beautiful_mess38
Dec 19, 2008, 01:10 PM
Makenzie Hagerman, a senior at Yosemite High School, is taking on an emotional and very expensive senior project in honor of her little sister Madison. Losing a child is one of the hardest things any family will have to endure. Whether it is the unborn, the school aged or the adult child, the emptiness and pain that it brings is life shattering.
Makenzie lost her little sister Madison, when whe was only 2 1/2 years old in an accidental drowning. Madison is survived by her siblings, Makenzie who was eight at the time and her brother Chase who was only six. At the time of the accident the family lived on Marco Island in Florida. Her parents owned and operated three assisted living homes and the only dance studio on the island.
Then it happened on a beautiful day. Everyone was at the retirement home was playing bingo and having lunch. Residents were in the pool earlier that day and then the kids went swimming and were being watched by a nurse. When it was time to leave, Madison's mother Teena asked the nurse where Madison was, but the nurse didnt' know.
Teena quickly began to search and discovered Madison at the bottem of the pool. She quickly dove into the pool and started CPR. "I thought she was going to start breathing again just like in the movies. And I kept saying, Come on Madison come on". Teena said "please come back to me!"
The firefighters that we knew well, came in with such a force. They all knew Madison as marco Island was a small town. We could not believe this was happening to our family. When we got to the hospital the doctor told us the horrible news and we all had to say good bye to Madison.
Our lives were changed forever and we decided to leave Marco Island to get a new start and to be closer to family. Before we left the island, a lady approached my mom and asked if we wanted to bring The Christmas Box Angel to Marco Island. For awhile we were too lost in grief to even think of doing such a thing. Then we finally read the story about how she came about and our family decided to help.
My family, friends and the community that had lost children, put together a show to help raise money. The angel came two days before we left Marco Island to start our new lives in Coarsegold. The community bought a bench in honor of Madison and we purchased a brick. When I sat beside the Christmas Box Angel I could here the wind chimes as the wind blew across my face and I felt like Madison was there with me.
It will be ten years since Madison went to be with God on May 20th. As Madison's big sister, I wanted to do something for her with my senior project. My family agreed that bringing the angel here would be a beautiful way to provide a healing place for those in our community who have lost beautiful children. The Oakhurst Cemetery has donated the land for the angel. There are only ninety angels in the country and she would be the first angel in San Joaquin Valley and the 3rd in California.
The Angel stands 4'3" tall with a wingspan of five feet. her face tips upward looking at the sky and her arms are outstretched, palms up. On her right wing the word "hope" is inscribed amid her etched feathers. On the base, the angel and surroundings are inspired by the story "The Christmas Box Angel" by Richard Paul Evans.
Memorial bricks, set at the base of the angel, list the names of lost children and the people who love them. Every year these names are read off as friends and family members attend the December 6th candlelight memorial.
Attendees are invited to bring a white flower to leave at the base of the angel in memory of thier loved ones. The cost of the angel and the base is approximately $20,000. We need the community , local businesses and community leaders to reach out and help us bring her to the mountains. To order bricks you can pick up an order form from the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite Bank or call Teena Hagerman at 658-7013.
You can make a donation to the Chrismas Box Angel at Yosemite Bank or send your donation to the Christmas Box Angel c/o Teena Hagerman, 43613 Patrick Ave Coarsegold Ca 93614
Every donation of $50. or more will be acknowledged on a perpetual plaque that stands with the angel. Bricks run from $125. to $250. Benches engraved with your business or your loved ones name can be ordered and placed for $1,000. Please visit our website at oakhurstxmasbox.net to place an order or look at the angel or tell us your story.
If you have lost a child and need someone to talk to or a place to go to talk to others go online to compassionatefriends.org.
footnote:
I have known the Hagermans for 5 years. I met Teena when a friend of mine invited me to dance at her studio. She owned Coarsegold Performing Arts here in YLP. Myself and my daughters danced at her studio for 4 years. She sold the studio and opened the assisted living home. The Hagermans also have horses at the barn. Teena has always made me laugh and I have watched Makenzie grow into the beautiful young lady that she is. I wish her the best of luck on this project.
