This is Andrew's family...

Gaige was 4 years old when Andrew found his freedom.  Gaige is now 8 years old and in the second grade.  Gaige also has special needs...he has a form of High Functioning Autism (or auctismim as he says) and a few other issues.  He has a wonderful and quirky sense of humor!  When asked what he loved most about Andrew, he says "He gave me courage!"  When asked how...he said "By cheering for me!"  (Andrew was our family cheerleader and we often say he must be one of the greeters in Heaven...cheering people in the gates!)  He also loved playing basketball with Andrew. 

(Andrew and Gaige playing Hockey together in 2002)

Bliss was only 2 when Andrew died and she doesn't remember a lot of details but she tells me almost every day that she misses him.  Bliss is our miracle-girl...many professionals didn't think she would walk or talk after a brain injury she had from a traumatic delivery.  (All of our kids are adopted.)  She is a sassy-talking, bee-bopping girl on the verge of turning 6 in April!  She's beautiful and super smart...Andrew would be so proud of her!  Bliss loves to look at the pictures of Andrew holding her and feeding her...she knew he took good care of her.  She remembers sitting in his bed with him, watching tv and coloring, when he wasn't feeling good.  We know for sure, that Bliss will keep his memory alive and even talks of going in the medical field to find a cure for Mito.

(This was Christmas 2001...Bliss with her Brothers!)

True was adopted into our family when he was two days old.  Andrew would have been thrilled to have another brother (or sister).  True has a lot of special needs...too many to list...but he is very similar in temperment to Andrew.  He's very brave and easy-going.  True has the best disposition and sense of humor I have ever seen in a kid that age and we are blessed to have him.  True adores playing ball and I am sure he and Andrew would have been at it all their waking hours!  They really would have enjoyed each other.  True loves the big picture we have of Andrew holding a football and asks me about it every day...we look forward to see how True thinks of Andrew as he gets bigger.

(here's True!)

If you read Andrew's story page...then you already know a lot about mom and dad!  Currently, we moved the family from Memphis to Maine in the summer of 2006 in hopes of improved school and medical services and a better quality of life for the children...we have rarely been disappointed.  Gaige has really benefited the most because he has flourished in the school system here that really 'gets' him. 

 Fred is a Chandler and works on the wharf...which seems like a great fit for his God-given abilities.  He is enjoying it quite a bit!  Daddy loved to watch all of Andrew's favorite sports movies with him...he says he must have seen them all 50 times...and when he catches one channel-surfing he will still stop and watch it for a few minutes and think of those times together.

(Daddy and Andrew in 1997)

Deb is a SAHM and busy managing all the family's many appointments and normal-every-home needs.  She is loving living on the coast and can't wait for beach days to come soon!  Mom and Andrew were two peas in a pod...they loved spending time together and singing and dancing together.  Mom remembers the first medical trip she and Andrew took to see his doctor in Boston.  Mom doesn't like to fly very much but she wanted to be brave for Andrew.  The ever-sensitive-Andrew figured out she was scared and kept telling her "it be okay, Mama!" 

(Mom and Andrew in 2001)

There was one other special person in Andrew's life...Nana!  She adored her first grandchild and he adored her!  Nana was a great support of the Life of Love Project and always got all of her friends to participate.  Sadly she died in March of 2006 and we are jealous of what a great time they are having together up there with Jesus!  I know one Nana's favorite times with Andrew was when he she turned around b/c she passed the business she was going to and Andrew talked about how she went the wrong way for weeks...he was only 3 at the time! 

If you would like to follow our family more, we'd love to share our life with you.  You can do it one or two ways...you can follow our story on our website www.caringbridge.org/tn/wells (all lower case) which is a little more medical info...or for more personal (and a little medical) info, you can sign up for our monthly email updates but emailing Deb and requesting to be added to the mail list.  VisibleWorship@aol.com

Thanks so much for your interest in the project and our family!