A Moment of Reflection

A father's touching tribute to his daughter.

It's in French, so I have done my best to translate it here:

Tuesday the 28th of August. 4 young girls holding hands ar crossing the street at mirabel to go see some chicks. Three of them were hit. They saw nothing, and heard nothing.

Arriving quickly at the scene, I see Claudie, my daughter, her eyes closed. She is breathing. Her face is not bloody. She is taken to St. Jerome's Hospital, and then to St. Justine's because of the severity of her condition. Social workers came and comforted us. We discussed, reflected, hoped, comforted and consulted with one another. Everything was thoroughly thought through and done with the greatest respect for my daughter.

Sunday, September 1st. Everything that could be done had been. Since Claudie was born at 10:45 AM, we let her go, symbolically, at the same time.

Her liver is now found in the abdomen of a 2-month old girl in grave condition at St. Justine. Her heart beats at the Hotel-Dieu in Quebec. Her lungs breathe in and out in Toronto. Her kidneys were grafted into two different people in Montreal. Her pancreas was also transplanted.

Claudie lives now in 5 different people; she has changed each of their lives. She will be with us for a long time to come.

Dear Claudie, we will never see you again getting ready to leave for school, we won't see you ferreting away at the computer, nor closing the door to your room, nor bathing. We won't see you addressing the steps of adolescence, that magical 10 years, with all your friends, who love you so much, so precious and vital.

Don't worry, we love them as much as you did. They still send you news, writing you cards like Chloe, Alexandra, Fred, Audree, Laurie, Felicia, Maude and others, comforting one another, like jewels in the light.

Thank you for humbling us so with joy. Thirteen unforgettable years of a life like any other, neither more nor less, simply unique. We will forever remind ourselves of all of the joy and all of the pain, all the parties and all of your childhood with Laurence. And the beuatiful young woman, who you are and who you were.

It was a great run, albeit too short. We will remember your elegance, and keep the memory of your name alive.

I was proud and humbled to be your father. Thank you, and now, I embrace you, and give you a hug. I look into your big eyes, so green, so soft, so delicate. Good night, and until tomorrow.