Because of You

Sgt. Merenda~

Before the police responded,

before the ambulances rounded the corner,

before the EMTs were in action,

before the doctors and nurses were able to put years of expertise to good use,

YOU WERE THERE!

In the worst moment of my family’s history, you were one of the first on the scene to help. We will forever hold you in high regard. I know what you are thinking, “I was just at the right place at the right time.” Yes, I agree, you were at the right place at the right time, but it goes much further than that. You, were actually trained and willing to assist. As I have found in talking to many people, even when others are trained, they are (in many cases) not willing to help out.

On that street, in that moment, it was you who gave Aviana her very first chance at survival. It may very well have ended in that moment. Instead of the doctors telling us, “It’s a long shot, but if we work fast, there is an emergency surgery we can try.” He may have been telling us, “I’m sorry, she didn’t make it.”

With every surgery, with every bit of progress, your face flashes before our very eyes. Many things we experience on a daily basis are first and foremost, because of you. We may never have had the opportunity to look into her beautiful brown eyes again. We may never have been blessed to witness the most incredible fighting spirit we have ever seen. We would never have been able to watch her survive and thrive through six intense surgeries. We would never again have been able to grab her up and love on her to no end. We would never have observed the true miracle of seeing this girl, the one that was pretty much written off, not only sit up on her very own, but stay there for five full minutes. We would not have experienced the beauty of her pulling her little body, with all her might, over to and on top of her best girl...Kama! We would have had to plan a dreaded funeral rather than a beautiful 3rd birthday and welcome home party. We would never have felt the incredible love and gratefulness we feel as we gladly fulfill her every need. The list is truly endless.

You are on our minds all of the time. You were so much more than simply in the right place at the right time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love you from the bottom of our hearts.

Dave, Jen & Aviana