Love For Daniel

And can it be 

that in a world, so full and busy,

the loss of one creature 

makes a void SO wide

and deep

that nothing but the 

width, 

and depth

of eternity 

can fill it up

- Charles Dickens

In the midst of our immense loss, or seemingly relentless sorrow and worry, some of the most amazing people have come into our lives.  Offering love, support, prayers, uplifting words of encouragement.  We have laughed, we have cried, and all the while....all those who love us, have kept the faith...kept the love....for Daniel.

It was not long after Daniel's death that a few of his friends approached me with an idea that has become an amazing tribute of love, faith and support.

Credit must be paid to Sarah Kiengersky, Coleson Lecompte and Jenn Howe.   All three of these wonderful souls love Daniel.  I am also privileged to call them my friends.

I can not be sure how this all got started but all three of them asked me separately how I felt about having bracelets made in honor  and support for Daniel.  What they proposed was that we get together and order those plastic bracelets (like the "Livestrong" movement") in Daniel's name.  I found the idea to be just exactly fitting.  Some research was done but with summer holidays and busy schedules, plans weren't solidified immediately....
Then one day, Lainey and I were in Coopers and she said to me "Mummy, do you know how happy I will feel if I am walking in the grocery store, or anywhere in town, and I see someone wearing Daniel's bracelet?"
At that moment I thought...we have to do this straight away.  She was right.  Our little town was so rocked by Daniel's murder I just knew that we could all show our support by just simply wearing a red bracelet.
I went home that afternoon and in talks with my sister in law Jennifer, she immediately offered up a contact she had with a bracelet maker she has dealt with in Vancouver called LANYARDS PLUS.  Joel and Kyler were there (Kyler is Joel's best friend) and they piped up and wanted to be involved.  After much brainstorming we decided to jump in!  The benefit concert on September 10 was soon approaching so we wanted to try to get some made for that special night.  We decided that because red was Daniel's favorite colour they should be red.  In the beginning, I was thinking they should say "Justice For Daniel", because that's what we all want, but a friend of Daniel's in Victoria whose name is also Daniel (Daniel Elliott from the Baja Surf Grill to be exact) suggested that "Justice For Daniel" was what we all want, but "Love For Daniel" was what we all already have.  He was right.  And so was born, Love For Daniel, the already name of this blog, and the name we all now wear on our wrists.

Jennifer made some calls.  With a bit of a miracle, and the kindness of one man's heart, we had a promise that 2000 bracelets were going to be at my doorstep on or before September 10th, the day we so badly wanted them.  Joel and Kyler created a Facebook group and the movement began.

 Joel and Kyler got writing, and this is their wish.......

 

"Welcome to Love For Daniel!! A place where people can learn about our cause and our mission. Share pictures and stories of your bracelets.

Daniel Jordan Levesque was a 20 year old musician and poet who was tragically taken from this earth on August 3 2011, in Victoria British Columbia. My name is Joel Thur, I am 15 and Daniel is my big brother. I have a baby sister who is 12 and a mum who has now lost her second son tragically. My best friend Kyler Lenzi,14, and I have created this page to raise awareness on a few important things.
Daniel is from Revelstoke, a small little town in the interior of British Columbia. He lived his whole life here until his move to Victoria in June 2011. He was a small town boy not really prepared for the big city. Kyler and I want to show the world our love for my brother by promoting bracelets that say "Love for Daniel" on them. We want them world wide. We want people from all walks of life to see the importance of preparing children who leave our small towns for the big city life. I miss my brother. I am proud of who he was. And I want the world to know him. If you would like to purchase a bracelet, the cost is $5.00 CDN and $1.00 S/H. All proceeds go to a trust fund set up for the well being of Daniel's family. Please feel free to share stories and pictures of your bracelets and where you are wearing them proudly. Did you find one? Tell us the story, as there will be bracelets left in all cities in BC for people to find them and learn about my brother's story. I love my big brother. I know anyone who would have ever met him would love him too"

People have been so supportive, and Joel and Kyler have been taking it very seriously.  They keep books, they are learning banking.  They send out mail.   It's really quite amazing.  And you know what? Seeing the bracelets....makes me almost cry.  It moves our hearts in such a huge way, I wish I had better words to describe it. It may seem like such a small gesture for some but is IMMENSE to us. 

