My son

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sorry to hear, MJ4H.

[k0ruptr]

So so sorry, no one ever deserves this stuff. Just know that you were a wonderful father, and he is an angel now.

[Buccaneer]

Oh man, I'm really sorry to hear this. So heartbroken. I pray for peace and strength for you and your family in this difficult time.

[StLee]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[CleBrownsfan]

I'm so so sorry for your loss

He was a beautiful child and now an even more beautiful angle.

My thoughts are with you and your family...

[Super Ugly]

So sorry.

[kcchief19]

I echo the feelings of others ... my thoughts are with you and your family. So sorry for your loss.

[duckman]

I am so sorry for your loss! You and your family are in my prayers.

[sovereignstar v2]

[Landshark44]

very sad day, you are in my thoughts..... so sorry....

[Raiders Army]

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. We've been dealing with our youngest the past three months and I can't imagine being without him.

Any words I could type over the internet would not come close to expressing my sympathy.

[Dodgerchick]

Oh man, my tears can't stop flowing.. I'm so, so sorry, my heart breaks for your loss

[Noop]

[dwardzala]

Sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

[SunDevil]

God Bless your son and your family. Your son, you and your family will be in my prayers.

Thank you for your updates over the years, it provided me with a true example of what it means to be a father.

[DanGarion]

Very sorry to hear this, you and your family are in my thoughts.

[Pyser]

So sorry to hear that. Deepest condolences.

[law90026]

So so sorry for your loss, our prayers go out to you and your family

[heybrad]

So sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like your son lived an inspired life based on this inspiring thread.

[Passacaglia]

I'm so sorry to hear this...like others have said, if you need anything, let us know.

[MJ4H]

I thought I would give an update. I typed that post earlier with trembling hands about an hour after getting back to my house.

As most of you know, I am a high school band director. My band is performing at this year's Liberty Bowl in Memphis. They are in Memphis right this very minute. They should be getting ready for the Liberty Bowl Parade down Beale Street, in fact.

I, obviously, am not in Memphis. I am sitting on my couch after a rough night of sleeping whenever I can and crying.

I left Tuesday morning after getting up at 4:30 am. Met my band at the school. We had a short rehearsal because we had been out of school for 11 days. We then left for Memphis. We went through our first day there which included attending a professional rodeo.

We got back to our hotel room. I had half the band in my hotel room eating pizza and laughing at youtube videos. A good time, trust me. Curfew hit and I sent them all back to their rooms (at my school, for trips like this, we are required to have one chaperone and three students in every hotel room). I had two students in mine because one student couldn't come on the trip.

I got these two students to settle down finally after we watched the last couple of minutes of the Iowa vs. Missouri football game on TV. The lights were off, the alarm was set, and I was actually just drifting to sleep. My cell phone rang. It was my wife in a panic.

She was holding Alex in her recliner trying to get him to go to sleep (he had been sick with something that looked like strep throat) and was very miserable. He was still and she thought he might have finally gone to sleep when he stopped breathing. He does this from time to time when he gets a little spittle in his throat for instance. Usually you can just lean him forward and pat his back and it will clear. After 20 seconds or so of him not breathing, she called 911.

The 911 operator told her to give him CPR. She said the paramedics were at the house in less than a minute (wow--this impresses me). They took over. They didn't get a response and took him to a local hospital while continuing to try. After continuing for a really long time to try, the had to finally give up. Our little Alex was gone.

She had called me while the paramedics were trying at the house. I didn't understand a word of what she said. I went out into my hotel hallway and tried to listen again. I got the jist of what was going on the second time through. Her dad arrived and took the phone from her and gave me a play by play (saying "it doesn't look good at all"). I pretty much knew it was the end based on my wife's hysteria.

I told my wife to go be with her parents and got off the phone. I walked back into my hotel room in complete shock and told my kids what was going on. One of them jumped out of his bed and ran to get one of the other chaperons. I had no idea what to do.

The rest of the night is pretty much a blur, but I adjusted my band's schedule for the rest of the trip so that my color guard sponsor could handle things and got my wife's brother, who lives in Jonesboro, to come and get me. After waiting for an hour and a half for him to get there, we headed home. A 5 hour trip in the back of the car at the worst possible time. Of course it poured rain the whole way.

