The Blue Ribbon Gala is a magical night. It is my absolute honor to attend each year. So many people come together to support Marley's Mission and their vision. I always look forward to spending the night with fabulous people. This year was even more special. My daughter was old enough to attend and she got to present the Remembering Zachary Award with me to a very special man.

She’s empowered me to realize the potential of what one person can do.

Because of her tenacity and take charge attitude I have experienced some of the most memorable times of my life.

I thought something like graduating college would make my top 10 list, but I’m not sure it does anymore. That was a day for ME. I’ve realized since I met April that some of the best days I’ve had were because of what we could do for OTHERS.

You know how when a woman is in labor and her significant other has sympathy pains. They can feel the labor as if it's their own. Well I'm having "sympathy grief." At least that's what I'm calling it. I'm seeing someone else's grief and feeling it as my own.

I decided that today I would share with you something that's haunted me for nearly 10 years. They are just words. But they are BIG words. REAL words. They are bold. They can't be erased or undone. They were public words. Sometimes the words were accurate. Sometimes the words were sensationalized. Sometimes the words stung. But the thing that has haunted me for so long has been these words.

432,000 seconds
7200 minutes
120 hours
5 days

10 years ago these next five days passed and I didn't realize anything out of the ordinary was wrong with Zachary. He came home sick from daycare the day before.Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday passed. Tuesday would be his last.