Today was Abby's memorial, at least the public one. I think the family
had a private one before now, but I'm not sure.

After much discussion we decided to bring Val. I went back and forth on
it, what would be appropriate, what would be respectful and in the end
it just seemed right to bring her along.

I'd tried to prepare her for it, I said we were going to church for
Abby, that she'd need to be quiet. When I told her, she listened very
earnestly then asked if she could bring along the piece of breast pump
tubing she's been having a blast with lately.

As you might imagine the place was packed. Young and old, we filled the
place, spilling out into and eventually filling the lobby. Val decided
to ask where Abby was, over and over. Talk about the most heartbreaking
question that anyone could ask right there and then, this tiny voice
saying 'where's Abby?'

It was a lovely service, as these things go, but in the end the only
thing I can say is that it was absolutely the saddest thing I've ever
experienced.

My heart goes out to Abby's family. I suspect the hardest days are just
beginning. She was a beautiful girl who absolutely did not deserve what
happened to her.