I am saddened by the lack of humanity in our society.
Yes, Henry was addicted to drugs.
Yes, Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing something he shouldn’t have been doing. But haven’t we ALL been guilty of the latter and only by the grace of God or luck we didn’t end up in a life shattering situation.
Henry wasn’t perfect but he IS somebody VERY special. He is somebody’s baby; he is somebody’s world. He was one of the reasons that somebody got out of bed every morning. He was the big brother 3 little ones who will never get to enjoy their big brother. He was the friend of a lot of people who will never get to hear him play guitar again or laugh at making him sleep in the recliner. Henry was a beautiful boy, who came from good loving parents. Unfortunately, the little experimenting that kids sometimes do went a little too far until he found himself in the bondage of addiction. His death is a loss not only to his mother, family, and friends but also to society itself. Yes, at the time when he died he was an addict but HE WAS JUST A CHILD, his life could have been turned around. Henry was smart, handsome, bubbly, talented and most of all LOVED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. As the mother of one of his friends who started done this path with him, PLEASE PARENTS don’t stick your head in the sand and hope that it’s just a phase that will pass. We parents need to stand up, unite together and drag our youth out of this hell that has sucked them in. How sad is it that this generation is called “ Generation RX”. I will do whatever it takes for his death not to be in vain; I hope you’ll do the same.
Derinda- Logan’s mom
I came here from suburbancorrespondent's blog, grateful for the compassion of her post and needing to offer what little of my own I can in hopes it might help in the face of the unfathomable. What a beautiful, beautiful son.
You did your best. He would want to tell you that now.
As a mother I cry with you I can never imagine the hurt. Im so sorry.
Crying with and praying for you in Jerusalem.
I have been reading your work for a while now, but never commented. My firstborn is also named Henry; he is 6 months old. I cannot imagine your loss. I hope for you to have the courage to make it through this difficult time. I am so very sorry for you and your family.
I'm so terribly sorry for your unimaginable loss. I'm crying for you and for all those who love Henry.
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us so honestly and I'm hoping that you and your family feel a tiny bit of peace each day so that you can continue on without your beloved boy.
So sorry for your loss. Peace to you and your family.
Katie and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. May you be wrapped in loving arms of comfort and strength.
Love,
The Maisonville Family
Katie, I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting you, but as a former Knoxvillian I've read you for years. I can't tell you how sorry I was to hear of Henry's addiction and the assault, and how sad I am at this news.
Henry was beautiful, and you are a beautiful mother. I wish you and your family strength as you cope with your unfathomable loss, comfort from being together with your family and others you love, and long-term support from every possible direction.
My family's hearts go out to you and your family. Nothing hurts more than losing a child- we understand. Much love and empathy.
I know that no words of mine can change what has happened. I am the daughter of a man who struggled with addiction, to various substances which ultimately took his life. I have been profoundly touched by your willingness to share H's story and have only this to offer; H was not his addiction, he had an addiction, just as my father did, but that certainly isn't the sum of there lives. The joy they shared, the happiness they brought, and the love they gave and we gave them endures. H will always be with you just as my father is with me. Even though there were terrible times, even though his death caused me so much heartache, the 18 years I had with my father more than made up for all I endured. I know that I loved my father with all that I had, and I know you loved H just the same and nothing can ever change that.
Oh. Oh. OH. I don't know what to say except a million I'm sorrys and that I will hold you and your beautiful family in my heart.
I am so very very sorry for your loss. what a tragic journey your family has been through. thinking of you and your whole family.
My heart is breaking for you. We don't know each other, but I am a mother as well, and what more of a bond do we need for me to mourn the loss of your beautiful son. I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Please know you're not alone. I lost my 21 year old nephew, found dead May 22nd. We're waiting for toxicology reports.
Holding you (all) in the light. Broken hearts sometimes help us realize just how large our hearts, and a great sense of love, can be. The love expressed in your posts is what comes through the strongest to me, and leaves me in tears.
