Matty's & Caleb's 12th birthday benefitting RF Marching Band

June 21,2012 changed our family’s lives forever. Our beautiful, much prayed for twin sons, Matthew and Caleb were born at 26 weeks, four days after a difficult, high-risk pregnancy. Matthew, lovingly known as Matty to us, only lived for mere moments. His 12 ounce body was just too small for medical intervention. We were blessed to have 46 beautiful and hard days with Caleb before he went to be with Matty and Jesus. Our lives were shattered, and our hearts were broken when our sweet boys died.

In the almost 12 years since the boys have been gone, our prayer has been that their lives would still have meaning. We have worked as a family, alongside the people who have loved and supported us to create a legacy of good in Matty’s and Caleb’s memory. We have done school supply drives, donated recording devices for NICU parents, taken dinner to our local firehouse (because all little boys want to be a firefighter, don’t they?),and done random acts of kindness. We have sponsored kiddos to play sports, taken breakfast to the police station, bought meals for strangers, and many other things to love people well, just as Matty and Caleb would have had they lived.

Because the boys would be starting middle school this year and we live in an economically depressed school community, we are choosing to help the River Forest Golden Ingot Marching Band purchase much needed items for the percussion section. Music is so important to me, the boys’ father, and so many people who love them. There is no doubt that Matty and Caleb would have shared that love for music. I imagine they would have followed in their big sister, Riley’s footsteps and joined the RF Golden Ingot Marching Band as well.

As a proud former band mom, I can tell you how hard these kiddos work to perform an excellent routine each halftime, pep rally, parade, and concert. Their instructor, Bridget Flory, pours her heart and soul into her students. I know she would give them the world if she could. But we are all aware that when school budgets are created, the arts are the first thing cut. Bridget has shared a list of almost $38,000 of instruments and marching supplies that are lacking or need to be upgraded. The students and their families cannot afford to purchase these items. The school district cannot either.

It would mean so very much to Riley and me if you would help us honor Matthew and Caleb this year as they celebrate their 12th birthday in heaven by donating to this GoFundMe to support the RF Golden Ingot Marching Band.

I am being realistic in the goal we are setting. I would love to raise $1500.00 to help these band kids. I know for so many kids, band, choir, and art are their safe place. I would hope my boys would have had that if they needed it.

Thank you for helping us celebrate Matthew and Caleb. We love you all.