Today I found out that one of my former students died at the age of 12. It was an accident and my heart and prayers go out to his family. He was one of our special needs kids and I had him at various times during my student teaching. I also had the privilege of continuing to work at the same school and continued to see him daily.
I can't tell you how much this young man meant to me and our entire school. He was one of the sweetest souls I have ever come in contact with. I am truly grateful that he is in heaven and his mind and body are now perfect. I know this with all my heart and there is not one person on this Earth who can tell me otherwise.
These are the things I most remember……
I remember his love of running. He would run against anybody crazy enough to want to race him. There weren't too many kids he couldn't beat.
He was so helpful…. whether it was a ball that went too far off the playground or a stack of papers that a student or teacher dropped, he was the first one to help.
His loud "Good Morning Mrs. Hurley!" as he would come by my door in the morning. I can still hear his voice.
His hugs….. He was never content to just tell you how pretty he thought you were or how good of a teacher you were…. he always had to hug us. That boy was the biggest hugger of anyone I know. He would come at you so fast and determined to give you the biggest hug of your life. We would have to say," whoa…slow down buddy" before he got to us or we ran the risk of getting knocked over backwards from his hugs.
His infectious laugh….he would get so tickled by the most random things. Things we overlook everyday. All I had to do was hear him laugh and I couldn't help but smile no matter how stressed or tired I was.
His fierce loyalty to those he loved….as sweet as he was, he was not above trying to take up for others when he thought their feelings were hurt. I can remember him telling others that what they said was "not nice" and to "stop it". Many times I remember him helping the littlest kids in our school on the playground. Even with his physical and mental challenges he loved helping the little ones.
Last but not least….this makes me cry whenever I think about it….I was pregnant the entire time I was at his school. Every morning and almost EVERY TIME he saw me he asked, "How's your baby doing Mrs. Hurley?" He would pat my belly and would even occasionally give it a kiss. He was always so concerned about the little baby in my belly. When the kids were being rowdy or even if a kid tried to hug me, he would say "You better be careful or you might hurt Mrs. Hurley's baby." I am grateful Caden had such a wonderful soul loving on him and looking out for him before he was even in this world. He even brought Caden a stuffed animal from his own house as a baby present...I still have it.
After he went on to Jr. High, I saw him one day at the park. He was running (imagine that) with his cousin. I called out to him and he didn't recognize me. His cousin reminded him of all the reasons why he should know me and it finally clicked…..he gave me that goofy wave and that wonderful, bright, beautiful smile of his. I will never forget that day…thank you, my sweet angel friend.