Welcome To Kaitlynn's Place

Kaitlynn was born September 29th, 2004. We have seen neurology specialists from St. Louis to New Orleans since she was born. Unfortunately, we still do not have a definitive diagnosis for Kaitlynn. The best guess her doctors have to offer is mitochondrial disease.

For Kaitlynn

2:14 PM Posted In , , , Edit This 7 Comments »
This is a poem that my mother, Chloe Oliver, wrote for Kaitlynn:

 
I saw you walk the garden path tonight.
You ran and romped as children often do.
You picked a flower and gave to me.
We walked together and you called my name.
You reached and grasped your mother's hand.
Then, in an instant, you were gone
Chasing butterflies and cats and little puppy dogs.
 
I saw you play with friends tonight.
Other five year olds with whom to say:
"Come, let's slide the slide and swing the swing!"
You yelled and screamed with great delight,
Running and chasing each other round and round.
Exasperated, you sat down to catch your breath.
Then, jumped back up to do it all again.
 
I saw you dance the dance tonight.
Wiggling in motion to each beat of the music.
You swayed to the rhythm and sang each line
As I and your mother watched every move.
Then you said: "I'm a star,come dance with me."
And we knew it was true and knew that we must.
So, we all swayed and wiggled and danced and sang.
 
Morning came, and I knew it was a dream.
For in your little chair,you do no such things.
Trapped in a body that will not work,
You sit in your place and watch all the world.
You watch the others and always observe
Every movement, each gesture, and each spoken word.
And I know that you want and desire what I dream.
 
I know that you do and someday you will.
A day will soon come when all is made right.
The earth will be cleansed and the lame will be whole.
And you my dear child will do many things.
No longer bound, your chair will not hold you.
You will walk and expound on all that you know.
No longer will actions be trapped in my dreams.
 
Then, we each will walk the garden path
And we will dance and sing together.
We will take each other hand in hand.
Yes, we will romp and play and learn.
We will do it all together
And we will do it with delight.
Till then,my love, you do it in my dreams.
 
Love,
NANNAN OLIVER
 
 
 
 
 

7 comments:

Kate Smedley said...

That's so moving, thanks so much for sharing such a poignant and beautiful poem.

Velvet Over Steel said...

What a beutiful poem and Grandmother!!!! I already love you too, Kaitlynn!!
Thank you, Jo, for sharing this and helping me to find your amazing blog and 'heart'!! Following and adding your blog to my 'favorites' list on mine.
Have a wonderful weekend with your beautiful daughter!!! :-)
HUGS,
Coreen

Unknown said...

So very moving. I pray that those dreams and hopes come alive for Kaitlynn as they did for me. I am living proof that it is possible.

jo oliver said...

Thank you all so much. When my mother sent me this poem it brought me to tears. I felt that I had to share it.

Chris Stonecipher said...

Jo,
There is no words to express how beautiful this poem and message really is.

Nicole Baglieri said...

That was beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU ASHLEY, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL POEM AND SO MEANINGFUL. WE CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHEN THOSE WE LOVE WHO ARE DISABLED WILL BE MADE WHOLE. AND I KNOW THAT OUR JENNIFER HAS ALREADY REACHED THAT PLACE AND IT DOES MY HEART GOOD TO KNOW SHE IS DOING ALL THE THINGS SHE WAS NEVER ABLE TO DO HERE. THANK YOU.