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John Anthony Thomas II 9/23/2004 - 11/08/2004
Anthony entered this world September 23, 2004 and left to be with
Jesus November 8, 2004 after a long battle with multiple health problems caused by Down Syndrome. Anthony left to be a guardian
angel over his Mommy and Daddy John Anthony (Tony) Thomas and Kelly Pettet Hilken Cunningham, of Charleston, WV. He is survived
by his big sister Emily Michele Thomas, his grandparents John and Terry Cunningham and John and Judy Thomas along with Great-Grandparents
Jim and Wanda Burdette, Aunt and Uncle Kim and Brian Deering and Cousins Zach and Cole, Aunt and Uncle Niki and Brian Blount
and cousins Olivia and Bethany will always be protected by their little guardian angel.
Visitation will be at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston WV November 13 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. Service
will be Sunday at 1:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV with Rev. Mark Lampley and Pastor
David Taylor. A fellowship celebrating Anthony's life will be at 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon at the church.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh,
CICU Department in memory of Anthony.
The family would like to thamk everyone for their support be it the loving care he received by hospital
staff, in a kind Email or a donation made at the many fund raisers held for Anthony. Everything was helpful in their long
journey and is deeply appreciated.
Most women become a mother by accideent, some by choice, a few by habit.
Did you ever wonder how mother of children
with special needs are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over the earth selecting his instruments for propagtion
with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger...
"Armstrong,
Beth, son, patron saint Matthew"
"Forest,Marjorie, daugher, patron saint Cecilia"
"Rutledge,
Carrie,twins, patron saint Gerard. He's used to profanity"
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a
child with special needs."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? Shes's so happy."
"Exactly, similed God. "Could
I give a child with special needs a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But does she have patience?"
asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self pity and despair. Once the
shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it."
"I watched her today," said God. "She has that feeling of self-independence
that is so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going give to her has its own world. She has to make it
live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you," said the angel.
"No
matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect, she has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a
virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't seperate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive.
Yes, here is a
woman I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take
anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a step ordinary."
"I will permit her to see clearly the things
I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the
angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles and says "A mirror will suffice."
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