The special place in my heart for Marshall Daniel Mo Potter,
by Dana
L Berube
We found out in February, 2002 that Mark and Laurie were going
to have a baby. Laurie was so creative; she gave us each books
on being Uncles, Aunts, Grandmas, and Grandpas, during our family
tradition of going to Hebert’s Candy Mansion for Valentine
Sundaes. We were all overjoyed and surprised. The thoughts in
my head, were, “Wow…I’m going to be an aunt
for the first time in my life… I’m so excited…I
can have a little niece or nephew to cuddle and play with as
well as care for and do cool things with.” I wanted to
shout for joy. I wanted to buy many baby gifts and spoil the
yet born baby as well as celebrate the life that Mark and Laurie
were bringing into this world. As luck (or destiny) would have
it, I was unemployed at the time and able to help Laurie during
her pregnancy by assisting in her daycare services. I became
licensed to help in a daycare and I got to see her pregnancy
progress as well as meet some really nice children. I got to
feel “the baby” kick sometimes. Laurie and Mark were
not telling the name of the baby until he was born. Then, Marshall
was born in August. Laurie’s brother (Matt, my husband)
and I went to the hospital to see the new parents and new baby.
Unfortunately, the room was very small and the air conditioning
was not functioning properly, however, the love in the room was
overwhelming and it did not matter to the loving friends and
family that packed the room. My heart was full of love for Mark
and Laurie and new baby Marshall. He was the cutest baby I had
ever seen and I was close to tears of joy on behalf of Mark and
Laurie, who by the way, are the nicest people you could ever
meet.
I have only been part of the family for about three
years and I knew how much Mark and Laurie loved children and wanted
their
own family. I was so happy for them that they were starting on
their “family journey” and seeing how much love they
had for their special first baby was so profound, that mere words
cannot describe it.
Laurie’s sister, Caroline journeyed up from
Atlanta, Georgia to be with her sister and to see baby Marshall
and help Laurie
for the next few days. I was happy that the family could be
together and that Marshall got to meet everyone who loved him dearly.
The days following were happy, busy, exciting, full of love,
and rewarding.
I got to hold and cuddle Marshall as often as I was there.
He was so little at first and so angelic. I was amazed that
such
a small baby could elicit such strong feelings of love and
protection, and awe. It is true that life is a miracle. I wanted
to take
him home with me so many times! Laurie was so happy that she
didn’t seem to mind being tired after getting up to feed
Marshall in the night.
I had never seen such a happy mother before. Laurie’s joy was so catchy,
it made me happy just to be there. I wanted to do anything and everything to
help out, although Laurie was not ready to be parted from Marshall for any
length of time, she politely declined my offers of babysitting so that she
could sleep.
I had so
many dreams and plans for doing stuff with Marshall, like everyone
else
that was involved with him. Marshall will
always live in our hearts. I have a special place for him and
I know he is in my life. My sister’s baby, born after Marshall,
in November, is precocious in many ways (he lifted his head up
hours after being born and held it up for minutes at a time)
and my only explanation is that Marshall is an angel and teaching
him and helping him go beyond what is normal for a baby his age.
I feel that Marshall has found his freedom to move and express
himself and be heard.
When I held Marshall, and I looked into his eyes, I could see
knowledge, power and depth of soul that you don’t see in
ordinary babies. He loved his mom and dad, his grandparents,
and his aunts and uncles. He loved his friends. His love was
deep and he expressed it by the radiant smiles he would give
and the strong grip as he held your finger. He trusted us to
do right by him and to care for him, which we did with all of
our strength by uniting together and supporting Mark and Laurie
during the difficult time after Marshall’s diagnosis. At
this time, I felt sorrow, and a deep sense of loss, ultimately,
for the future, for what had yet to be. A loss of Marshall learning
how to ride a bike, or play with a puppy, or take his first steps,
or say his first word, or hug his mom and dad for the first time.
It was like the wind was knocked out of our sails and the rudder
had broken off.
Our family pulled together and it’s power helped Mark and
Laurie help Marshall. I am very grateful to have been touched
by such awesome influences. Mark and Laurie’s house is
a blessed house as it holds Love, Caring, Tenderness, and Spirit,
and Unity through generations of family power. Marshall holds
a special place in my heart as he is Love. Love of the most revered
kind, a giving love, and a receiving love, a knowing love, a
spiritual love, and a love of life. He knew all of these and
he showed us the best way he could, by being here with us.
.
