The Next Chapter
On February 21, 2014 my life changed forever. My sweet, perfect, smiling daughter, Kellie Rynn was killed in her child care center. Because of someone else's decisions and neglect, Kellie Rynn is gone from this Earth. The love of my life was gone My life shattered. I became a statistic. One in four people lose a child. I was thrown into a life I never wanted. Over the last two years, my life was consumed in darkness. I searched for her, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't gone. Maybe she was still here, just living somewhere else. I struggled with reality and the life I lived. Even through tremendous support from my family and loving husband, I was still missing Kellie Rynn.
On April 28, 2016, my life changed again. Kellie Rynn's little brother and our son was born. Finley Reid Michael Martin (named for both grandfathers since Kellie Rynn is named for her grandmothers). He was a beautiful 8 lbs, 1oz and 20.25 inches long. The moment I saw him I knew there could be true love again. He is a gift from Kellie Rynn. He shares her features and mannerisms, While I was pregnant, I couldn't imagine loving another child. How do you do that? My life was so consumed with Kellie Rynn, how can another child join our family. On April 28th, my heart doubled in size! Half of it is scared and broken and the other half is brand new, just for Finley. Mother and angel is a different type of parenting. I still teach her right from wrong but Finley made me a physical mother again. I have realized how blessed we truly are. We have an angel always with us and a beautiful son to carry on her legacy with us. I never thought I'd ever say I am blessed. In no way does Finley take Kellie Rynn's place. They are two different people. I will struggle everyday, I miss Kellie Rynn every minute of every day. She is my first child, my daughter, but now I can now say, I'm a bereaved parent, and a blessed parent.
Kathryn Martin, Kellie Rynn's Mother
