Thank you for being his Forever Friend
Our Dearest Son Dominick,
As I sit here and write this letter to you I have to fight back tears. A whole new set of tears.
I’ve shed what feels like a million of them since that ‘diagnosis day,’ but haven’t let myself feel these.
These are the tears I cry for you Dominick.
They are tears of worry, of guilt, of sadness but above all happiness.
Happiness that you were our first born. That you were our typical son. That you gave us a chance to experience a childhood free of autism.
I’ll forever be grateful for those years filled with stories about your day, school plays and strolling through the bookstore together.
I’ll never forget the day you found out you were going to be a big brother. I couldn’t wait to tell you but was also a little hesitant.
We had shared great news like this with you once before but then sadly lost the baby.
I felt in my heart this time was going to be different and when we told you the news you smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen. A look of such joy!
I always knew you would be a great big brother and role model for Jaxon.
You have the biggest heart and you have always put others before yourself. We couldn’t be more proud of you.
We’re proud of how you’ll go out of your way to help strangers wherever we are. Proud of you for always looking out for Jaxon.
You share with him at times I’m sure you don’t want to. You put him first at times when you deserve to be selfish.
You smile at times I know you want to cry. You are so kind and beyond thoughtful to this family.
I’ll never forget the time you went to the amusement park with your aunt and cousins. Your father had work and I was much too pregnant to go anywhere.
She told us that you’d spent the very last of your spending money that day on gifts for us.
You bought Daddy and I our favorite candy and bought Jaxon a special ornament with his name on it for his first Christmas.
That’s the amazing person you are Dominick.
This leads me to…I’m Sorry…
I’m sorry for the day we had to tell you your brother is different. I’m sorry that I saw the pain in your eyes but was too upset to comfort you.
It broke my heart when you asked us not to talk about it and ran up the stairs.
I’m sorry you couldn’t play all the sports you wanted this year because practice and therapy appointments overlapped.
I’m sorry we don’t do more fun things together because Jaxon can’t handle them for very long.
Most of all I’m sorry if you feel we don’t have enough time for you or that you come second to this life.
We will always be here for you no matter where life takes you.
Your actions speak volumes of the love you have for your brother. The way you silently support him everyday by wearing your Autism bracelet.
We are beyond THANKFUL for you Dom.
You are by far the most thoughtful, caring and selfless young man we could ever dream of calling our son.
These are just some of the reasons why I’m certain that just as God has chosen us as Jaxon’s parents that he has also chosen you Dominick.
You are Jaxon’s amazing big brother and his forever friend!
Written by, Heather Gibson
My name is Heather and I am a devoted wife and mother. My husband Brad and I have been married almost 14 years and have two amazing sons Dominick and Jaxon. Our sweet boy Jaxon has severe nonverbal autism. While it’s not the journey you plan for we wouldn’t trade a day of it. You can follow our journey on Facebook at Jaxon’s Junction.
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