Tree Down!

The huge Ash tree in our front yard finally came down yesterday. It was diseased and, quite frankly, hazardous (last spring a big limb fell on Ron's car and totaled it). Aidan and Ron would watch the squirrels run up and down this tree. It will be replaced with a beautiful Autumn Blaze maple. We will plant little purple flowers around it just for you buddy!
Aidan would have loved all of this excitement, especially the big truck coming up on our front lawn to remove it.

I hope you were watching, Aidan.

Aidan Manning Tribute at Children's Memorial Hospital

Earlier this week, because of the generous support Aidan's Army receives, the Aidan Manning Memorial Foundation was able to make a large donation to Children's Memorial Hospital to advance medulloblastoma research. Following is an excerpt of a letter we received from Children's Memorial Hospital yesterday...

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Manning,
On behalf of the Children’s Memorial Hospital family, we are deeply grateful for the gifts we received in memory of Aidan Manning. Contributions such as these are not only a wonderful tribute to Aidan, but also serve as great inspiration to our caregivers. I hope your family takes comfort in knowing that your thoughtfulness is providing hope to other families in our care.
Keeping with the hospital’s mission to "celebrate life and inspire hope," we have created the Gifts of Love tribute wall, which is located in the hospital’s Siragusa Lobby. We would like to offer your family the opportunity to have Aidan’s name included on this tribute wall.
There will be a special memorial service and plaque dedication on Sunday, April 17, 2011 hosted by Children’s Memorial Hospital. Following the memorial service, we invite you to join us for a private reception for our 2010 Gifts of Love families to provide you with a special opportunity to see Aidan’s name on the tribute wall.
Again, please accept our deepest appreciation for the generosity that you and your family have inspired which will continue to touch the lives of others.

Many tears were shed...so sad and yet so wonderful. Little Aidan will never be forgotten.

Valentines Day

Missing our favorite little Valentine today...

It has been a bittersweet week for us. Last week we launched our web site, www.AidansArmy.org. We hope that our work at Aidan's Army helps Medulloblastoma researchers move closer to a cure. Aidan's life, albeit too short, has made this work possible and his passing has made it necessary. We promise we will do great things in your name, sweet Aidan, this side of heaven.

Aidan, you're forever in our hearts, buddy. Throwing up kisses and hugs to you.