August 21, 2004
Rosie Has Gone To Heaven
I write this with a heavy heart. Our little girl, our beautiful, strong, brave, lovely, happy baby has gone to heaven. She was 8 months old.
We were called in to the hospital suddenly on Friday the 20th. This was the 3rd time we had received the nightmare 'come quickly' call from the hospital. Rosie's condition had suddenly got worse in the morning, and her heart was getting weaker. We were with her for most of the day, as she gradually lost the ability to keep fighting. Her heatbeat slowly got more and more irregular, and her blood pressure fell. At around 7PM, I asked the doctor if we would be able to hold her for a few minutes before she left us to become an angel. We had not been able to hold Rosie for over a month. Megumi needed to hold her again, and I felt Rosie would enjoy being held by us for one last time.
She died peacefully, in our arms, just before 8PM.
We had a small service for Rosie today, Sunday the 22nd. My Dad, his partner Marlene, and my Mum had all flown in, and Megumi's parents were also there.
We are obviously hurting. We are in great pain, and probably still in shock. But we will get over this. We will never give up, just as Rosie never gave up. We will never forget our little girl. We will also never forget the way she fought so bravely. Her spirit lives on, and we know she is watching over us and taking care of us all the time.
Rosie, we will never forget you darling. We love you so much. You were a gift given to us. Out time together was short, but we will always treasure it. Thank you for being our daughter, and thank you for making us so proud of you.
To all reading this:
We would like to take this chance to thank all of you again. Megumi and I have taken great comfort from the comments you have all left, both on this webpage, and in private, by email. Please continue to help us get through this by showering us with your kindness.
(for those who don't know, my email address is my first name at gol dot com.)
Posted by Gary at August 21, 2004 11:26 AMThe world is a better place because it was blessed with Rosie's smile. And she could not have had two more loving parents than you and Megumi to make her time on this earth as enjoyable as could be.
God and Rosie bless you both.
Posted by: Paul at August 23, 2004 01:49 AMBoth you and Megumi are being extraordinarily brave and strong - your beautiful girl inherited that strength and bravery. I wish I could be with you and I'm only glad that Mum, Dad and Marlene can be supportive for you. I'm sorry I never got to meet Rosie and that she couldn't meet her cousins but they know her and they always will.
Rosie Kokoro will always be with you and know that she was a very loved, adored little girl
Posted by: Trudi at August 23, 2004 05:24 AMI don't know you except through reading your blog, but I'm so sorry to hear of this dreadful news Gary.
I know that you will come through this and always treasure the short time that you had together.
Much love to you and Megumi. Rosie is at peace, I hope that you can be too.
Jom
Posted by: Jom at August 23, 2004 05:25 AMI am so sorry to hear your news, I have been praying for you all and I will continue to do so. Be strong for each other and God Bless little Rosie.
Much Love
Jody Haffenden (nee Golding)
I'm so sorry to hear for you loss Gary and Megumi! Take comfort that she is in a much better place now looking upon you and smiling, knowing what wonderful parent's she had! I will be praying for you and Megumi in the coming days asking for God to give you strength in this tough time.
God Bless,
Ryan
Posted by: Ryan at August 23, 2004 12:12 PMWe're so very sad to hear that precious little Rosie has passed on. She was such a beautiful and charming baby. Perhaps she lived to perform heart surgery on YOU, to love you as she did and in doing so encourage you to be a more loving, caring and compassionate person. Surely it is not a coincidence that only the birth of your child can open all these doors in your heart that you did not know about, leading you in the the discovery of new aspects of love, new dimensions of caring and closeness.
Good night, Rosie Kokoro, sleep well and always stay close to Mommy and Daddy who love you so.
Posted by: nils at August 23, 2004 01:02 PMIt's hard to find the words to say exactly what I would like here. I think everybody that knows you, those that simply read this blog, and those fortunate enough to actually have met Rosie were all blessed by her all too short time in this world. Her strength and courage were inspiring and I hope as the days go by, your pain will lessen, while the great memories grow stronger. My thoughts are with you. Love Phil
Posted by: Phil at August 23, 2004 02:07 PMYou shared Rosie with the world through your posts. Your hapiness and joy, as well as your pain and loss. Perhaps you will never know how many lives have been touched by Rosie, how many hidden "uncles" and "aunts" have watched her grow. Thanks to you we will all carry a part of her with us, your joy and her life will go on.
御æ„傷様ã§ã”ã–ã„ã¾ã™
Posted by: Kakyou at August 23, 2004 03:10 PMI also don't know you except through your blog, Gary, but I'm so heartbroken to hear about Rosie. She was such a beautiful girl.
Please, please take care. I'll be thinking of you and Megumi.
Posted by: Jessica at August 23, 2004 04:30 PMYosh and I never actually got to meet little Rosie, and we are definitely the poorer for it.
Looking at all the posts here you can really see how loved your sweet little girl was and how deeply everyone feels for you both at the moment.
