30/01/2023
From Jim Grue:
Thank you all for the support and love you have been giving during this difficult time. Since 2021, Mel and I have been through alot trying to grow a family of our own. Last year, after a wonderful trip to Disney World that my sisters arranged, Mel became pregnant with Felix a month later.
The days leading up to Felix’s due were full of joy and excitement, which would have been January 24th of this year. But Felix came into the world sooner than we expected, October 11th, 2022, on my father in law Dan Hurley’s birthday, his firstborn grandchild. Born 25 weeks early, Felix fought hard against underdeveloped lungs, edema, and each day showed his mother and I his incredible strength by gripping our fingers. We were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house so we were able to see our Felix the fighter everyday, and during that time we read endless amounts of books from Dr Seuss, to Grumpy Monkey, along with playing lullaby variations of popular songs. My parents, Laura and Jimmy Sugrue, his Mimi and Papa, came every weekend to show support and love to their 6th grandchild, and Mel’s parents, Linda and Dan Hurley, showed their support driving a far distance to take care of our cats BJ and Hawkeye and sometimes convincing the NICU staff to let them in to see Felix.
Felix Carmine Sugrue displayed tremendous strength and resilience as his began to grow more beautiful each day. However, on January 22nd, the day of my father’s birthday, Felix left this world. While this was not the outcome Mel, myself, or any of our loved ones wanted, Felix has been giving me signs that he was ready to pass on with the love that his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, relatives, and nurses have filled him with these past 3 months.
I am heartbroken over the loss of my son. I am heartbroken to see my beautiful wife and all the people I love filled with sadness. But I truly believe that for the past 3 months, Mel and I were not only taking care of our son, but nurtured an angel who will be watching over us and guiding us the rest of our lifetime through happiness and miracles. To my boy, my son, my angel Felix Carmine Sugrue, we love you.