May your happy memories of Damien lessen your sorrow.  I cannot imagine your heartache.  

Judy McDougle

Uncle Earl and Virginia's daughter.

It has been more than 10 years now since My Nephew, Damien started to ask me to recount his birth; to tell him about the night he was born and the trip I made to the Bay Harbor Hospital, in Harbor City. This became a ritual that was prompted by the initial conversation we had where I shared my account of his birthday long ago. This is what I would tell him:

“The Night You Were Born was a stormy cold March 4th. The sun had long since set because it was nighttime when I got the anticipated telephone call alerting me your mother, Kris, had left for the hospital with some urgency. I was so excited you were coming to earth and that your mother and Father would soon meet you. Your Uncle KC was home and he stayed with your cousins Diana & Jenny. I pulled out of my driveway on Pullman Lane in Redondo Beach. There was heavy rain and a fierce wind was blowing on this night. It was raining so hard that the storm drains were unable to handle all the water pouring into them. And I remember it was cold! Large puddles formed as rain water accumulated and flooded over the adjacent sidewalks. It was really hard for me to see, and I had to drive very slowly and carefully. Still, my heart was filled with excitement and anticipation at the thought of meeting my new nephew or niece! Back when you were born, we never knew whether to be a boy or girl because the technology was not available to view into the mother’s womb to determine if the baby would be a girl or boy.

In the maternity section of the Bay Harbor Hospital, they had a waiting area that included a viewing window where family & friends could see all the new babies! Standing against the window I was able to witness the newly arrived miracle births and among them, Damien! I loved you from the moment I saw you! You had such a big family waiting for you! Your Grandparents, Hales & McDougle's, and so many aunts, uncles, and cousins. I’ll always remember the night you were born! And Damien, you grew into the little boy who loved his capes and loved to pretend he could fly! Remember when you flew off Grandma & Grandpa McDougle's roof in their backyard?

I knew you were special on that cold, windy, rainy night. I loved you then, and I will always love you.”

This ritual and request from Damien asking me to tell him what it was like the night he was born went on for years. I never understood why at certain times it was comforting for him to hear my story about the night he was born. I do know Damien loved his family!! I looked forward to his phone calls and texts. He listened to a strange late night radio show called Coast-to-Coast hosted by George Noory. He knew I went to bed late and often listened to the show too. He would send a text. “Hey Aunt Pam. What did you think of the show last night? Yep, it was a good one for sure!” We often talked about going to the George Noory conferences in LA one day. We never did around to it, but we would talk about doing so one day soon.

I love Damien now and forever. My heart is heavy and I'm sad that right now I can no longer have that phone call and tell him about the night he was born. That little infant who came here and grew into a young boy is, and always will be, in my heart. He was so easy to love! It was evident by our conversations he loved his family and always wanted to be with them. . He was truly a gentle, kind soul. I hope he’ll be among those to greet me when I transition where-in I’ll share the story of the blustery night he came to earth, one more time.

Love, Aunt Pam