Suzie was only two years old when she became a member of our lonely family. Mark and I had tried for seven years to become parents. It became a hopeless effort, so our next step was to consider adoption. We had our name in three of the surrounding agencies, when tragedy in our own family made it possible for us to become parents.

My only sister Sue and her husband were taken from us two days before Thanksgiving. They were looking forward to the holiday visit. Living in Idaho, they decided they would take their time and try to clear the mountains before the approaching snow storms moved into the mountain regions. Coming back to the east coast, for the holidays was going to be a major event for them.

Sue had met Mark while she was working as a civil servant at an army base. They left to set up their life in Idaho as soon as Mark was discharged from the military. Mark had been left a small farm in the northeast corner of Idaho. They had struggled long and hard to bring the few acres back to the producing stage it was now in. A new expected addition to the family completed their happiness.

Suzie only added joy to their life. She was a little angel, a delicate, sickly little girl from the start, but the joy of their life. She had been born not only with Down Syndrome, but with a severely damaged heart. With all the strikes against her she was a loving little girl. Her blue eyes left those who met her breathless. Sue had a real thing for the color blue. She always associated the color with angels. Suzie with her blue eyes and golden hair was always dressed in blue. Sue thought that was the one...THANK YOU... tribute she could give to the angels above, for such a beautiful child.She always dressed her in blue. Her little closet did not hold another color. Her room was decorated and abundantly filled with blue, "ONLY BLUE".

Miraculously little Suzie came through the terrible accident with out a scratch. The large timber truck that slid off the road and into the path of Marks car, left both Sue and Mark almost beyond recognition. Little Suzie wrapped and swaddled in blue blankets, asleep on the back seat, was still sleeping when the rescuer team arrived at the mangled wreckage.

With Mom being to old to care for a handicapped two year old, this angelic child was given to us.Knowing what a trial it was going to be to raise such a child, both my husband and I truly felt that, OUR CUP RUNITH OVER. She brought us joy and love beyond anything we could have ever hoped for.

I knew Sue and Mark was watching from above. So very often I would see them in my dreams. They were always smiling and nodding. As though nodding their approval to the way their beautiful little angel was loved and cared for. "She was still always dressed in blue. ONLY BLUE".

Suzie had just turned six years old when she left us to join her Mommy and Daddy. We knew with her heart problems that her stay with us would not be a lengthy one. Our heartaches were overwhelming.

The night before we lost our little blue angel, I dreamt that Sue was on the top of a huge marble staircase. The only thing visible at the top of the staircase was a brilliant light. She looked so beautiful and happy. Her smile was so radiant it seemed to put the staircase in a glow almost as brilliant as the light behind her. Half way up the stairs a small figure all in blue was running and skipping up the enormous staircase. Her long blond hair bouncing off her back. Between the bounce of her curls, the light shined through as if this small apparition had wings of gold. She is in her Mommy's lap now, but she will always be my Angel Blue. Only an angel can fill hearts with such love.

It has been three years since we lost our little Suzie. We have since taken Marcie and Donnie into our heart and home. They are also little Special Needs Angels, who fill OUR NEEDS WITH LOVE.