Makenzie lost her little sister Madison, when whe was only 2 1/2 years old in an accidental drowning. Madison is survived by her siblings, Makenzie who was eight at the time and her brother Chase who was only six. At the time of the accident the family lived on Marco Island in Florida. Her parents owned and operated three assisted living homes and the only dance studio on the island.
Then it happened on a beautiful day. Everyone was at the retirement home was playing bingo and having lunch. Residents were in the pool earlier that day and then the kids went swimming and were being watched by a nurse. When it was time to leave, Madison's mother Teena asked the nurse where Madison was, but the nurse didnt' know.
Teena quickly began to search and discovered Madison at the bottem of the pool. She quickly dove into the pool and started CPR. "I thought she was going to start breathing again just like in the movies. And I kept saying, Come on Madison come on". Teena said "please come back to me!"
The firefighters that we knew well, came in with such a force. They all knew Madison as marco Island was a small town. We could not believe this was happening to our family. When we got to the hospital the doctor told us the horrible news and we all had to say good bye to Madison.
Our lives were changed forever and we decided to leave Marco Island to get a new start and to be closer to family. Before we left the island, a lady approached my mom and asked if we wanted to bring The Christmas Box Angel to Marco Island. For awhile we were too lost in grief to even think of doing such a thing. Then we finally read the story about how she came about and our family decided to help.
My family, friends and the community that had lost children, put together a show to help raise money. The angel came two days before we left Marco Island to start our new lives in Coarsegold. The community bought a bench in honor of Madison and we purchased a brick. When I sat beside the Christmas Box Angel I could here the wind chimes as the wind blew across my face and I felt like Madison was there with me.
It will be ten years since Madison went to be with God on May 20th. As Madison's big sister, I wanted to do something for her with my senior project. My family agreed that bringing the angel here would be a beautiful way to provide a healing place for those in our community who have lost beautiful children. The Oakhurst Cemetery has donated the land for the angel. There are only ninety angels in the country and she would be the first angel in San Joaquin Valley and the 3rd in California.
The Angel stands 4'3" tall with a wingspan of five feet. her face tips upward looking at the sky and her arms are outstretched, palms up. On her right wing the word "hope" is inscribed amid her etched feathers. On the base, the angel and surroundings are inspired by the story "The Christmas Box Angel" by Richard Paul Evans.
Memorial bricks, set at the base of the angel, list the names of lost children and the people who love them. Every year these names are read off as friends and family members attend the December 6th candlelight memorial.
Attendees are invited to bring a white flower to leave at the base of the angel in memory of thier loved ones. The cost of the angel and the base is approximately $20,000. We need the community , local businesses and community leaders to reach out and help us bring her to the mountains. To order bricks you can pick up an order form from the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite Bank or call Teena Hagerman at 658-7013.
You can make a donation to the Chrismas Box Angel at Yosemite Bank or send your donation to the Christmas Box Angel c/o Teena Hagerman, 43613 Patrick Ave Coarsegold Ca 93614
Every donation of $50. or more will be acknowledged on a perpetual plaque that stands with the angel. Bricks run from $125. to $250. Benches engraved with your business or your loved ones name can be ordered and placed for $1,000. Please visit our website at oakhurstxmasbox.net to place an order or look at the angel or tell us your story.
If you have lost a child and need someone to talk to or a place to go to talk to others go online to compassionatefriends.org.
footnote:
I have known the Hagermans for 5 years. I met Teena when a friend of mine invited me to dance at her studio. She owned Coarsegold Performing Arts here in YLP. Myself and my daughters danced at her studio for 4 years. She sold the studio and opened the assisted living home. The Hagermans also have horses at the barn. Teena has always made me laugh and I have watched Makenzie grow into the beautiful young lady that she is. I wish her the best of luck on this project.