Welcome and Eulogy for Alison

 Paige McCain

These past few days have been the hardest of our lives. We are so thankful for the support and love that we have received from our family and friends. We are in awe of everything that you’ve done for us over the past few days. Every word and gesture has made this easier for us to bear. Thank you for sharing our love and pain, our gratitude goes beyond what we are able to express.

We picked the name Alison Paige with surprising ease. It just came to us one night as we were waiting for a seat at a restaurant.

“What do you think of the name Alison” Jesse asked Evonne.

”I love it,” she said. And that was that.

The first thing we did when we found out we were pregnant was to run out to a local bookstore and buy all the baby books we thought we could read. We also bought a journal and started a baby book for her. We filled it with our thoughts and dreams, and her ultrasound pictures. When Alison grew up, we wanted her to be able to read about what a wonderful experience she had been, this precious time in our lives.

Over the next few months we started reading to Alison from a book of Disney stories that her Aunt Jessie had given us. We played classical music for her and talked to her while she kicked back.

In February we went to the doctor’s for an ultrasound. That’s when we found out we’d be calling our baby Alison.  We wanted to keep this a secret but it seems like everyone knew she was a girl… or at least thought they did.

Evonne chose this journal for the poem in its cover… 

Desiderata

Alison surprised us by coming into this world so early. She was born at 2:16pm, the very same moment that spring arrived. It was amazing to see her for the first time, and the love that we had started feeling for her in Evonne’s tummy, was so much greater than we ever could have imagined.

The time that we spent with her was beautiful. We knew it was limited but we were blessed to have it. As we held her, it began to snow. Appropriate for someone we had lovingly called ‘Snowflake.’ We were struck by the parallel between the snowy arrival of spring and the early departure of our daughter.  Neither were supposed to enter this way and neither could stay because it wasn’t their time.

Alison was perfect: she had Evonne’s nose and Jesse’s feet. She was just big enough to sit on Jesse’s palm with her head on his fingertips. She didn’t fuss, she just gave us all her warmth and listened to us tell her how much we loved her. We held her in our arms and kissed her little face. We held her hand and touched her cheeks. Alison was so beautiful.

She died in our arms, surrounded by our love. She went as quietly into heaven as she came into this world.

We know that she will always be with us, she will always be in our hearts. Alison Paige will always be our first baby, and our guardian angel. We know that she is safe in heaven, and that our loved ones who went there before her are watching over her and protecting her. It’s always warm and sunny in heaven and she will always be happy and comfortable. She will never know any pain or sorrow or fear, only love.

She will always be our daughter, Alison Paige.

Alison went to heaven with a few precious items. Mamie and Pepe McCain bought a small wooden toy chest to place her in, and Grandma Brent made a beautiful afghan that she was wrapped in. Ali was dressed in a onesie that Daddy bought for her and a hat from Mamie. Ali’s mommy gave her a small blue bunny to keep her company on her journey.

Alison’s box was made with love by Aunt Jessie, Grandma Brent, Mamie, and Mommy. 

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

(Lord’s prayer)

This page was last updated by Jesse McCain on 04/25/2006.