About Declan

"Now your soul lives in heaven with God, and you sing happily with the angels." - Little Saints

Declan was born on September 24, 2018 at 38 weeks and one day. While Declan was quiet and sleepy for his first few days of life, that quickly changed and he became a demanding baby who knew what he wanted and was determined to get it. It was apparent, early on, that Declan had things to do and people to see. He was not satisfied with babyish pursuits and had little interest in his bottle or typical infant activities. Declan preferred to keep up with his older brother, Elijah, and demanded adult food (pureed baby food was not acceptable). As soon as he was able, he wiggled, crawled, and eventually walked after Elijah with smiles and giggles.

As Declan grew he turned into a easygoing, happy toddler who continued to love to eat and was constantly on the go. Declan's favorite food was raspberries, although there wasn't much that he would turn down. Declan was a climber and displayed little hesitation when getting himself into precarious situations. Declan loved playing with Elijah and always made sure that he was included in anything fun that was going on. Declan was quick to copy Elijah and also enjoyed instigating trouble. Declan (and the rest of us) found himself to be hilarious. He loved opening the freezer, stealing ice cubes and then showing them off. He pouted when he was told to put them back. He snuck into the shower early in the morning, fully clothed, while we took our showers and would look up at us smiling.

Declan was a true joy to be around. He was and is the light of our lives and our purpose on this earth. Losing him, especially under such shocking circumstances, has tested our faith, our sanity, and our interest in earthly pursuits. Through the tragedy of losing Declan, one common theme has emerged. Our job now, as Declan's parents, is to honor him by keeping his memory alive and working to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other children and their families. This is the purpose of the Declan's Day Foundation. We know that Declan is by our sides, cheering us on, and helping us along the way.