Remembering Leo

My family and I received devastating news yesterday.  Our good family friends Daphne, Andrew and their 3-year old son Leo were in a car accident on Tuesday.  Our sweet, precious, little Leo did not survive the accident.  Andrew is in the hospital and we are unclear what the state of his condition is at this time.  Our family is in shock.  We are devastated.  How could this be happening?  To people that we know and love?

We are also not exactly sure what happened to cause the accident.  There were some news articles online that we were able to find, but there are discrepancies between what was reported and the comments that local people in that area are reporting.  Officials are investigating the accident.  All we know is that there was an accident and our sweet, lovable Leo is gone from this Earth.

I didn’t see Leo often because he lives on the mainland and I live in Hawaii, but I always visited with him when I was up on the mainland visiting my sister, because they live in the same area.  When he came to Hawaii, we usually saw him too.  I missed you on your last visit to Hawaii Leo.  Aunty Mindy is so sorry that I missed you.  My mom just got to visit and play with him when she was visiting my sister in October.  Daphne was so generous and gracious while my mom was visiting.  She and Leo “mom-sat” my mom because my sister couldn’t take off of work to entertain my mom.  Daph would pick up my mom and hang out with her all day.  My mom would call me and brag to me about all the fun she was having with Daph and Leo.  She would say, “Leo is so delightful” and go on and on about her day and how he charmed her and made her laugh.

My mom and my sister had wanted me to go on that trip, but I declined because I had just come home from Asia and I was strapped for cash.  Now, I regret declining the invitation to join my mom.  I wish I had gone on the trip because then I would have been able to play with Leo one last time.  I’ve seen him every year of his life so far, except for this year.  It is the first year I didn’t get to visit with him.  I regret not going…oh how I wish I had gone on that trip.

Events like this are devastating…and it makes me wonder why do events like this happen to good people?  Daphne, Andrew and Leo are such good people—kind, warm-hearted and generous people.  Why them?  I don’t understand it and I don’t think I ever will.  My heart, thoughts, prayers and love go out to Daphne and Andrew.  I am so very sorry for your devastating loss.  My heart aches for your loss.  I cannot imagine what kind of excruciating pain you are going through at this time…be as strong as you can be…you can get through this…I know you can.  We love you guys with all our hearts!!!

Here are some images of our time with Leo.  This is the very first time I got to meet Leo…I think he was almost 2 months old in this image.  Oh how I love holding sleeping babes.  I love this image of us…look at his little foot…I love how you can see his little foot.  He’s so precious.

These next two images were taken during our annual New Year’s Eve party.  Look at his smiley face…so precious!!!

The next set of images was at a birthday dinner for my sister Lee Ann.  She is pictured here looking at a book with Leo.  He was about 8 months old in these images.

Here is a beautiful family image of Daph, Andrew and Leo.

These images were taken last summer when I was visiting the mainland.  He was shy at first, but as you can see he eventually warmed up to me.  Isn’t he just darling?  I love his big, beautiful eyes.

This final image was taken by Daphne while she and Leo were hanging out with my mom this past October.  What a handsome little boy you are Leo.

Good-bye Leo…though your time here on Earth was short, you touched many lives with your charm, joy and pure sweetness.  We love and miss you Leo!!!  You are forever in our hearts…

Daph and Andrew we’re praying for you.  Andrew, get well soon!!!

* Update: Andrew is doing better and has been discharged from the hospital.  Thank you to all of our family and friends for your kind words, thoughts, prayers and love.  We all appreciate the love and support during this difficult time.