My wife Kara wrote this about our son. It was published in the Bellingham Herald today. They included an online version here.
Our precious son Mark Russell Swayne, born at 5:22 am on September 7 died at Children’s Hospital on September 12, 2007 at 1:27 pm of a severe neuromuscular disorder. Parents, Rusty and Kara Swayne, grieve this tremendous loss but find comfort in knowing that he is free of the pain that overwhelmed his short life. He will forever remain in the hearts of his loving sister, Olivia, grandparents, Bob and Marsha Alan, Gordon and Debbie Belka, Vicci Thompson, and Mark and Gayle Swayne, and the many family and friends that were anxiously awaiting his arrival. A service will be held at the First Congregational Church on Cornwall Ave. on Thursday, September 27, at 4 p.m. In memory, plans to accept donations in his name to the St. Joseph’s Foundation are underway. “Some souls, like a gentle rain, pass through this life only briefly to touch our hearts then return to heaven.” Our little angel is at peace now.
I plan on writting more about this personally, especially in regards to the efforts we are putting into to helping St. Joeseph's Foundation raise money that will help other families and their children when medical emergencies occur.