February 16, 2019
Avery Hayden Huffman.
2/16/16.
Three years ago today, you took your final breath. Not a day, barely a minute, goes by where we’re not thinking of you, missing you, loving you.
Your bravery becomes even more incredible to us, the further away we get from that February day, three years ago.
Our hearts are still broken, only saved by the memories of you we hold so deeply in them.
It brings tears to our eyes, to know you couldn’t say goodbye to us with your own voice, or that you loved us, because DIPG didn’t spare any thing in its horrific, completely unfair destruction.
But Avery, we know you love us. We know you would have wanted to say goodbye. You would have told us not to be sad, told us we’d be ok. We’re not sure how we will be ok, we’re not sure we will ever be anything but sad, but knowing you, seeing you fight, seeing you live, we know you would have told us that everything will be ok.
We’ve continued your fight. We are fighting back, in your name, in your honor, in our way of showing that your fight wasn’t in vain.
The foundation we’ve started in your name, we’ve raised about a half million dollars in three years. Every cent we raise is for a cure, for doctors and scientists to find something to help others who are sick like you were. Every event, every word, every motivation, is to find the cure that you were robbed of.
The story of you we tell, it makes people cry, it breaks their heart, but it also makes them want to join in our fight.
Because they hear about the bravest, strongest, move incredible little girl we’ve ever had the privilege of meeting, and they want to do something about it.
Avery, we will never, ever, stop telling your story. We will never stop celebrating your life. We will never stop fighting back.
Because you never, ever stopped.
And the best way to show the impact you made on us is to continue to make an impact in your name.
And the best way to show our love for you, is to love each other that much more, to keep telling people about you and keep people saying your name.
Because we miss you, kiddo, more than words can describe. And the little comfort we get comes from hearing people tell us how incredible you were, how much you inspire them, and how much they want to honor you.
It has been a long three years. It feels like an eternity ago. But yet it still almost feels like yesterday where we said goodbye to you here on earth.
Just remember and know, Avery, how much you are loved, how much you are missed and know you won’t ever be forgotten.
You’re in our hearts, forever.
#AveryStrong #DefeatDIPG #EveryDay #ForeverSixOfUs
Dad, Mom, Alex, Cade and Addison