Rosie's strength, courage and glowing smile were amazing to see, but given she inherited these wonderful traits and more from her Mum and Dad, it comes as no surprise to any of us
Thinking of you both
Love Dave and Yosh
I am so saddened to hear of Rosie's passing. I don't know you or your family personaly, but through your blog I have been following Rosie's journey ever since she was born. Even though I only have seen photos of her, I always knew that there was something very special about her. She always just seemed so full of life and love. She always seemed ready to give the whole world a big hug.
Rosie will always be with you both, helping you along through life and giving you the strength that you need to get through this.
My wife and I send you our love and support from up here in Hokkaido. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Jonah at August 23, 2004 06:56 PMMy heart goes out to you and your family.
Thanks for sharing your story in the cyberspace. May you find strength and support via the same medium.
Rosie had been and will always be the angel in our hearts. Her lovely face will always be remembered!
Posted by: Karen at August 24, 2004 05:04 AMGary, I don't know what to say. Something beautiful touched all our lives, through Rosie, your little daughter. My love to you and Megumi. Be gentle with yourselves.
Posted by: Sheryl at August 24, 2004 07:09 AMThank you for the stories of Rosie.
Please accept my sympathy and bet wishes for your future.
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Posted by: Eddie at August 24, 2004 11:42 AMOh honey I'm so very sad to hear about your loss.
Much love to you both.
MJ & Yoshi
Posted by: MJ at August 24, 2004 02:16 PMMy heartfelt condolences to you and Megumi.
Posted by: Kristen at August 24, 2004 02:32 PMGary and Megumi-chan
My thoughts are with you at this truly sad time. Rosie has touched the hearts of many people in this world and she will always live on forever in our hearts.
Take care, Em*
Posted by: Emma at August 24, 2004 02:59 PMGary and Megumi,
I am truly at a loss for what to write.
Your beautiful little girl will be in all of our thoughts and prayers.
I'm so sorry to hear your daughter's passing. I accidentaly found your site, and I've followed how your little girl was doing since then. However short time Rosie spent with you two, I can tell that she was happy to be born as your daughter. You two just sound awesome parents, and I'm sure Rosie knew how much she was/is/will be loved by you.
Posted by: Megumi at August 24, 2004 08:34 PMI'm sorry to hear about your little babygirl Rosie.
I was so surprised and was also shocked when I heard about this bad news....
I don't know why she had to pass away...even she was only 8 months old.
but I know she was strong and brave.
Rosie was always smiling and I could be happy every time when I saw her cute smile.Thank you,Rosie.
May her soul rest in peace.
Rie
So sorry to hear about Rosie. I can't say any words expressing irrecoverable sorrow.
Lovely Rosie will be stay our mind forever.
Loads of love,
Hiroki
On behalf of the ACTV crew, we extend our heart felt condolences to You and Megumi.
Our prayers and best wishes are with you and your family.
Daniel Smith
Gary, for what it's worth you're the strongest person I've never met. I hope she understood how proud she made both of you.
Posted by: mark at August 24, 2004 11:28 PMHow special it is that your little girl was able to die in your arms. I was holding my Mum's hands when she died and I know that to have been there, touching her, at that moment, was a great comfort to us both - as having Rosie in your arms must have been for the three of you. My thoughts are with you.
Posted by: martine at August 25, 2004 01:28 AMDear Gary and Megumi,
The story of Rosie Kokoro has touched so many people -- more than you can imagine -- and our hearts go out to you at this time.
On behalf of everyone at the Mainichi Daily News, I send you my deepest sympathies and hope that you can, as soon as possible, find within yourselves the incredible strength that your beautiful little girl showed us all.
Dear Gary and Megumi,
I am so sorry to hear about your darling girl. Her strength and bravery is a lesson to us all.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dearest Gary and Megumi,
We're so sad at your terrible loss.
Rosie certainly inherited Dads' determination, strength and stubborness in hanging on for you for so long.
Love,
Dave and Amy
Gary & Megumi
I can't begin to say how sorry I am to hear about the sad loss of your beautiful wee girl.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
All our love
Fiona & Katsu
Gary/Megumi,
You probably don't know me too well, but I was an ex-employee @ Exodus and had the chance to meet you two with Paul at the Hawaiian restaraunt in Shinjuku. I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that you all are in my prayers. Take care...
Rei
Posted by: Rei at August 26, 2004 03:17 PMDear Gary & Megumi,
I would like to send sincere condolences to you both, also to your families on your very sad loss of your lovely baby Rosie.
GARY & MEGUMI
I'm sorry to hear of your little Rosie
Please accept my very sincere condolences on the death
Dear Gary and Megumi
we were shocked and saddened by the loss of your beautiful Rosie .one thing is for certain she will be the most beautiful angel up in heaven .we wake each morning wondering how you are doing .Take care of one another, sending you both lots of hugs and squeezes
maria clive ryan sam and josh
pat and pete
xxxxxxxxxxx