I haven’t been able to face this post.  Depending on what circles you travel in the blogosphere, you may or may not have heard about Maddie.  I didn’t know Maddie.  I didn’t read her parents’ blog. I had never heard of Maddie or her family until Wednesday when this beautiful 17 month old died after a short hospitalization for RSV.  The outpouring of shock, grief, and love around the internet has been staggering.  I have found myself in tears many times over this little girl I didn’t know.  I can’t even wrap my mind around the grief her parents are feeling.  There can’t be anything worse.

People all over the country are donating to the March of Dimes in Maddie’s name.  Teams are forming for the MoD in Maddie’s name.  Lotus started our Nashville team and has a running list of teams. My entire family will be walking Sunday the 19th for this little girl we never knew but whose death leaves us incredibly saddened.

If you would like to donate to the MoD in Maddie’s name, you can click on the banner below to donate through the Nashville team. (That is Maddie’s sweet face on the banner.) But mostly I write this post to remind everyone to hug their babies tight and to offer up a prayer or good thought for Maddie’s family.