“Mom, I wrote this after the memorial service for Mr. Carroll today. It was so sad and everyone in school cried and I cried as well. Then I thought it would make me feel better to write this poem and it helped a little bit. I just miss him so much.”

I found this poem, written on a little piece of paper on my desk when I came home from work last Wednesday.

I knew that day was going to be a tough one for my son. His school held a memorial and planted a tree in honour of Steve Carroll, who passed away last year in the summer.

The children gathered outside when the tree was planted and got to lay the rocks they had painted for Steve around the tree.

Teachers, his family and school officials spoke, and as the kids were sending their last wishes to Steve a leaf fell off the tree and landed right in Marius’ face.

He held it tight and slipped it into his pocket.

“Mom, look at this! The leaf came straight to me and I want to keep it forever. I think that Mr. Carroll knows that I miss him and he sent me a sign. What do you think?”

So I went back to work and laminated it for him.

We are very lucky to have known such an extraordinary person.