Brennon Andrew was born on July 10th, 1986. From the very beginning we knew that there was something special about him; something intangible...a quality that could be felt when you were holding him. We spoke of this occasionally, his mother and I, both fearful that we wouldn't have him very long. Several times over the next 22 months he experienced seizures and stopped breathing, for no apparent reason. The Doctors ordered tests to find a cause, but the results always came back negative. In the end, it didn't really matter...
Brennon died several days after falling into our swimming pool. When the pool was first built it had a safety cover which operated by motor, and which could be walked on without falling through. A faulty design did not allow water to drain properly from its surface ultimately requiring replacment of this cover. The new cover prevented the initial attempts to find Brennon after he wandered away while his aunt answered the phone.
Although the pool was enclosed with a 6 foot high fence, it was accessible through the kitchen patio door. As an R.N. and a CPR Instructor, I had taught our children Basic Life Support. They learned Water Safety Training through the American Red Cross. Although these skills allowed us a few days to say our goodbyes, they were not enough.
To Brennon's parents he was the center of their world, to his Nana, Papa, Uncle Buddy, and other family members he was known as "Boy-Boy". To me he will always be Brennon, my Special Angel, a joy and a wonder to all of us who knew him.
Eventually, three brothers came to bless the family. The first, known as the "Little Heart-mender", came 9 months after we buried our angel. His arrival began the process of easing the pain and sorrow brought by Brennon's death. Our heart-mender was followed by two more brothers, who now complete the circle.
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