Zacharie was spoiled yesterday. Sandals, and pyjamas and dump trucks and marching band sets and lawn mowers and books. Lots of gifts, as you’d expect at a first birthday party.

There were a few pieces of paper tucked into the cards, something we really appreciate ,as soon after Z was born we set up an RESP, A Registered Education Savings Plan.

Each month we toss a few bucks into the bank, much like you would with an RRSP. Except an RESP isn’t tax deductible. The money grows tax free, and can be withdrawn tax free when Z attends a post secondary institution. So Jen and I ask that if people want to give Zacharie a meaningful gift, they can contribute to his education.

In addition to the monthly and birthday additions to the fund, Jen and I also collect our spare change in a big juice jar in our office. Each day when we come home from having bought coffees, or lunches, or whatever, we always have some dimes and quarters and loons rolling around, so we dump them in the big jar - last year we used the money to start Z’s RESP, it was well over $100 and should be there again this year. It’s just a simple way to save for Z’s future.

This year, I’ll be doing something a little different with Z’s money. I’ll be making a couple of donations in his name.

We have had the ultimate year with him. Jen looked at him last night, as we toasted his exact birth time with a bottle of bubble we brought back from France and said, “Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives.” It’s true. I can’t imagine life without him, and in that instant I think of the families who have lost a son.

My friend Tiffani had a son, Kenneth, earlier this spring. A little man who was so eager to enter this world he came a little too soon, and struggled with his fragile little lungs and passed away after 25 short days. Tiffani has a memorial for Kenneth at the Children’s Hospital website, so we’ll be making a donation in Z and Kenneth’s name.

Tiffani wrote a note on her Facebook page today, reminding us all that this weekend is the Miracle Weekend for Children’s Hospital.

I gave birth to my son Kenneth on March 18, 2008. I was only 24 weeks plus 1 day pregnant when I gave birth to Kenneth. He was immediately put into the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Kenneth fought hard for 25 days to make it. Unfortunately Kenneth’s little lungs couldn’t survive and he passed away on April 12, 2008.

They do amazing work at Children’s and while you may think that the hospital gets tons of money from the government, private donors etc. they are needing and always needing more donations to keep up and stay ahead.

It’s hard to understand how much the hospital needs your help when you’re not touched by something that goes on there. I never fully understood the need myself until WE needed the services of Children’s Hospital ourselves.

Let Kenneth’s story be an inspiration to you to donate to this amazing and wonderful hospital.

We’ll also toss $28 into the coffers of Canuck Place. It’s how the fans of the Canucks are remembering Luc Bourdon.

Since an initial suggestion on the Canucks.com forum, donations in Luc’s honour from as far away as New Zealand, Great Britain and all across North America have been made to Canuck Place…mostly in the amount of $28 or $28.28 to honour the number Luc wore with the Canucks.[source]

So it’s been a great weekend to celebrate Z and plan for his future, but also a time to stop and remember and respect how fragile this life is and to appreciate and devour all the joy it can bring every single day.

The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 1st, 2008 at 9:32 am and is filed under charity, family, money, zacharie.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.