Air Force Beach, Comox

When went to the coast recently we saw this girl sitting with her friends at a huge movie theatre.  A total stranger...and she had on a Love for Daniel.  It was so cool to see.  Here's this girl who most likely grew up in Langley....and there it was.
There have been bracelets all over the world.
They are all over Canada. They are proudly worn in Woodstock ON, places all over Manitoba, Calgary, Lac La Biche, Pouce Coupe BC all over Quebec.  Victoria, White Rock, South Surrey, Lillooet, Comox, Leduc, Vernon, Nanoose Bay.  They have been in Makaha HI, Mazatlan, Myan Riviera, Brazil, Las Vegas, Puerto Vallarta, Disneyland, Niagra Falls, Sarnia, Lake Erie, Hollywood, Minnesota  There is one on Jim Morrison's grave in Ile de France, all different parts of Portugal and Spain.  They wear them in Norway, Germany and New Zealand.  On the tops of mountains like Mt. Begbie! Revelstoke Mountain Resort, One Tree Hill! Egypt!! Italy!!

Ile De France

 

Jimi Hendrix Las Vegas

San Fransisco!  Grand Canyon! New York! North Dakota!!!
They have been on wrists at Canucks games, Avenge Sevenfold, St. Vital Mustang's Football games.  The Hoover Dam, Cuba, even with the Grey Cup.   Paul Brandt has held Love For Daniel in his hand.  It's amazing. And its bound to grow.

If you haven't already joined the Love For Daniel page on Facebook, look it up.  There you can see many more pictures than I have on here, and places I have not intentionally missed.
We have been leaving bracelets randomly around in different cities to raise awareness to Daniel's story.  For example, don't be surprised if...let's say...some bracelets turn up in Okotoks AB, or Prince George, Cranbrook, Calgary....any place really.  Anywhere and everywhere...for as far as we are all concerned, the world DESERVES to know about what happened to Daniel...and know the TRUTH... not the lies.  So the right person is held accountable for his death.

Paul Brandt 

Nothing can be more powerful than the power of love.  For those of you who have bracelets, wear them proudly.  Break them out once in a while if you don't wear them regularly  because you never know whose heart it may touch.  Lets all band together again and pray for justice and peace.  This isn't over...and we want the truth to be told.

Bless you all for your support.

ONE LOVE

Norway

One Tree Hill, NZ

Vancouver Canucks Game

Hollywood

 More pictures on Facebook
                                                               

If you are interested in having your own bracelet you can contact Joel and Kyler either directly at "Love For Daniel" on Facebook, or 
email them at 
lovefordaniel@gmail.com .

8 Months

Clearly it is an understatement to start out with how this has been the worst 8 months of our lives.  I think anyone who has a heart can imagine how hard it is for all who loved Daniel to not think of him every single day.  I am sure there are some people who may read this blog who didn't actually know him.  Maybe they know me, or Steven or maybe even Joel or Lainey.  But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that the death of a child, brother, friend etc., is tragic to say the least.

It's funny that I start out talking about people who have hearts.  It is extremely difficult for me to not start ranting and raving with anger and hurt feelings.  The things that our family has had to deal with in the last few weeks is nothing short of unnecessary and sad.  Sad beyond words that any one of us, after having survived what we have faced, have to listen to the lies and rumors and judgements swirling around.  Its sad that people can't just build us up, rather than tear us down.

Walk a day in my shoes.
 