I got home at about 8 am yesterday morning and my wife was sitting in the same recliner crying. I posted from my ipod a little while later.

Yesterday was a blur of more food than anyone needs, facebook posts, pictures, funeral plans, family, you name it.

I also tried to follow my band's progress at rehearsal for the halftime show in Memphis and their nice dinner out.

I finally got a little sleep for the first time, but couldn't lay there anymore at 5:30 this morning.

I'm posting now mostly just because I read through this entire thread this morning and it was an AMAZING treat to see as much detail to these memories of him.

I wish all the pictures and videos linked here still worked. I'd give almost anything for that alexstrike.wmv video which got lost somewhere along the way.

Anyway, I wanted to write a permanent record of the events. My wife has never read this thread, but I sent her a link to it yesterday. She will read it eventually. I can't wait to hear what she thinks.

Thank you for all the well wishes. We will be fine. We knew this day would come, of course. It hurts unimaginably, but we will be fine. Today will be visitation (I'm looking forward to seeing him and saying my personal goodbyes since I was away). Tomorrow will be the services.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I wish I knew what to say other than simply: God bless you & your family.

[DaddyTorgo]

Hey MJ4H - when are where are the services...

[MJ4H]

Visitation today from 5 to 7 and funeral tomorrow at 11am.

They will be both be at Sisco Funeral Home in Springdale, Ark. If someone in the area goes, please let me know.

[NoSkillz]

Words fail me. I can only say my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Sadly I must report that shortly after midnight last night our little angel got his wings. We are devastated to say the least. I love you little Alex.

I am so so so sorry to hear this. It sounded like everything was going ok, but I guess God has a plan for everyone. As others have said, if you need anything don't be afraid to contact me. You and your wife are in my prayers.

[CraigSca]

Hard to even comprehend. My prayers are with you and your family.

[JeeberD]

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss, MJ4H.

[DaddyTorgo]

FYI - If anyone else wants to chip in the for the flowers we're sending to the visitation tonight, just send me a PM.

[lurker]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't even imagine what you're going through.

[path12]

Condolences to you and your wife. So sorry for your loss.

[JPhillips]

If we wanted to do a charitable donation instead of flowers, where should we direct the money?

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

If we wanted to do a charitable donation instead of flowers, where should we direct the money?

Arkansas Children's Hospital

[Warhammer]

I am very sorry for your loss, little Alex will be in our prayers.

[JPhillips]

MJ4H- Do you mind PMing me a last name I can put the donation under?

btw- If enough of us donate a little, we should be able to put together a few hundred dollars for a very worthy cause.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

MJ4H- Do you mind PMing me a last name I can put the donation under?

btw- If enough of us donate a little, we should be able to put together a few hundred dollars for a very worthy cause.

PM sent.

[RainMaker]

There are no words. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Life can be so cruel.

[MJ4H]

My band placed 2nd in the Liberty Bowl Parade. They dedicated their performance to my son and me. I am very proud right now.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

My band placed 2nd in the Liberty Bowl Parade. They dedicated their performance to my son and me. I am very proud right now.

and you should be!!

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

My band placed 2nd in the Liberty Bowl Parade. They dedicated their performance to my son and me. I am very proud right now.

That's so awesome!

[DaddyTorgo]

That's good news MJ4H. I'm sure Alex enjoyed watching and listening to them today.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I have no words. You have my prayers & my deepest sympathy.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

My band placed 2nd in the Liberty Bowl Parade. They dedicated their performance to my son and me. I am very proud right now.

I would be proud too. We (my HS band) was the host band for the 1975 Fiesta Bowl but it wasn't a competition for that parade.

[Glengoyne]

Unsuccessfully fighting tears here. Prayers and condolences for you and yours. There simply no words for situations like this.

[azjoe_02]

No words, man. Prayers and thoughts are with you and your wife.

[MJ4H]

[JediKooter]

Nothing really I can say that hasn't already been said here MJ4H. I'm so sorry to hear about Alex. My thoughts go out to you and your wife and your family.

[Lathum]

Been away and just saw this, so sorry to hear Matt, just so, so sorry.

[TroyF]

So sorry for your loss. Words simply fail me. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[chesapeake]

I am so deeply sorry to read about your loss.