Andrew James Smith

"AJ"

​

July 26, 2021 – January 7, 2023

 

                It’s with a heavy heart that I introduce you to my precious grandson Andrew James Smith. AJ as we called him for short was born to my daughter Rachael and her husband Major on July 26, 2021. He was an absolute gift to everyone who ever met him. Such a happy, smiling bundle of joy. I was so proud of his arrival and so proud he was going to carry my name. Finally, a legacy to leave behind, and opportunity to teach this young man all I know. He was such a gentle soul and had such a gentle demeanor, maybe he had more to teach me than I did to teach him. The day he was born the sun seemed to shine a bit brighter as I felt I would raise him to take over Care for ALS. I felt finally all the puzzle pieces started to sit together. For seventeen months, I got to spend a lot of time with him watching him grow and witnessing his smile that would touch your very soul. Everyone close to me knew what future plans I had for him and how his very life would have such an impact on me and so many others. On January the 7th of 2023, very shortly after Christmas, my daughter who was seven months pregnant at the time with AJ’s little sister, was involved in an unfortunate car accident that took AJ from us. It’s been a year later that I’m able to share this tragic loss with everyone. This single event has changed my life in so many ways. Each day is a struggle to get out of bed, to function in any sort of normalcy is quite a feat. Initially, it was my goal to quit Care for ALS and just walk away. Grief is a very hard emotion that goes very deep and can affect a lot of decisions we make in life. As a year has now gone by, I feel AJ would want me to continue with my plans only to do them with his little sister, Riley, who is now ten months old. To feel AJ is to be close to Riley and to love her and care for her just as I would have with him.  I believe he is helping me and Riley from another place and in ways he wouldn’t have been able to being here. I believe that every time she smiles, he smiles. Every time she laughs, he laughs. My ultimate goal is to construct a building that will serve the community in his name, “The AJ Smith Building”.

 

Sometimes in life, we may not know the reasons “why”. But we have a responsibility to continue fighting the good fight.

Rest in peace lil buddy. Grandpa misses you every day, but we will see each other again.

 

Love Always,

Grandpa