Some of you are good friends of Sean. Others are dear friends
of Barbara, Heather and myself, who never had the privilege
of knowing Sean. For this latter group of friends, I'd like
to tell you a few things about the intrinsic goodness of
this special little boy.
Sean demonstrated extraordinary empathy for people in need.
I first noticed this quality when he was just about 15 months
old. Once he saw a little toddler in a sandbox fall and
begin to cry. Although her mother came to comfort her, Sean
toddled over, placed his little hand on her shoulder and
asked, "Okay?" This quality continued to manifest
itself throughout Sean's short life. In public places he
would often seek out strangers in wheelchairs, children
and adults alike, and introduce himself.
Unfortunately, this normally gregarious child also had an
illness that frequently caused him to enter the deepest
depths of despair. During these dark periods he was resolutely
committed to taking his own life. This mood change often
occurred swiftly and without any discernable stimulus. His
outpatient psychiatrist was convinced that it was a chemical
problem. Sean had multiple syndromes that caused the equivalent
of chemical warfare within his own body. In spite of the
outpatient medical treatment he received, our little gift
from God decided to return to his Maker. I shall always
be grateful for the eleven years in which we were able to
borrow this little angel from heaven.
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