True Story

Flashback: Christi, age 2 1/2 years with Darrin creating "art" (or something like that, hee hee) on my kitchen floor, spring 2000



For fear of individuals (or possible mass groups, hee hee) telling me, "You're crazy!" I've been a bit reluctant to share this story, but it did happen to us and I feel very, very close to Christi as a result - so here goes:

A few days before Christi died I knew I wanted to have her thumbprint captured on a necklace of some sort. I didn’t really know how it could be done, but I knew while she was still alive I could capture the prints and worry about the realities of it later. We're very lucky to have an incredible jewlrey store in our small town. I asked the nurses for molding clay, model magic, plaster, ink pads – anything I could think of that might work. (Hey – Shayne had those sweet, sweet nurses doing his laundry I could at least ask for some help too, right? Hee hee) I started capturing Christi’s thumbprints. (Meanwhile, an amazing Christi supporter from the other side of the country read the blog about this endeavor and he soon overnighted a wax molding kit to do just this. I wasn’t certain how it would turn out, but I was hopeful about the possibilities. More about Christi’s awesome Charm/Necklace later; our fellow neuroblastoma friends will be very excited!)

Two days after Christi was buried I went to Jeffrey’s Jewelry Store with all of the Christi thumbprints I had collected and talked with them about what I wanted to do. They had never heard of what I was thinking, but were very open to what I had in mind. I knew they'd work tirelessly to get what I wanted. While I looked around their lovely store, they put phone calls in to see what custom necklace could be created. It was decided that they would try to capture the actual ridges, by using one of the molds I had saved instead of using the ink pad prints. I couldn't wait to see it.

A few weeks went by and then I received a phone call that my order was in. With my heart beating so hard, I went back to Jeffrey’s praying I’d like the necklace. Well, there could be no doubt about it, it’s my new prized possession. (And they made me leave their store with tears of gratitude pouring down my face as they wouldn’t let me pay for it.) It’s stunning. It has to be VERY expensive! This photo I snapped simply does not due it justice at all.

Jeffrey’s put the beautiful thumbprint charm on the same necklace which lovingly holds Christi’s crucifix necklace, beautiful engraved with her birthdate: 5-12-97. This is the gorgeous necklace Christi picked out for her first Holy Communion, back in the spring of 2004 when we had a two hour delay from school. At that time I asked Jeffrey’s to only let her pick from the adult sized cross necklaces because if/when she died, I intended to make it my necklace to remind me of her. I loved Christi’s choice and not only did she wear it in her casket, but she wore it many other times as well. (She was buried with her “Chatty Cathy” necklace which matches her friends’ necklaces and this one was removed for me to wear and treasure before her casket lid was closed.)

About ten short days after I had received the beautiful necklace, a near disaster almost took place. My neck and upper back has been so stiff and tight it’s been very difficult for me to move with great ease. I was also not able to take off my necklace at night so when I was getting Shayla ready for bed I asked her to please take it off for me. I sat on the floor so I wouldn’t have to bend my neck down because it hurts so bad and she carefully removed the clasp for me. She handed me the crucifix but she didn’t know where the necklace or the charm was. I looked all around the floor where I was sitting and then got up and walked out into the hallway where I took off my sweatshirt and “ta-da” the chain fell to the floor. Still, I could not find Christi’s thumbprint charm despite the fact I was now without clothing and we were searching and searching. In tears I called for Shayne to help us look for Christi’s thumbprint. We had not left the area and it was no where to be found. It was not stuck to either any of us. I was crying so hard and begging Christi and God to help us locate it. After forty five minutes we gave up, Shayla went to bed and I went downstairs crying and talked with Shayne for a while before heading up and crawling into bed.

Many times throughout the night I woke up with worry about losing my beautiful necklace. In the morning, I got up and went downstairs where I learned Shayla had a two hour delay from school due to fog. I went upstairs to see if I could get back to sleep for a little bit and when I sat on the edge of my bed, I felt something cold. I reached down and sure enough – there on my side of the bed was Christi’s thumbprint!! I shouted and woke everyone up, but they were as shocked and happy as I was. (Keep in mind our bed is on the opposite side of the room from where the necklace was removed and from where I took off my clothing out in the hallway. Keep in mind that our bed was made on the night we were frantically searching.)

I’m certain naysayers will tell me that somehow it flew off of my necklace and across the room and got under the blankets all by itself, or that it was stuck to my body before I went to bed, but we are convinced that Christi is indeed with us when we need her. THANK YOU, dear Christi! You truly are amazing and I believe your spirit indeed lives on!!

Yesterday, Shayla received her first pair of glasses. We think she looks darling and oh so much older! (Picture: Wearing Christi's shirt, Shayla receives her new glasses.)