Katie,
I keep typing and re-typing unsure of what to say. Sorry doesn't seem strong enough to convey what I want to say to you and your family. I can't imagine the pain you all must be feeling, I am holding you in my thoughts and hoping that some of justice will come for Henry. He should be here with you now, I really hope that the police continue to fully investigate. All my love and thoughts to your family.
Words are inadequate, but please know that I am so, deeply sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Know that you, and your son, are have impacted me and the way I think about drugs.
I'm shattered H is gone. I am so very sorry about his death and I hope that somehow through this awful tragedy that some good comes of it.
Blessings and love to you and your family. I am so sorry.
I've come to you late, through a recommendation on another blog I follow and even knowing so little about you I am devastated for you. What a gorgeous boy. What an unfathomable loss. I hope the joy of his memory will come to outweigh the pain of his loss. You honor him and give his death meaning by sharing and helping others. Peace to you and yours.
im sorry for your loss. keep faith and dont loose heart! your family will be in my prayers!
love and prayers from INDIA
I deeply believe that each of us has a purpose in our lives, and also in death. Through you, your beautiful son can help to bring more compassion and understanding about the addictions so many souls struggle with today. I wish you the best of luck in your search for justice and I offer sincere condolences to you and your family.
My feelings are indescribable. I went through your updates and the beautiful pictures of Henry–thank you. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Katie,
I just discovered your blog via a post by dooce. I am heart broken for you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss, and you are all in my prayers.
I also wanted to thank you for being so courageous. I went back and read several of your posts about Henry's struggles, and I was deeply moved. Your words are so important, and they have the power to bring awareness and to help other people.
I am the mother of a beautiful 2 year old boy, who also has wild curly hair and loves music. After reading your story, I started to imagine my boy as a teenager. Knowing that drug addiction can happen to anyone, I stayed up late writing a letter to my son about Henry's story and the dangers of drug use. (I'll give it to him when he's older.)
I am so, so sad that your beautiful Henry is gone. His story has made a difference to me, and it will stay with me forever.
Love and prayers to you and your family,
Brianne
Katie,
I came to your blog via herbadmother, and have read through your blog entries about Henry and his struggle to live after his assault and overdose. I am so incredibly sad to see he is gone. My heart just aches for you and your family, I am so sad and sorry that his bright light is gone.
If by sharing Henry’s struggles, you help just one family address addiction in their family, you have both made a difference in this world. Thank you so much for sharing with, and enlightening, me.
What a beautiful, beautiful child!
My heart breaks for you, and for all who knew your Henry.
Good luck to you as you move forward.
I am so, so sorry for your loss. My worst fear is that my oldest, now 13, will follow Henry's path. Thank you for sharing his story –
What a beautiful boy. So truly sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry to read this. He looked like an angel.
Katie,
I don't believe I've ever read a nicer obituary – it gave me insights to a young man that I've not seen since he was a baby. My prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time and the days to come. May you find some peace in all the loving thoughts being expressed here and your beautiful memories of Henry.
I'm so sorry for your loss you are in my thoughts.
I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I know words only go so far, but you'll be in my heart.
Condolences from a stranger in San Francisco, touched by your story.
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Our hears and prayers are with you.
I'm just another stranger who was touched by your story. I'm also a parent, and I cannot fathom what you are going through. I'm so incredibly sorry. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. He was a beautiful boy.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am also just a stranger (from Norway), who have read your books and followed your blog. I am so sorry to hear about your loss, and hope whoever did this to your son will be brought to justice. May he rest in peace.
What a beautiful young man. My heart is sinking as I read your story, it is all too familiar to me, struggling with an addicted son, hoping and praying for his recovery. You have been through so much….Praying for God's peace, grace and strength in your life right now and most of all for comfort. I am so sorry for your loss.
The day after I started my own blog, I came across Henry's story and I have been haunted by it since. I don't know you and have only now read your incredible blog, but please know that you are in my prayers. I was so moved by Henry's eyes in every gorgeous picture that I wrote my second blog post about him. I hope you don't mind. http://playeatlove.blogspot.com/2010/06/henry-lou…
May you and Henry find the peace you both so deserve.
