Austin Duane Shanks - Online Memorial Website

It is I whose kicks you will always remember,

                  I who gave you heartburn that a dragon would envy,

     I who couldn't seem to tell time and got your days and nights mixed up.

            It is I who acknowledged your craving for peach ice cream by

                            knocking the cold bowl off  your belly,

 I who went shopping and helped you pick out the "perfect" teddy bear for me,

                I who liked to be cradled in your belly and rocked off to

                                    dreamy slumber by the fire,

                    It is I who never had a doubt about your love,

               It is I who was able to put a lifetime of joy into an instant.

                                                                   -Pat Schwiebert

This poem written for Shane Walker by his mother sums up exactly how I feel

Don't Tell Me

Please don't tell me you know how I feel,
Unless you have lost your child too,
Please don't tell me my broken heart will heal,
Because that is just not true,
Please don't tell me my son is in a better place,
Though it is true, I want him here with me,
Don't tell me someday I'll hear his voice, see his face,
Beyond today I cannot see,
Don?t tell me it is time to move on,
Because I cannot,
Don?t tell me to face the fact he is gone,
Because denial is something I can't stop,
Don't tell me to be thankful for the time I had,
Because I wanted more,
Don't tell me when I am my old self you will be glad,
I'll never be as I was before,
What you can tell me is you will be here for me,
That you will listen when I talk of my child,
You can share with me my precious memories,
You can even cry with me for a while,
And please don't hesitate to say his name,
Because it is something I long to hear everyday,
Friend please realize that I can never be the same,
But if you stand by me, you may like the new person I become someday.

Judi Walker
(In Memory of Shane)
Copyright 1998

The Cord

We are connected,
My child and I, by
An invisible cord
Not seen by the eye.

It's not like the cord
That connects us 'til birth
This cord can't been seen
By any on Earth.

This cord does it's work
Right from the start.
It binds us together
Attached to my heart.

I know that it's there
Though no one can see
The invisible cord
From my child to me.

The strength of this cord
Is hard to describe.
It can't be destroyed
It can't be denied.

It's stronger than any cord
Man could create
It withstands the test
Can hold any weight.

And though you are gone,
Though you're not here with me,
The cord is still there
But no one can see.

It pulls at my heart
I am bruised...I am sore,
But this cord is my lifeline
As never before.

I am thankful that God
Connects us this way
A mother and child
Death can't take it away!

Author Unknown

My Niece Brittany wrote this poen for our beautiful son Austin. I am greatful she was willing to share something so private to her. I love this poem. Thank you Brittany, it is beautiful. Tim & I love you very much.

Austin Duane Shanks

     This little angel was born on the 26th of July 2008. He never got to open his eyes or breathe his first breath but i posted this blog to show how proud we are that he made it that far. Still our beautiful baby boy, too precious for this world.
     The reason I choose "Born Sleeping" as the name for his blog, it leaves me with a nicer image of how this angel was born, an image of a peaceful passing. 
    As i cry while i write this, I'm sure that some will cry as they read. Weaping by reading this is not at all my intention. My intentions of writing this were to reconize a very special individual to me. That very much deserves to be kept close to our hearts and remembered.
     And to two individuals that mean so much to me, have an undiscribable hole in thier hearts. My heart goes out to them to help mend a hole that may never heal.
     I wrote this poem because, I wanted it to be to the heart and special to this little angel as he looks down on all of us. Hopefully, one day it may dry tears instead of create them. As a peacful rememberance, rather than a sad one.....!

I Am With You
by. Brittany Brown
Once I lived in my mother's womb,
A place for me to flourish and bloom,
And in that place I felt such love,
Until the day I was called from above,
The angels came and took me away,
Because on Earth I couldn't stay,
But my mother didn't want me to go,
Because she really loves me so,
So I spoke to God and made a deal,
That would help my mommy's heart to heal,
And so God said that I could visit,
At any time, there is no limit,
Now I watch her visit my grave,
I send her courage to make her brave,
And in the night when she cries,
I am there to wipe her eyes,
And when she sits and thinks of me,
I am there sat on her knee,
When she thinks that no one cares,
I am there stroking her hair,
When it's hard for her to carry on,
I am there to make her strong,
For when you carry LOVE in your heart,
You never really are APART!