Doug and Jodi Update

Dear Family,

I am sure that many of you have either seen the news yesterday(locally) or heard from mom about a very serious tragedy that involved the 4 year old boy of our best friends, Ted and Sharon Mardesich down here in Saratoga Springs. Their boy, Cooper, was born 3 days ahead of Teage, and they have been the best of friends all of their lives. Cooper is often at our house playing, or Teage is at his, and if you were to see both of them together, sometimes seeing one is seeing the other-they are that much alike.

Cooper was struck at the end of our street by a 15 year who was driving the family van. We don't know why he was driving to school, but Cooper was with his mother and was riding his little bike by where the kids were waiting for the bus. Apparently, Cooper found himself in front of the turning van...and you probably can figure out how the rest of the story goes.

He passed away from extensive internal injuries - the accident was much like what happened to Abby years ago, where Cooper was run over twice-the boy accidentally backed over him as well.

We will miss him terribly. His parents represent the best of people. Ted is a counselor in our Bishopric and Sharon is the Stake Young Women's President. Jodi and I have served with both of them in other church callings as well, and they have always been the first to run to someone else' aid. Every time we have had trauma with our children-you guys all know about those stores-our other children stayed with them. Now, it seems they will have to let us carry them for a while.

Cooper was a beautiful, happy, and special boy...and our little Teage and Sasha are already feeling the effects of his loss. Ted and Sharon told us that they will need Teage around a lot-mosty to help with their son Logan, and also it will remind them of Cooper. I told them that will never be a problem.

I have spend some good time with my friend Ted, and he told me Coopers passing was such a positive, spiritual experience for him...it doesn't take away his pain right now...they will just greatly miss him, but now the challenge is living in a way to be together again.

I am also reminded at this time of another Father....who probably in agony, had to stand alone and let His Beloved Son die as well....not for any kind of accident, but to save the rest of His children. How grateful I am for the knowledge that our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, died so we might all live again. What a glorious truth for all of us to rediscover. I have also thought how fragile life is, and that the time I spend with my wife and children are what is most important-we never know when one of us will be called Home, we just want to be ready. I have made a better resolve not to let the oddities of everyone I know bug me anymore-I know I have plenty of oddities. Hopefully, all of us can take the same challenge. We had such a great time at the LEG reunion with everyone, and I have marveled how the Lord has spared us the tragedy of this kind of loss so far....I know it won't always be that way.

I know that God is aware of us, and knows how we feel. Thanks to everyone for their love and support, and please keep Ted and Sharon Mardesich, and their boys-Ivan(13), Garrett(12) and Logan(6) in your prayers. We love all of you and look forward to being with you again.

Your brother,

Doug

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