Matt and Madeline - Life, Love and Death on a Blog

What a wonderful father this fellow is turning out to be. Read the story and then viewed the photos with tears... Tears because this little girl is very fortunate to have one loving, attentive parent.

Looks like you are figuring things out. Not all little girls need their hair braided. I will give one piece of advice, DO NOT CUT BANGS ON HER HAIR EVER. Part on the side or even middle, and pull back with a small barrett. IF you cut in bangs, they will need constant trimming, and to be honest, just look awful. Pull/sweep hair to the side and then back and up a bit. DON'T LET THE HAIR DRESSERS TALK YOU INTO BANGS. They look awful!

Good luck, she's adorable! Looks healthy too!

I am so sorry, how sad.
Reminds me of my friend who died 1 hours after delivering twin girls on fathers and which was also her husbands birthday, They had 2 older girls waiting to see their new sister and then instead they had to also be told their mom died, she also had a amniotic embolism (blood clot)
It will be 2 years this june, he is doing ok. He was interviewed on TV last years, He got through this with the support of this church. I think about them often.
Bless you and your beautiful daughter..

Not, the God I know. This man said he is unsure if God exist or not. If we are a light of God and let other's see that light then we can inspire those to give glory to God and be thankful to Him.

2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

God Bless you Matt and Madeline.

Tears filled my eyes after reading this story. It is absolutely absurd to compare a single mother to this man who gained a daughter and lost his wife in 27 hours. That is not even fair to try and compare. If a single mother has lost her husband, that is sad and I feel for her but don't ask me to feel bad for someone who is divorced and raising children on their own.

It is so hard to have lost a loved one especially your wife right after the birth of your daughter! Viewing your pictures you can see how much love you have for you little girl. She will grow up knowing that her "Daddy" was there and her mother was watching down from Heaven...
Keep up the good work...
We just had a little girl and raising a baby is hard...I don't know what I would do with out my husband...but just go through with life and be there 110%!
God bless!!!

HAH- your little turkey is too cute. I just had my son Archer in August and he still has no hair- Being a single parent is tough. I should know. Good luck- be thankful for the little things, like singing completely ridiculous songs that make no sense whenever you want.

I too suffered a blot clot after the birth of my little. I survived..but I was sick for 6-12 months after the birth. I sympathize with this man on losing his wife. My prayers go out to him.

I think it is a beautiful tribute to his wife, Liz, that Matt is blogging about his life with Madeline. I lost my husband in 2006. He died just 9 weeks after a diagnosis of throat cancer leaving me with 4 children, 2 of them disabled. It's a difficult struggle being a widow with young children. You know what you need to do to take care of your children but sometimes the overwhelming emotions keep you from being able to actually focus...and then you look into the eyes of your precious children and you just do what needs to be done, because that is the only choice. Matt and Madeline will be in my prayers.
Lynn

God bless you and your little girl

I wish you the best and your daughter is sooo precious. I hate to imagine what happened on that day, but since it relates to the nature of life there is a saying that for every person that is born one dies. Well, although you received both you are still blessed. Blessed to live to tell it because you could of died from the results of her death, your daughter will live to be a reflection of your wife who gave her life to give one and lastly because life in the other world is always much better than life here on earth. We cannot see it because we as humans use our eyes to see everything. God has given each of us a purpose and once we fulfill that purpose there is nothing else he asks of us but to return home. It is in that home that we find who we really are and if we have done what was required of us while here on earth. Many of us grieve for different reasons but the Bible tells us that we must rejoice when one passes. So I hope that you will grieve and pray because of the world you have to raise your innocent daughter in and rejoice because of the internal wisdom and spirit that your wife left in your daughter to guide her through life. We can never understand those things that happen to us, but know that it is in God's will and plan for our life's and it works together for those that love him Never know, it could be all for the sake of your beautiful daughter that you are holding. May God comfort in your time of need and grant you peace. I must say that it is almost just as worse having a son who father lives and does not want a part of his life. I guess the way things work is funny. Most of us can never have our cake and eat it too. We are just blessed to have a slice with a little icing still on the top. Well, take care and I know that you will get through this because there is nothing more inspiring than to look at how naive, hopeful, risk-taking, nonchalant toddlers can be when this huge world that they do not understand be forced to cope with it, without any worries or concern, huh? Watch her how she falls and gets back up time and time again. That is motivation without limits.

I was so touched by your story. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your precious daughter. I believe your wife is looking down at you and your daughter from heaven with a smile. God Bless you both.

