Allyson grew up in the 70’s/80’s as a barefoot, mop-topped, street-wise kid
in a neighborhood where doors were never locked and you played outside until
the streetlights came on. She suffered her first of three broken left arms at the
age of 3 and had a long standing relationship with the local E.R., including a facial plastic surgeon from a significant dog bite and a horrified pediatric staff due to one of the worst cases of poison ivy they had ever seen.
As a teen she rebelled in a big way ultimately leaving home
at 17, having her daughter Abby at 18, then marrying her baby’s father who was
her high school sweetheart. Still breaking the rules and having a good time,
she found herself pregnant again at 21 and this time, the baby was sick.
Allyson never saw herself as a stereotype and fought tooth
and nail to fight it. She was able to plow head on into the role of a mother,
and learn the ropes of caring for a child with special needs. She later found
herself blogging about this journey and sharing the good, the bad and the ugly
with the masses.
Having these words read about her was her worst
fear..leaving her son to live his life without her. She often worried, who
would care for him as a mother would? Who will kiss him? Who will make sure he
has his favorite things? Who will love him as much as her? If she were here
today, these are the things she would be asking us.
If she were here today, these are the things she would be
telling us; she had a good life. She was grateful for many things, including a
man who has loved her since 1989 putting up with all of her crap, taking care
of her when she was sick and just listening when she was sad. She had wonderful
kids, and she hopes they remember every day how very much she loved them.
She was so thankful she was able to work, play, and love so
hard for the years she had with us. She
would tell us to take care of ourselves, take care of each other, and please
smile when you think of her. She leaves us with her legacy of being a kick-ass Slombie maker, an advocate for those in need, and a voice for a child who does not have one. Her house could have been cleaner, her bank account fatter, her vehicle newer, her pants a size smaller, but her heart could not have been bigger and her family could not have been more loved by her.
