Birthday Wishes

Today is my birthday. Friday is Ty’s birthday.  He should be turning six years old.  On behalf of the Foundation, I am so grateful to my great friend Meghan for making THIS happen at theory in NYC J.   Ty’s birthday will be celebrated at the coolest store location in Manhattan – the Ganzevoort location.  Starting Thursday, the store is offering 10 percent off all purchases, and an additional 10 percent of all proceeds going to the TLC Foundation.  Such a simple way to contribute.  We are so happy to be teaming up with such a high-style brand. 

Last week I also read books to the students at Wingdale and Dover Elementary Schools during their now-annual TLC Pajama Day Fundraiser.  I especially enjoyed reading “The Adventures of SuperTy and Gavin” because it gave me the opportunity to answer questions about Ty – the kids were all so curious and so caring.  We raised a lot of money for the cause, and we hope many other schools that hosted PJ Day fundraisers last year will do so again this year.  For information on how to bring this idea to your child’s school, preschool or daycare, please email thetlcfoundation@gmail.com.  I promise the SuperTy book, along with some new SuperTy tees, will be available for online purchase very soon!

Exactly one year ago.  Our favorite smile of the day.

Needless to say, the only gift I wanted for today was to have my angel baby back, so the second best “gift” was to let this day come and go like any other day.  I wanted to ignore it and just get through it.  I didn’t want to hear a single “happy birthday” or have that stupid song sung to me by a birthday cake – but my family wouldn’t allow such deprivation.  They sang “Crappy birthday to you” with smiles and tears. And friends sent me hundreds of well wishes via Facebook, text messages, flowers and emails (thank you). After Gavin went to sleep, Lou told me that he had a surprise for me.  He asked me to wait in the other room while he got my present ready.  At first, I daydreamed the sweetest imaginary dream in the whole wide world.  In my crazy head I imagined walking into the room, and finding the greatest most impossible birthday surprise – my beautiful boy back, sitting in his designated spot on the couch with a smile that could warm a stone. 

As I waited, I realized what he was doing and I started to cry before I even walked into the room.  He was setting something up on the TV.  It had to be home movies of Ty.   Lou called me into the room, he had a glass of wine waiting for me, and he hit play.  It was so much more than random home movies of Ty.  Lou always does things to the umpteenth degree.  He had Donna (the great, unstoppable, most loving DONNA) work on a 15 minute long compilation that was set to the most beautiful music you can imagine.  I watched videos of Ty cooing in his crib, eating his first foods, dancing before he could even walk, and so much more.  I heard his beautiful voice.  His laughter.  Over and over again, I saw him run across the room and kiss me.  I don’t know how she found so many perfect videos of Ty – some that I didn’t ever remember seeing before. 

I cried through the entire thing.  Loud, ugly, hysterical sobs.  I could NOT BREATHE.  It literally took my breath away.  No words were exchanged through its entirety.  I just took it all in and relished in the beauty of my love lost.  Although I could barely get the words out, I told Lou afterward that it was the best gift I’ve ever gotten and that no gift can ever top it while I’m still here on Earth.  That the only better gift would be Ty himself. 

Lou and I have something very special planned for Friday to celebrate Ty’s birthday.  I will wait until then to share, but we have been working on this fitting tribute for a long time and I can’t wait to share the news with you this weekend.  In the meantime, I received messages from friends who have also made plans of their own to honor Ty on his birthday, and I couldn’t feel more blessed.  Some have planned balloon releases and sky lantern launches.  Another friend is donating her beautiful long hair.  Donna gave platelets just yesterday.  Here is an excerpt from an email I received just minutes ago:

I was trying to come up with a way to celebrate Ty this year and every year on his birthday.  I believe it is a day that everyone who knows and loves Ty should “pay it forward” in his honor.  Something big or something little.  Doesn’t matter!  I made an appointment to donate my long hair on Friday!  I’ve been thinking about how easy it would be for all of us to do one little thing to celebrate him.  A simple donation to his charity, pay for someone’s groceries or their coffee at the drive through and remember to say “this is from someone that loves Ty Campbell.  Get to know him at SuperTy.org!” 

Please celebrate Ty on Friday.  The weather is supposed to be incredibly beautiful, as it should be, and I know you will be thinking of him as the red leaves are beginning to fall.  XOXO.  Thank you for your continued love and support. 

PS - This is how Ty slept, ALWAYS.  With his arms wrapped tightly around my neck, or Lou's neck, or whoever was lucky enough to put him to bed.  He was made of pure love.  No ladybugs lately, but I came home and found a ladybug sticker on the floor in my kitchen.  I cleaned this kitchen from top-to-bottom this morning and she wasn't here when I left the house.  I think it's cool that she was right there in plain sight upon my return.  Happy crappy birthday to me :)