kimm. It was so unnecessary, but know that I am incredibly moved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Jessica donated another bear to the "Dolls for Daughters" toy shop in Preston's honor.
- Lisa spread happiness in Hawaii. Mahalo Lisa! <3
- Liz in Maine brought bagels for the teachers and staff at her daughter's school. She and her daughter also gave gift cards for coffee to the secretaries at the school. They sent flowers to her godmother, paid for someone at the drive-through and donated to a children's charity. I'm so touched Liz. So incredibly touched. And the letter that your daughter wrote and included with the donations.. so moving: "This is for my aunt's friends son who died. Hope it makes you smile #SpreadHappinessForPreston". Thank you Liz and Audrey!!
- My cousin Marie sent me a coat for Samantha from France where she currently resides. I don't know that she could have planned for us to receive the precious little coat on Preston's birthday, but we did. It made us smile. Merci Marie, Harold et Augustin. xxxx
- One of my neighbor's, who is also pregnant due March 24th I believe, gave us some beautiful white roses. I'm so touched that she remembered Preston's birthday. Last year I sent letters around my neighborhood, but I didn't do it this year. I thought about it, but just didn't have the energy :(. Thank you so much for the thoughtful gift, gesture and again for remembering our son.
- My parents donated to the SIDS Foundation in Canada.
- My husband brought pizza over to the fire station by our house. This is the station of the men who gave their all to try and save our son. We are eternally grateful to these men. I was so touched that one of them wrote to me on my blog. One of these men, also lost a son, and shared that he also has a blog: ourlittlehippie.com which shares the story of his son Liam. I've read several passages and feel like it might be a great resource for me given that they did have a child after losing their son. Thank you for sharing. And thank you to you and your crew, for all that you do for the community. <3
- Charlene spread happiness on Preston's birthday. Thank you Charlene!
- Brittney taped some popcorn and money to redboxes for movie rentals. And she also left something nice for the UPS driver. Thank you Britt! That was super sweet of you! xxx
- Bill donated to a food bank.
- Dayle spread happiness. Thanks Dayle! <3
- Debby spread happiness too! Thank you Debby!
- Kip donated to the Angel Eyes foundation in Preston's name. Thank you Kip! I'm so touched!
- Lisa spread happiness! Thank you Lisa!
- Nan spread happiness in Wyoming! Thanks Nan!!
- Wanda spread a lot of happiness in Colorado. Thank you Wanda <3
- Jocelyn treated a friend to lunch and left a 400% tip for the waitress. How touching!
- Kay spread happiness! Thank you Kay! <3
- Katherine spread some happiness in Idaho. Thank you so much!
- I gave to a food bank and also donated some Starbucks gift cards.
Last but not least, this story brought tears to my eyes and I really wanted to share it. It's from Justine, who also lost a baby:
On Preston's birthday, Justine was thinking of Preston and me. She and her husband were at Walmart and saw a little boy who grabbed their attention. He was looking through the holes of the egg boxes which were stacked to the ceiling with new eggs waiting to be unpacked. She could tell that he had special needs. Both her and her husband are nurses and love kids and have many little friends with special needs. They were walking behind this little boy and his father and he turned around and gave them this great big smile. Her husband approached the dad to see if they could give the boy a dollar to buy some candy. They found out that Jeremiah (the little boy) has microcephaly (incomplete brain development) and collects dollars in a scrapbook with people's signatures on them. And they wanted to give him a dollar before finding this out! Justine's husband and Jeremiah's dad talked for a good 30 minutes. Justine went on to tell me that it seems that dads are often overlooked when it comes to losing a baby and grief. They probably feel more alone than us mothers. I have to agree with her, I think there appears to be less resources for men, and it might just be because society has the expectation that they should be strong no matter what. Justine says "they are programmed to be strong and they are there for us. No one talks about this and they ask them about us" (how are we, the mom doing). Jeremiah's dad shared with her husband that it was hard to deal with Jeremiah's diagnosis, but that they had gone through something harder. He and his wife had just lost a baby in July and "you aren't supposed to talk about it". Her husband went on to share that they too had lost a baby in August. They talked about loss and Jeremiah's dad said that God had sent them because he didn't have anyone who understood.
Justine shared with me that it was God working through me and Preston, keeping their eyes open on Preston's birthday, for a chance to share some happiness. "It was just like jam... it got on us all".
Justine, this story touched me to my very core. God works in mysterious ways. Coincidences? Not so much. Signs that our babies are waiting for us to make it to the kingdom of Heaven one day.
To everyone who spread happiness on Preston's birthday, no matter how you did so - thank you. Thank you for keeping a special place for Preston in your heart, in your life. Thank you for allowing his legacy, his smile live on. I hope that this was an experience that not only made someone else smile, helped someone else, but that it also made you smile.
