The worst day of my life, October 11, 2019, the day Elliot died, a single pink rose overcame the cold and bloomed in front of the house. It survived for weeks. I wrote this speech imagining the church full of people: my wife, our children, family, friends, and especially Elliot’s friends. I would like to share what I said at his memorial service because I want him to be remembered for how he lived, not just for how he died. This is what I said:
Thank you all for coming. You are all beautiful flowers.
My son, Elliot Moses Timm was born on May 14th, 2001. Anne took a pregnancy test in September of 2000 just after she had quit her job to stay home with Sarah. We were newly married, poor, and I was scared. How could we afford a baby?
At six weeks, Anne’s visit to the doctor showed that our child had died. The ultrasound could not find a heartbeat, and hormone tests showed that we had miscarried. We wanted to finish things naturally, but then Anne got sick, dreadfully sick. So we went in for a D&C. The doctor did an ultrasound first and there he was. His tiny heart was beating. The doctor said if he could say miracles happen that a miracle had happened.
On May 14, 2001 when Elliot was being delivered, I saw the doctor getting worried. Everyone started rushing around. I looked down and saw these dark purple folds and became afraid. His shoulder was stuck. They could not get him out and he was not getting oxygen. When they finally got him out, he did not cry. This was Elliot’s second death. They took him to a table and started working. After what seemed like an eternity, he cried. We gave him the middle name Moses which means drawn out of the water.
Elliot has given me so much joy even in the sad times. I was holding him when I turned on the T.V. on September 11 and watched tower two get slammed by a jet. My son has the heart of a lion and the tenderness of a lamb. Like many born in 2001 before 9/11, he dreamed of being a super hero. He was Power-boy! His powers were flight and the ability to form “power balls, Cool huh?” His heart drove him to be a champion. He won his first competition of any type he was in, the Awana Grand Prix. He won his first robotics tournament. When Elliot does something, he does it all the way. He was competitive not because he needed to be better than others, but rather because he believed that if you were going to do something, you should go all the way.
My dear Son, your life has been too short, but you have shown us all how to live. Elliot, your life has been too short, but you have shown me how to live. You are my beautiful Flower.
