Meet my sweet Ray-
He came to us with one name, and on his adoption day we officially christened him with another. But most of the time, (despite my early protests) we simply called him "Ray". His Daddy said he lit up for blues and soul music like Ray Charles. I knew he lit up our house with pure joy from the moment we brought him home.
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Our sweet baby Ray was a victim of abusive head trauma at seven months of age while in the care of his biological family. He did not receive timely medical treatment, and because of this he was left catastrophically and irreversibly injured. We first held this boy in our arms as he recovered in the hospital, where I softly sang praise hymns over him and my husband rocked him and told him nobody would ever hurt him again. One year later, we finalized his adoption and left his old life behind. We named him Jacob.
Due to his injuries, Jacob was unable to see and unable to speak. He did not walk or even sit up on his own. But my Ray-Ray was joyful. He smiled, he babbled, he kicked and giggled. He loved all kinds of music. He loved to hear windchimes in the breeze and the squeaks of silly toys. The sound of his brother’s voice never failed to produce a smile. Like any young child, he craved action and movement. He wanted to bounce on Mama’s lap and be tossed in the air by his Daddy. He wanted his siblings to push his chair fast – and race car sounds were a bonus! Ray loved to swing and feel the breeze in our backyard, and he loved to be in the water.
Time with our son was precious and fleeting, because as his body continued to grow, his damaged brain could no longer effectively sustain him. We packed in as much life as possible in a few short years. Ray caught snowflakes on his eyelashes and felt the crashing waves of the ocean. He rode boats and trains and carousels. He knew the affection of animals and the energy of friendly children. He was loved deeply and completely every day of his life with us. My precious Ray was strength and courage, purity and light. We will love him forever.