(by Mike Blanding, father of Mateo)
I am not a perfect father. I never have been. I never will be.
There’s so much that I would have done differently had I known that Mateo would only be with us for seven short months. There’s so much that I would have done differently had I known that March 1st, 2020 would be my last time carrying my living son. There’s so much that I would have done differently had I known that March 2nd, 2020 would be my last time looking into his conscious, open eyes. But I did not know. I could not have known. So I did not do anything differently. And now my precious little Mateo is gone.
I am not a perfect father. I never have been. I never will be. But I know a perfect Father. And He, too, knows what it feels like to lose a son. And in this thought my soul finds the deepest comfort.
The #MightyMateo Legacy lives on.
Our little Mateo was highly involved in our efforts to fight online sex trafficking of children in the Philippines during his seven months of life. We believe that he'd love for us to continue this legacy.
2 Comments
Colin Hui
3/25/2020 04:44:58 am
It is so hard to imagine what you have gone through and what yet about to go through. But I know for sure that your sharing has waken up many fathers who find it difficult to spend good quality time with his children. Father is indeed for life, no one can ever substitute our place in our children lives. Likewise, we should treasure Our Father in Heaven who is fathering us even we at times push Him away. Let's treasure every single moment to father and be fathered.
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Josh
3/25/2020 08:44:26 pm
Love you so much bro - so proud of you honouring God throughout your journey
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#MightyMateo's parents document their journey through grief towards healing.
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