I am saddened by the lack of humanity in our society.
Yes, Henry was addicted to drugs.
Yes, Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing something he shouldn’t have been doing. But haven’t we ALL been guilty of the latter and only by the grace of God or luck we didn’t end up in a life shattering situation.
Henry wasn’t perfect but he IS somebody VERY special. He is somebody’s baby; he is somebody’s world. He was one of the reasons that somebody got out of bed every morning. He was the big brother 3 little ones who will never get to enjoy their big brother. He was the friend of a lot of people who will never get to hear him play guitar again or laugh at making him sleep in the recliner. Henry was a beautiful boy, who came from good loving parents. Unfortunately, the little experimenting that kids sometimes do went a little too far until he found himself in the bondage of addiction. His death is a loss not only to his mother, family, and friends but also to society itself. Yes, at the time when he died he was an addict but HE WAS JUST A CHILD, his life could have been turned around. Henry was smart, handsome, bubbly, talented and most of all LOVED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. As the mother of one of his friends who started done this path with him, PLEASE PARENTS don’t stick your head in the sand and hope that it’s just a phase that will pass. We parents need to stand up, unite together and drag our youth out of this hell that has sucked them in. How sad is it that this generation is called “ Generation RX”. I will do whatever it takes for his death not to be in vain; I hope you’ll do the same.
Derinda- Logan’s mom
I came here from suburbancorrespondent's blog, grateful for the compassion of her post and needing to offer what little of my own I can in hopes it might help in the face of the unfathomable. What a beautiful, beautiful son.
You did your best. He would want to tell you that now.
As a mother I cry with you I can never imagine the hurt. Im so sorry.
Crying with and praying for you in Jerusalem.
I have been reading your work for a while now, but never commented. My firstborn is also named Henry; he is 6 months old. I cannot imagine your loss. I hope for you to have the courage to make it through this difficult time. I am so very sorry for you and your family.
I'm so terribly sorry for your unimaginable loss. I'm crying for you and for all those who love Henry.
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us so honestly and I'm hoping that you and your family feel a tiny bit of peace each day so that you can continue on without your beloved boy.
So sorry for your loss. Peace to you and your family.
Katie and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. May you be wrapped in loving arms of comfort and strength.
Love,
The Maisonville Family
Katie, I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting you, but as a former Knoxvillian I've read you for years. I can't tell you how sorry I was to hear of Henry's addiction and the assault, and how sad I am at this news.
Henry was beautiful, and you are a beautiful mother. I wish you and your family strength as you cope with your unfathomable loss, comfort from being together with your family and others you love, and long-term support from every possible direction.
My family's hearts go out to you and your family. Nothing hurts more than losing a child- we understand. Much love and empathy.
I know that no words of mine can change what has happened. I am the daughter of a man who struggled with addiction, to various substances which ultimately took his life. I have been profoundly touched by your willingness to share H's story and have only this to offer; H was not his addiction, he had an addiction, just as my father did, but that certainly isn't the sum of there lives. The joy they shared, the happiness they brought, and the love they gave and we gave them endures. H will always be with you just as my father is with me. Even though there were terrible times, even though his death caused me so much heartache, the 18 years I had with my father more than made up for all I endured. I know that I loved my father with all that I had, and I know you loved H just the same and nothing can ever change that.
Oh. Oh. OH. I don't know what to say except a million I'm sorrys and that I will hold you and your beautiful family in my heart.
I am so very very sorry for your loss. what a tragic journey your family has been through. thinking of you and your whole family.
My heart is breaking for you. We don't know each other, but I am a mother as well, and what more of a bond do we need for me to mourn the loss of your beautiful son. I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Please know you're not alone. I lost my 21 year old nephew, found dead May 22nd. We're waiting for toxicology reports.
Holding you (all) in the light. Broken hearts sometimes help us realize just how large our hearts, and a great sense of love, can be. The love expressed in your posts is what comes through the strongest to me, and leaves me in tears.