Sit on the edge of my bed each morning and dangle your feet as you contemplate whether you can even face the day.
Stand in the shower and as every drop of water hits your body, let it wash the tears from the previous day and night down the drain.
Go into my kitchen and pull out 2 bowls for your children's breakfast ... wishing you were needing 4.
Look at the calendar on the fridge and count back the months, realizing that you haven't heard your child's voice for eight whole months, and knowing for certain you will NEVER hear it again.
Go back to my room and get dressed, every morning resisting crawling back into bed, and never wanting to wake up.
Put on a brave face and be thankful that, for the time being, your living children are safe...but will they stay that way?
Wait a second, what about the father who is now childless...how must he feel?
Both Steven and I go to work every single day, because life has to go forward.  Just when things start to get going in a positive direction, we get knocked down again.

I can honestly say, because I have had the misfortune of having lived through burying a child once before, I know that a child who was killed at the hands of a murderer is much different.  When our baby died, we laid him to rest.  He was at peace and every day that we missed him, was also a day of slight healing.  Our lives were never once the same after, but, we carried on and we survived. I used to say that I could probably handle anything life threw at me because I had buried my child...I didn't mean I could handle this. This time, it seems nearly impossible to survive.  Our baby boy Daniel, can not be at rest.  Or shall I say, we can not be.  After you lose a child, wanting to protect them and care for them does not go away.  I struggle every day with wanting people to know the whole truth and not what the accused would have the world believe. I am so angry.  A normal stage of grief, and one Steven has been stuck on for the better part of these 8 months.

This isn't fair.

This isn't right.
 
I promise you that every day of my life I will tell everyone and anyone the truth, about my son and about that piece of shit who murdered him.

Joshua Tyler Bredo, <----- his legal name.  Joshua Baba,<-----his step father's last name, possibly also his mother's as well. Joshua Buxton <----the name Daniel believed. Josh Chartier, Josh Mitchell.  Any more you can think of??   I guarantee this person is on to his next victim and trust me, no one is safe.  Not children, not employers, not co workers, not politicians, not grieving families of war heroes, not people he calls friends.

Invited to his home??  Look out for hammers, and if he has a globe...don't look inside it...you wont like to see what you find.

I encourage every single person to Google any or all of those names and see what he has done to all innocent people.  Look at his picture.  Study his face and warn all the people you love.  And if you have ever had any doubt about how the afternoon of August 3rd 2011 went, Google Daniel's name.  Read about the candle light vigil, the over 1000 people who attended his funeral, read about how the benefit concert dedicated to his memory raised almost 14,000 dollars (maybe more) for a scholarship in his honor.  That's right, I said honor.  Daniel touched and changed lives.  His writings, his music, his love was never changing, never judging.  He was amazing, kind, gentle.  He loved life, his family,  his friends.  He was the best big brother around, his siblings LITERALLY adored and idolized him.  He wasn't perfect, but he was very easily one of the most if not THE most influential people I have ever known.  And he was my son.  I carried him for 9 (almost 10) months.  I gave birth to him and I loved him every second that his heart beat.  Knowing Daniel made me want to be a better person.  He did that to people, helped them realize their potential.

He told them to sing,
be proud and
love one another.

He was a peacemaker, a lover...not a fighter.

He was a beautiful soul.

We could all take the time it takes to read this to contemplate how lucky this world was to have someone like Daniel in it.  For those of you who have children, thank God that they are still with you.  Please, everyone, be kind to one another.  Do not pass judgement, steer clear from spreading gossip but instead, spread love hope and peace.  A good intention goes a very long way.  Wish for the families of all the children who were taken in the last year to be well.  Everyone handles grief differently and I for one, wish I was back to work on the running trades because that would mean I was doing better than I am.  I wouldn't wish what I, and the rest of Daniel's friends and family are living through on anyone.

Ever.

This wasn't a very happy or hopeful post but, as tomorrow draws near I have to get ready to ...
sit on the edge of my bed and contemplate whether I can face the day.
I have to shower all of today's tears down the drain and
take out 2 bowls for breakfast.......