Just when you were really feeling sorry for yourself...

...you stumble upon a story that reminds you that it can always, always be worse. I'm posting this, even though it happened almost a year ago, because my heart is so heavy for this woman and her losses. Will you agree with me in prayer for her?

I am including the link from Facebook where I found her story while I was searching for something else.

Cherokee - Brendan Tye Blanton, infant son of Michaela Layman Blanton and the late Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr., died Friday, October 17, 2008, at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. Baby Tye Passes Exactly 4 Months To The Day Trooper Blanton Was Killed In The Line Of DutyHe was also preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Michael Douglas Layman; and his maternal greatgrandfather, Oscar Layman Jr.

For Tye to have had such a short life, he received much love, care, and support. He especially loved having his hair shampooed and cuddling with his mom. He was privileged to have experienced airplane and helicopter rides. On his parents wedding anniversary, Tye was able to taste their wedding cake. He also loved his NICU nurses at Memorial Mission Hospital.

He is also survived by his grandparents, Cindi Layman and her fiance, Dave Grant, of Canton, David Blanton and his wife, Jennifer, of Sylva, and Jeanell Youngbird, of Cherokee; great-grandparents include, Nikki Nations and her husband, Kenny, of Whittier, Mary Youngbird, of Cherokee, Margie Ferriss and her husband, Bill, of Hendersonville, and G. N. Cagle, of Greenville, S.C. Tye was loved by four uncles, Russell Blankenship of Whittier, Jim Kye Blankenship of Cherokee, Jesse Blanton of Sylva, and Ryan Layman and his wife, Shea, of Jonathan Creek; and aunts, Natalie Blanton and her fiance, Brent Ammons, of Sylva; and Jesselyn Ouderkirk, of Canton; along with a vast number of extended family members and the entire community.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, October 20, 2008, at Cherokee Ceremonial Grounds in Cherokee, with the Rev. David Christy officiating. Burial will follow at Thomas Cemetery in Whittier, where Trooper Blanton was laid to rest 4 months earlier. The family will receive friends from 4 until 8 p.m. Sunday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton.
(Cherokee, NC)

Obituary from Facebook group, In Memory of Baby Tye Blanton

Also, please see the site for the foundation established in Tye's honor.