Charlie turned 12 last week. There was a homeschoolers day at the Long Beach Aquarium and I purchased tickets weeks ago not realizing that it was on his actual birthday, but it worked out. The kids had a great time at the aquarium, even more fun at the adjacent park, and then Charlie found a message in a bottle in the ocean!
There were two letters inside the bottle dated August 17, 2018 from a mom and dad to the baby they miscarried. The letters were wet, but we were still able to unfold them carefully and read them. This is what the letters said:
“I know I didn’t get to hold you in my arms, but at least I got to feel you inside my belly, even if it only was for six weeks. I love you so much, and I know one day I will get to see you. You will always be in our hearts because you took a little piece of my heart with you. I think about you every day and always wonder what you would of looked like. I know you will always be with us and you make it known by showing up in my dreams.
I will forever be sorry for not giving you a chance, but just know that Daddy and Mommy, love you to the moon and back, You will forever be our biggest and our favorite adventure. I also know that even though your brothers didn’t get to meet you, they would of loved you and spoiled you so much. I know they love you to the moon and back. Love mommy.”
“Hey nugget, it’s your dad. Just writing to you for the first time. One day we will get to meet each other. I’m here with your mom. We didn’t get a chance to do the balloon thing, but we will next year. We love you. I’m sure if you were here, everything could’ve been amazing. I’m sorry we didn’t give you a chance, but hopefully one day we will. You showed me how it felt to be a dad. You are beautiful and I am sure you would have been a great and cool kid. Wherever your mom and I end up, we won’t forget about you. You will live through other things in life. Cannot wait for you to show us signs that you’re still here. I love you always, your dorky, cool dad.”
What a special thing to find on his birthday that sparked a lot of family conversations! This baby must have been very wanted and loved for the parents to send this message in a bottle out into the world. I hope that doing so provided some closure for them.
I’d love to find this couple so they know where their bottle ended up, and how special it was for my son to find it on his twelfth birthday! If you share this post, maybe the power of the internet can find them!
persimmon / 1495 posts
Oh my goodness! What an amazing find! And what a sweet thing for the parents to do to help with the grieving process.
apricot / 490 posts
You have to put this on TikTok. The algorithm is crazy and people will figure it out.
nectarine / 2690 posts
That is a cool find.
I’m a little confused, if they miscarried, why would they both apologize for not giving the baby a chance?
apricot / 275 posts
@JennyLayneAZ: Agreed. When I read the letters, it sounds to me like they decided to terminate the pregnancy. Which I understand is usually a heart-wrenching decision and causes a lot of grief and sadness as well. But I do not read miscarriage from these letters. Still a very cool find! What a unique way to help yourself work through your grief.
persimmon / 1380 posts
This is amazing, it brought tears to my eyes.
kiwi / 583 posts
@kayla0416: I also read it this way.
What a neat idea to help with the grief and process it all, regardless of what happened.
pomelo / 5084 posts
@kayla0416: Agreed that the miscarriage interpretation doesn’t fit.
Still such a cool find. HBD Charlie!
nectarine / 2690 posts
@kayla0416: completely agree!!