I Can't Unsee
From the view of a Mother. Some days were harder than others at trying to do everything you could to help Austin be at his best that day.
I can’t unsee.
I had prepared myself for every scenario.
I knew our child would be taken from this earth early and I knew I had properly prepared myself.
I prepared for so long, so how am I still struggling?
I can’t unsee it.
I can’t unsee the look of pity.
I can’t unsee the pain in every doctor's eyes as they prepare to deliver more heartbreaking
news.
I can’t unsee the family gathered at the hospital, in tears, as they say goodbye to their child.
I can’t unsee what it looks like to struggle to simply breathe.
I can’t unsee my child being intubated.
I can’t unsee the open wounds caused by the body cast.
I can’t unsee the toll it has taken on all our family and friends.
I can’t unsee the emergency vehicles and first responders arriving at our home.
I can’t unsee over 1,000 seizures.
I can’t unsee the immediate shift of demeanor the moment our family arrived.
I can’t unsee the person silently crying after walking out of his room.
I can’t unsee the way people choose to act.
I can’t unsee the loss of function.
I can’t unsee the loss of your smile.
I can’t unsee a 14% drop in body mass.
I can’t unsee the deterioration.
I can’t unsee every single detail of the last week you were on this earth.
I can’t unsee the last round of meds I gave you.
I can’t unsee the look on my husband's face as he woke me up.
I can’t unsee the responding officer that had just returned from having genetic testing on his own child.
I can’t unsee what my deceased child looked like.
I can’t unsee the bright red blanket that covered our child as he left our home forever.
I can’t unsee my child lying in a casket.
I can’t unsee the sadness on our 5-year old's face when his older brother is mentioned.
I can’t unsee the now empty room you used to occupy.
I can’t unsee how much is missing from our home.
I can’t unsee the fragile urn you now rest in.
I can’t unsee the unforgettable memories. The perfect days with your bright smile, uplifting spirit, and contagious laugh
and these are the things that get me through.
Because I can’t unsee any of it.
- Lindsey Terling (Mother of Austin Terling)
Austin 1st Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) Public Charity - See the impact we make and support our mission to be Champions for Rare Disease by raising awareness and research dollars for families in Alabama & beyond.
