Madeline Alice Spohr

My friend Heather is one of those friends that when you see her, you automatically smile. We have been through a lot together. College, roommates after college, dating, getting married, being pregnant and having little girls. When Catie was born Heather was the first friend that I called back. I asked her a million questions about having a cesarean, what to expect, etc. I primarily wanted her advice because her daughter was so amazing. You see, Heather's daughter Maddie was just like Heather. When you saw her, you couldn't help but smile. She was a little girl who would light up a room.

Last Tuesday I got a phone call letting me know that Heather's beautiful 17 month old daughter Maddie passed away. My heart sank, my breath was taken away, and I began to cry. I cried for Heather and Mike and the unbearable pain that they must be going through. I cried because I would never get to see Maddie's smile and hear her adorable laugh again. I cried because Catie would never get to know Maddie (they met when Catie couldn't really do much but sleep and eat). I cried because it wasn't fair. Maddie fought so hard to live after being born 11 weeks premature. Life isn't fair. All I could do was cry.

Exactly a week later Heather and Mike did the hardest thing that I am sure they will ever have to do in their lives. They had a memorial service for their beautiful daughter Maddie. It was an amazing service filled with purple love (Maddie's favorite color), memories of precious Maddie, pictures and videos of her smiling, laughing and loving her parents. As I was sitting in the audience listening to both Mike and Heather talk about their daughter, I couldn't help but think...Maddie would be so proud of her parents. I sure was. They raised an amazing daughter and filled her too short life with love, laughter, rock and roll, and memories that I know that they will cherish forever.

I will always tell Catie about her friend Maddie in heaven, and she will wear purple and smile because she will know that it is Maddie's favorite color. As I put Catie to bed on Tuesday night I kissed her and told her that there was a new angel in heaven. I then took my purple ribbon off of my purple shirt and placed it on Catie's bulletin board, and I cried.

The March of Dimes helps premature babies fight for survival. For obvious reasons this organization has always been important to the Sphors. If you would like to help please go to www.marchformaddie.com. If you would like to learn more about who Maddie was, you can visit Heather's blog at http://www.remembermaddie.com/ You will realize how amazing Maddie was and what incredible parents Heather and Mike are.

Maddie, you will always be in our hearts.