Her journey ended the same day it started, right before Thanksgiving. In her only day of life, she accomplished more then most of us do in a whole lifetime. She touched the lives of so many people. She suffered a lonely death, but she did not depart alone. More then 50 people attended the services.

Over the months of following her story, I learned the value of forgiveness and acceptance. I learned that from her short life. Forgiveness is a powerful gift and it is yours for the taking. All we have to do is give it away or accept it when it comes our way.

All of us do things that we regret & cannot take back. Some more difficult then others, but God forgives all. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness. Now just imagine a lonely mother (possibly at the darkest moment in her life) is looking back at what she has done & not sure if she can forgive her own actions. Just imagine hearing the soul of her 1 day old child whispering "mom, I forgive you..." How would that feel?

Would I be that open and be able to forgive someone who has done me wrong?

Through this encounter, I get to discover my humanity. Yes, I get to see the flaws of our humanness and the harshness of our society. But I also get to see the greatness that we are capable of! Baby Grace got a loving funeral bringing dignity and peace to her turbulent existence. She was buried in a donated, ivory-colored dress trimmed with tiny rosebuds and pearls. The white 2-foot long casket carried this angel to her final resting place. The motorcade taking her to the cemetery even had a police escort. She came into this world all alone, but definitely did not leave it that way. The services were attended by 50 people who loved her, strangers as they may be. They got to show her love and acceptance. No, there was no mother in sight or family to take care of her, but she did not leave this earth alone. She was taken care of by many people who got to love her.

She was taken care of by the 19yr old kid that found her in the dumpster among the construction debris. She was taken care of by the 3 strangers, owners of the recycling plant, and by the investigators who only wanted dignity for her life. She was not alone nor lonely anymore. This is true acceptance!

What inspired me to start the Baby Grace Foundation was the kindness and humanity of the people involved. They could have been angry and upset at a world where 'throwaway babies" exist. But they chose not to judge the mother or family, but were loving human beings whose only desire was to give her life meaning. They gave her an identity, dignity, love and compassion.

This is all we ask for - meaning to our existence and to know that when we die, that there is someone to take care of us.

This is what every child deserves.