Katie,
I keep typing and re-typing unsure of what to say. Sorry doesn't seem strong enough to convey what I want to say to you and your family. I can't imagine the pain you all must be feeling, I am holding you in my thoughts and hoping that some of justice will come for Henry. He should be here with you now, I really hope that the police continue to fully investigate. All my love and thoughts to your family.
Words are inadequate, but please know that I am so, deeply sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Know that you, and your son, are have impacted me and the way I think about drugs.
I'm shattered H is gone. I am so very sorry about his death and I hope that somehow through this awful tragedy that some good comes of it.
Blessings and love to you and your family. I am so sorry.
I've come to you late, through a recommendation on another blog I follow and even knowing so little about you I am devastated for you. What a gorgeous boy. What an unfathomable loss. I hope the joy of his memory will come to outweigh the pain of his loss. You honor him and give his death meaning by sharing and helping others. Peace to you and yours.
im sorry for your loss. keep faith and dont loose heart! your family will be in my prayers!
love and prayers from INDIA
I deeply believe that each of us has a purpose in our lives, and also in death. Through you, your beautiful son can help to bring more compassion and understanding about the addictions so many souls struggle with today. I wish you the best of luck in your search for justice and I offer sincere condolences to you and your family.
My feelings are indescribable. I went through your updates and the beautiful pictures of Henry–thank you. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Katie,
I just discovered your blog via a post by dooce. I am heart broken for you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss, and you are all in my prayers.
I also wanted to thank you for being so courageous. I went back and read several of your posts about Henry's struggles, and I was deeply moved. Your words are so important, and they have the power to bring awareness and to help other people.
I am the mother of a beautiful 2 year old boy, who also has wild curly hair and loves music. After reading your story, I started to imagine my boy as a teenager. Knowing that drug addiction can happen to anyone, I stayed up late writing a letter to my son about Henry's story and the dangers of drug use. (I'll give it to him when he's older.)
I am so, so sad that your beautiful Henry is gone. His story has made a difference to me, and it will stay with me forever.
Love and prayers to you and your family,
Brianne
Katie,
I came to your blog via herbadmother, and have read through your blog entries about Henry and his struggle to live after his assault and overdose. I am so incredibly sad to see he is gone. My heart just aches for you and your family, I am so sad and sorry that his bright light is gone.
If by sharing Henry’s struggles, you help just one family address addiction in their family, you have both made a difference in this world. Thank you so much for sharing with, and enlightening, me.
What a beautiful, beautiful child!
My heart breaks for you, and for all who knew your Henry.
Good luck to you as you move forward.
I am so, so sorry for your loss. My worst fear is that my oldest, now 13, will follow Henry's path. Thank you for sharing his story –
What a beautiful boy. So truly sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry to read this. He looked like an angel.
Katie,
I don't believe I've ever read a nicer obituary – it gave me insights to a young man that I've not seen since he was a baby. My prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time and the days to come. May you find some peace in all the loving thoughts being expressed here and your beautiful memories of Henry.
I'm so sorry for your loss you are in my thoughts.
I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I know words only go so far, but you'll be in my heart.
Condolences from a stranger in San Francisco, touched by your story.
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Our hears and prayers are with you.
I'm just another stranger who was touched by your story. I'm also a parent, and I cannot fathom what you are going through. I'm so incredibly sorry. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. He was a beautiful boy.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am also just a stranger (from Norway), who have read your books and followed your blog. I am so sorry to hear about your loss, and hope whoever did this to your son will be brought to justice. May he rest in peace.
What a beautiful young man. My heart is sinking as I read your story, it is all too familiar to me, struggling with an addicted son, hoping and praying for his recovery. You have been through so much….Praying for God's peace, grace and strength in your life right now and most of all for comfort. I am so sorry for your loss.
The day after I started my own blog, I came across Henry's story and I have been haunted by it since. I don't know you and have only now read your incredible blog, but please know that you are in my prayers. I was so moved by Henry's eyes in every gorgeous picture that I wrote my second blog post about him. I hope you don't mind.
http://playeatlove.blogspot.com/2010/06/henry-lou…
May you and Henry find the peace you both so deserve.