Jordi

[Koshka]

My baby son Jordi died two months ago from SIDS. At his funeral we released some monarch butterflies. This release gave me some relief from my incredible sadness.

A week later I went looking for some milkweed to plant in my garden to attract monarch butterflies. I found a tropical milkweed plant and planted it at home. Upon planting it I discovered a newly hatch cat as well as another egg. I was very excited.

I was away for the next week but constantly thought of the cats and how they were going. On my return there were 2 healthy caterpillars happily munching away. The problem was that they were rapidly running out of food.
I found more plants in different locations to feed them.

Two weeks ago they both started to pupate. My 5 year old daughter was fascinated and pointed out that hanging upside down in a “J” stood for her little brother Jordi.
They morphed into such a beautiful green chrysalis. I hung these in Jordi’s room.

Yesterday morning both butterflies emerged from their chrysalides – one male and one female. It was incredible that such a large butterfly can emerge from a small package.
On my return home from work yesterday my daughter and I released both butterflies. The female quickly darted off into a tree. The male lingered for almost a minute on my daughter’s hand, before taking off, momentarily landing on her head and then off into the trees.

I felt such excitement at having seen these two creatures go from egg to butterfly all in about the same length of time that Jordi was alive for. I also felt sadness at them going. However I have another chrysalis and about 10 more caterpillars in various stages.
I will probably not continually rear monarchs but I will be filling my garden with milkweed to attract these butterflies.
I never want to forget my baby boy, and whenever I see a monarch butterfly I will think of him and how much I love him.

[Mona Miller]

Sorry to hear of your little one passing.

Most of the Monarch butterflies that are migrating from the United States make it to Mexico during the day of the dead celebration. It is a Mexican holiday where the Mexican people honor and remember their dead. Many of the Mexican people believe that the Monarch butterflies returning at that time are the spirits of those that have passed.

http://goodnature.nathab.com/myth-and-m ... h-kingdom/

Currently, travel is not advised to Mexico. There is great violence there.

[Mia Monarch!]

Oh my goodnes. I am in tears reading about your incredible loss of your son, Jordi. My heart goes out to you, and I hope you are doing better. We experienced the same thing with a cousin's child. Her grandmother, my cousin, who is a nurse, was taking care of her and could not revive her, even in the short time that had passed. It was great sadness for the entire family, so I truly understand

Mona's story of the Mexican people and their thoughts of the souls of people connected with the beautiful monarch was so neat. I hope you found solice in that.

I am hoping you have had a successful year (2011) with the monarchs and that your lives have filled once again, with joy.

Kindly, Mia Monarch!