We live in the most amazing community! I have never been so touched as I was by the outpouring of support and love for the Sharp-Henry family when they lost their child in a house fire this spring. I wrote this story as a thank you to the community. I sent it to the Missoulian and they said they are going to do their own story for the family..which is cool.  I know the family just wants everyone to know how touched and appreciative they are. I know for me it has renewed my appreciation and love for this community...

How do you recover from the loss of a child? You don’t. But with enough support, love, and prayers, you begin to move forward one moment at a time. The loss of Dominick Sharp in the house fire March 15^th affected our community as we all felt the deep loss and pain. As the family tries to make sense of something that can’t be explained, there are the questions that haunt them… Why? Why us? Why him? Why didn’t he sleep in his room that night so we could find him? There are of course not any good answers that will help ease the pain but what has helped is the outpouring of love and support from this community. The family has been humbled and lifted by the generosity and profound graciousness’s of a community who has wrapped them in a warm blanket of blessings.  So many thanks – Target Range School Principal, Luke Laslovich, for his amazing support, generosity, and coordination of efforts, the entire Target Range staff and parents for the astonishing amount of donations, cards, support, and prayers, Lowe’s for the donation of the freezer, the donated side of beef, the Docs at Community Hospital for the financial support and furniture, Pat and Breezy Rinehart with Pak Rat storage units which are filled with donated household items, Beach Transportation for the food drive, Boys Scout’s, all of the generous individual cash donations, Sunset Memorial for donation of services, The Flower Bed for donating the beautiful arrangements for the service, the camper generously donated to live in until another home was found, Dayspring Restoration, Busy Hands, and of course thank you and blessings to the firefighters who courageously fought for his life. The list goes on. Please know that every dollar, every item, every thought and prayer has helped lift this family.

With grace and courage, they have faced the worst of days. They’ve cried, reflected, told stories and have had long conversations on how to get up and do it again. But most touching are the signs of Dominick.; The TV that turned off (in both rooms) so his mom couldn’t watch the news after the accident (and yes it turned back on when the news was over), the green light that illuminated the kitchen the next day (green was his favorite color), his young friend who told Dominick’s mom that he was sitting beside her even after they explained that wasn’t possible he insisted; the song, “Postcards from Heaven”, playing on the radio and is abruptly interrupted by Dominick’s favorite song (which was played at the service) and then followed by the music­­­ of Garth Brooks, “Tomorrow Never Comes”.

And then returning to the burned house to look for mom’s wedding ring and facing the unfathomable loss. The first surprise was being greeted by the family cat that had been initially rescued from the fire and brought to live with grandpa but quickly ran away. This little kitty cat traveled miles to find his way back home. When she picked him up, he snuggled in and started purring. As they entered the burned house and began moving through the wet, soggy ashes, little miracles began to happen.  The Lego's Dominick made and put by the TV were untouched, the family photos in the dresser drawer were perfect, his childhood stuffed bear "Cordial" somehow survived; Dad's mutilated wallet still had money in it in perfect condition, her bible from her grandmother untouched. Every find was a celebration and nugget to hold on to. And best of all she found her wedding ring miraculously in perfect condition. The dresser the ring was placed on was badly burned but the ring was untouched. She found the musical angel her mom had given her while she was in labor with him. She said she hung it from her IV in the hospital. It was pretty charred but when the string was pulled we noticed the music still played.

As we walked out of the house, black from the ashes, smelling like smoke, very sad, I told her to look up as the stars were beautiful and you could see Venus and Jupiter shining bright. She commented what a clear night it was and then we heard it. Music faintly coming from the charred box of treasures. She asked me if I heard the music. I smiled and said yes there was no mistake it was coming from the Angel in the box. Another small miracle.

And most recently, her dream. In this incredibly vivid dream, Dominick walks up the steps smiling and comes to his mom. She falls to her knees crying and tells him he can’t be here because he died. The next scene they are at his burial site and she explains to him that this is where he was now. He looks at her and says “No mom, I’m not there. I’m with you. I’m always with you”.  This family lost their child but truly has gained an Angel.

Thank you Missoula for supporting them in such a profound and generous way

Betty Higgins

Wraparound Facilitator

Consumer Direct

1903 S Russell, Suite 3

Missoula, MT 59801

bettyh@consumerdirectonline.net

This message was from an email I had sent to a couple of therapists who had helped me process after the fire. It was very difficult for me as well as I had been working with this family for over a year. The above story was inspired by this original email...

Hi - I wanted to let you know the service is Friday, 10am, at Garden City Funeral Home. I am super sad I will miss it but my family has had this trip planned for awhile. I think I need to be with my boys now. Please be there for me in spirit. If you don't mind, I want to share (or more like process the past couple of days). Yesterday was long afternoon and evening and today I spent a few hours with them at the funeral home. These are tough moments.

So yesterday I spent a few hours with the parents going through photos, telling stories, and allowing them to laugh and cry. I have to say I am proud of how the family is coming together in this crisis. Both parents are very loving and tender towards each other. However, mom is of course feeling guilty she didn’t save him and guilty she wants to be with him instead of here with her kids. I assured her all of her feelings were normal and there was no right or wrong way to grieve. We talked of her strength and ability to overcome adversity and even though she will always have a hole in her heart she will someday find love and joy again. She and her family would never be the same but they would find a new way - closer, stronger, and with an angel guiding them. We talked of their oldest son and his troubles as he too is feeling guilty for not saving him (Dominick was not in his room but had slept in younger brother's that night) I assured her that although we don't know why this had to happen, maybe he would find his way in the world helping others through their crisis. I told her to see her boys growing up into amazing young men.

She had told me she wanted to go to the house to look for her wedding ring. I thought it may be too difficult for her now but if she felt strongly about it I would go with her. She text me later that night and asked me to meet them at the house. It was very difficult to be there but I think also healing. We talked of the great memories - the holiday dinners and celebrations and how those memories will always be with her.

Before going into the house, we checked the garage to see if the cats were there. Remarkably, the cat they had initially rescued and brought to her dad's (by CS Porter) and had promptly ran away - was home! A long journey back for that little kitty cat. When she picked him up, he snuggled in and started purring.

As we found our way through the wet, soggy ashes miracles began to happen. The Lego's Dominick made that night and put by the TV were untouched, the family photos in the dresser drawer were perfect, Dominick's childhood stuffed bear "Cordial" somehow survived, his dad's mutilated wallet still had money in it in perfect condition, her bible given to her by her grandmother untouched. Every find was a celebration and nugget to hold on to. And best of all she found her wedding ring miraculously in perfect condition! The dresser the ring was placed on was badly burned and I really don’t know how it was untouched. She found the musical angel her mom had given her while she was in labor with Dominick. She said she hung it from her IV in the hospital. It was pretty charred but we noticed the music still played.

As we walked out of the house, black from the ashes, smelling like smoke, very sad, I told her to look up as the stars were beautiful and you could see Venus and Jupiter shining bright. She commented what a clear night it was and then we heard it. Music faintly coming from the charred box of treasures. Angela asked me if I heard the music. I smiled and said yes there was no mistake it was coming from the Angel in the box. Another small miracle to hold onto.

Hugs to you both. Thank you for being there for me.