Today marks 18 months since we said our goodbyes. 18 months since she took her last breath. Since we held her in our arms. Kissed her sweet cheeks. Since we had her in our presence.

Olivia only graced this earth for 20 months and 3 days, and with each passing minute we get closer and closer to the time where she will have been gone longer than we had the honor of her presence. It hurts. She becomes more and more of a memory instead of a living, breathing, beautiful child of ours. And that hurts more than words can express.

Hold your kids close today, tonight, always. You never know when they might be called back home. You have no assurances. I never imagined we would lose our only daughter and lose out on getting to watch her grow up. Pray for those families like ours that are without one of their babies. No matter how much time passes, it never stops hurting.

Olivia Caldwell Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research. All proceeds benefit our neuro-oncology research team at Children’s Hospital Colorado. You can learn more and donate any time by visiting our website at www.oliviacaldwellfoundation.org.