my superhero ashton flew away last night. he was five years old. he had battled cancer for the past several months. he had endured a stem cell transplant and lived at the dayton children’s hospital and then at cincinnati children’s hospital with his mother erin.

ashton was diagnosed in a particularly horrific fashion. he and his mother were going to his sisters confirmation. ashton and erin were going to stay overnight with me but ended up in the hospital because ashton had an ear infection. the doctors figured out he had cancer. i’m sure i would have broken down a dozen times if i were erin but she has become the strongest woman i know.
ashton’s father passed a number of years ago and so i would like to believe that he will be there to greet ashton in the city of remembrance that exists.