Skate4Smiles in Memory of Dawson Ellert

"I was awake for the MRI."  Dawson Ellert - Feb 10, 2010

Normally, they sedate children for an MRI . . . we declined and hoped for the best.

The MRI started out pretty normally. We found our way to their beautiful new MRI center. It was only 9 months old and very modern, bright, clean and comforting. AND, they’d let one of us go in with him while the test was underway. I don’t remember why we chose Carla to go in. I do remember being disa...

Dawsie went by many nicknames but one of his favourites was "Dirt".

It happened one Saturday. I was trying desperately to get him out of the house to his guitar lesson on time. I was sitting (im)patiently in the truck wondering when he'd ever appear. He finally did, but then took his time putting on his shoes. After some time, he hopped into the back of the truck and (a little bit frustrated) I looked at him and said "Man, you move slower than dirt". My frustration vanished...

This is Dawson's Momma here...I woke up this morning with a feeling of gratitude...a feeling of needing to thank so many people for the support of Skate4Smiles and our family.

Dawson is the reason Skate4Smiles is possible...Dawson is STILL the reason for so many good things that happen in our lives. Even though Dawson has been gone just over 4 years, that little man still inspires me every day.

I wanted to post a few pictures of Dawson from the day before...

He had a way about him...

You could take him to Walmart or Toy R Us and you'd tell him before you went in there that you were just going to look - that today wasn't a day to buy. He'd say "OK" and you knew he truly meant it. One minute of staring at the Bakugan or Transformers or something like that would turn into ten, then fifteen. But he wouldn't ask you to buy him one.

Once in a while, you'd go in there and there'd been a new shipment. His eyes would ...