Two words for EVERY single parent, regardless of HOW they became the only parent: DAY CARE. Sure, it's expensive for good care of your child, but you'll have to learn to cut back and live within a budget like millions of other single parents manage to do. I feel awful this man lost his wife, but there are MILLIONS of single parents out there - male AND female - and we all do what we have to do to get by.

i read your blog and it made me cry i got three kids and i am married and if i lost my spouse like you did i dont know what i would do.but to me it seems like you got everything on track like you should.and you are right madeline dont need to feel like its her fault why her mother is not her because its not i do believe in god and sometimes he does things so that people can open up thier eyes to see things that need to be seen.she is lovley little girl and yes there are single mothers out there that are raising children on there own but when it comes a man raising a little girl or a child on his own it shows that there are good men out there and as madeline grows and you still have this blog you know that you have everyone out here to help you or to give you advise about little girls i have two girls and one boy.its alot different when it comes to boys and girls.but you have a good heart because you are being there for you daughter.and your not just shutting her out you are a mother and a father to madeline and thats a good thing but just always remember her mother is within her and she will always be with the two of you.and i'm pretty sure that she is looking down and smiling at the two of you.

I WORK IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE AND SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IT IS GREAT THAT SOME GOOD CAN COME OUT OF IT. YOUR DAUGHTER IS DESTINED FOR SOMETHING GREAT THAT WILL COME THROUGH YOU AND YOUR WIFE IN HEAVEN. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. BE THERE FOR YOUR DAUGHTER AND OTHERS WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.

Matt,

Take care of that little girl all of her life, love her ALWAYS. I have a similar story. My mother died the day I was born. I have always known about her. My stepmom never hid that from me, I am very thankful for that! But make sure you love her to the best of your ability! I have always felt like a bit of outcast from my family because I don't share the same mother as my brother does. There is favoritism. Please don't let her ever feel that! Teach her as much as possible about her biological mother!!

God bless you and your beautiful angel!

I feel so bad for this man. 2 weeks ago today my husband and I lost our infant son. I was 39 weeks and to be induced that day... Went into labor only to find our baby had died. it has been the most bizarre 2 weeks of my life thus far. I cannot explain the void I feel and from an infant who was never actually in my life....I cannot imagine how this guy's emotions are running wild having to deal with one of the happiest moments in his life and also one of the most devastating he will ever face occuring at the same time. I really feel for him and hope that he looks to God for help.. I know you don't want to hear everything happens for a reason, believe me I've heard it so much recently that i be sick.. but a part of me still knows it's true.. There is something out there bigger than me.. Our creator and we do all have a plan.. God bless you

I know the feeling of utter sadness & feeling lost after losing the one you love. I lost my beloved wife on Jan.8, 2008 to COPD, Which came about from her condition, spina bifida. I was her care provider as well as her husband for just a few weeks under 14 wonderful years with her. When I awoke on the morning of January 8th of 2008, I noticed something was different. She wasn't snoring. That alerted me to believe something was wrong. I immediately dialed 9-1-1, and the EMT's arrived in less than 5 minutes. They said she was d---.(I can't say that word, but you know what it is.) Then the county coroner showed up within 20 minutes later and confirmed she had passed away in her sleep sometime around 4 or 5 that morning.My whole world was shattered, and thoughts of suicide kept racing through my mind, just to be with her again. It's been over a year now, and I'm healing, but hopelessness still clouds my judgement sometimes. I know what Matt's going through, only now he has a newborn baby to take care of on top of it, and for that, my heart goes out to him and his child.I hope he can press on through the ''fog'' of life and know that the fog will lift...in time. God belss you two.

I think the foundation is a wonderful thing. Everyone needs that help/support when unfortunate things happen. He could be greedy and keep the donations but he is using his situation to help others. My heart goes out to him and his daughter. Being a mother and a wife I could only imagine what it was like to gain a child and lose your partner. Totally heart breadking. I am sure his wife is very proud of him, I know I would be so proud of my husband if he was able to come this far and manage and make the best of this by helping others and a WONDERFUL father. Him being a single "father" and receiving this attention doesn't matter, single mothers also recieve help/attention if they need it.

I believe it is awesome of people to support people in their time of need. My husband of I lost our daughter the day she was born. She was born early so we were't prepared for anything. although my husbnd is a doctor, we had many unexpected bills that drained us. All the hospital bills, funeral, medication, therapy, and time off from work for both of us completely drained us. I always collected money for people at my job when they needed it. the favor was returned to me. Everyone pitched in to buy food that lasted several weeks, some extra cash, gift certificates for non-maternity clothes for me, and a wonderful card where over 100 employees had something nice to say and signed. It was a blessing in our time of need. My heart goes out to this man and his beautiful baby. Tragedy is horrible. I have learn to accept it and make sure to keep my daughter in a special place in my heart.