Today is Donnie’s birthday. The first one he will celebrate without you. You were there with me on the day he was born. I was having a very difficult labor and delivery was going wrong. You had to be outside the door but you would not let anyone take you away from that little window. You kept telling me you were there and I could hear you. They rushed my little boy out of the room and I could hear you following them down the hall demanding to know everything. I knew he was going to be okay because you were with him when I couldn’t be. When I was finally able to go into a room it was you who presented me with my first born son for the first time. You stayed with him during his terrifying first moments on earth and was the first to hold him and comfort him after the team was done. You were involved with his life from that day to your last day. On his day of his birth I find myself remembering your voice outside the door being there with me through my most terrifying moments and I remember your voice fading as you followed your grandson to be with him for his.