THERE was a post half written on a little tiny notepad as I cooked homemade pizza with Princess Ella for dinner tonight. In between cutting up the sweet potato, zucchini, mushrooms and eggplant, I jotted down thoughts quickly before Ella’s incessant need to tell me the same knock knock joke repeatedly ruined my train of thought. That, or her baby sister waking.
It started off with how the big guns know too well we’ve all got our purse strings loosened a little more than usual at the moment. You see, three big companies filled our letter box this week with rather large bills, each with a due date of, yes you guessed it, December 24. Merry Christmas to us and a frugal New Year.
However, that all went out the window at 7pm tonight. My outlook on Christmas, on life, changed when I read a Letter to Santa in The Advocate Newspaper. The letter was from eight-year-old Staci. Tears are still falling as I write this. Those bills? They’re irrelevant. Suddenly, I just want my little girl to talk my ear off – bad jokes or not.
I’ll leave you with an extract from that letter. Merry Christmas to you all and, please, make sure you hug your babies just a little tighter tonight.
Dear Santa,
My name is Staci … and I am eight years old … I wish I could be one of your elves, because my wish for Christmas is to have my baby brother back. He died in July of HLH. If we could have Joey back, Dad and Mum wouldn’t be sad anymore. Please take a gift to heaven for Joey. He loves teddy bears and cows and trucks.
Thank you very much.
Love Staci
*UPDATE*: I’ve since discovered little Staci is actually a boy, not a girl, and so have changed the title accordingly. Also, on December 16, The Advocate did an inspiring interview with Staci and his family.
Aww crap…I’m crying now too…that poor little girl and her poor family. Just breaks your heart dosen’t it?
It sure does, Natasha. Certainly puts life into perspective. It was the little nudge I needed to help me appreciate all that I’ve got. x
Oh Kel, that is heart breaking. You just want to reach out and give her a cuddle and then go and grab the kids and do the same.
I know, doesn’t it, Kym. That poor little girl. x
They are aren’t they. If only every cent we owned could grant her wish 🙁
So true. Life just isn’t fair sometimes. x
Oh gosh.
I never have words in these situations, just an ache.
Know exactly what you mean, Miss Pink. x
I have tears in my eyes. Sometimes we dont realise how lucky we are. So heartbreaking.
I’ve read it about 10 times now and it still makes me cry. Powerful stuff from a girl so young. Amazing that it’s taken an eight-year-old girl to make me appreciate my life more. x
Thats just heartbreaking
I know, Elisha. The poor little thing. She lives close to where I grew up, so this one has really hit home for me. x
Well that just puts things into perspective doesn’t it. Much to be grateful for this Christmas – and really it has nothing to do with presents or food!! Thanks for sharing kel.
You’re so right, Caz. Funny how all those things that seemed so important, now feel totally insignificant. Think the universe knew I needed a bit of perspective yesterday. x
Ohhh I have tears running down my face and I have no words….. I am going to hug my kids one more time before they go to sleep. xxx
I know what you mean, Sonia. Sounds like the best thing you could do. Have given my girls an extra squeeze this morning. x
Life really is too precious. What a sweet little girl too – so heartbreaking.
I can’t even comprehend what that little girl is going through, Debbie. The poor thing. x
Heartbreaking. Very, very heartbreaking.
Incredible words from an eight-year-old girl. It chokes me up every time I read it. x
Maya Has asked a few times for her Step Dad to come home , or more recently a rocket ship to hevan – nothing prepares you for the moment , and suddenly there’s never a better time to tell them you love them . Staci’s letter left a humbling feeling upon me also amongst all the I wants of other children also Published . Merry Christmas to your Family x
Oh, Cheryle. My heart aches for poor Maya – and for you. I know that anniversary is looming for you too.
Strangely, after reading Staci’s letter, I didn’t even bother reading any of the others. It didn’t feel right. x
My son asked for the same thing the year his little brother died. It broke my heart double knowing I couldn’t grant his wish.
Oh, Suzy. I can’t even begin to know what your son, or you for that matter, are going through at this time of year. Wishing I could grant his wish and change his world for him. x
Goodness, this is so sad and heartbreaking. Poor little angel. Devastating!
Oh, my heart.
I know. I’ve read it about 10 times now and it chokes me up every time. x
All snotty and bad case of panda eyes already, and it’s only 9am. Thanks for sharing Kellie. Sometimes we all need a little reminder of what’s really important and how good we really have it x
For sure, Barb. It was the little nudge I needed yesterday to make me appreciate everything I’ve got. x
Hi Kel,
Well that just puts everything back into place….life is really for the living, and nothing is more important then spending it with loved ones. So grateful that we have each other – so wish I could grant that little girls wish xxx
Hey Lisa,
It turned out to be a little boy and he was featured on the front page of the newspaper today. Incredibly inspiring story. I’ve left a link to the story above. His, and his parent’s, outlook on life is quite inspiring. x
Tears. Many of them. Puts everything into perspective doesn’t it 🙁
Certainly does, Romina. Definitely looking at life a little differently today. x
*ouch*
So beautifully heartbreaking.
Giving me a new outlook on Christmas, that’s for sure, Kelley. x
oh god, so sad and so honest. breaks my heart.
Doesn’t it. The honesty blows me away. Definitely a Letter to Santa that stood out from the rest. x
Made me cry only because it makes me think of my baby brother who died 21 days after he was born. This will be our second Christmas without him. My daughter will never know her uncle who would be only a few months older than her.
Oh Laura, I’m so sorry to hear that. Christmas can be such a tough time remembering those we’ve lost. Take care of yourself. x