Grafton held a wonderful memorial for our Terry on June 10th. They had staff and students tell their remembrances of Terry, a poem was written and read by one of his therapists at the school, everyone released balloons (while playing Spirit in the Sky).  We placed a stone under their memorial tree with Terry’s name & etching of a bear and eggs (one of his favorite things).  Then the students hung eggs they had decorated on the tree.  Terry would have loved it.  Especially all the eggs, which he would have taken off the tree as quickly as they put them on.

I wanted to share the poem here…

A Farewell to a Beloved Client

By Ashley Morris 

The hallway is empty
Its walls carry memories of you
Whispering moments saturated with your joy and spirit
They held you safe here, fostered your growth, and now mourn the loss of you
In your own language, you wove tapestries of elaborate stories, experiences, and banter
We were captivated because everything you felt, you felt fiercely
We were guests in your imaginative would and you allowed us in so graciously
We learned lessons from you
Seek out what brings you happiness, explore all that is around you, and let no barriers exist to your pursuit of living life to the fullest
Now grief hangs heavy here, weighs on shoulders with a pressure reminiscent
Of the hugs for which you were known
But more than that, your memory persists with impressions on our hearts
Encouraging us all to be kind, creative, and more patient
We had to let you go
But within these halls, you are never truly gone.