So are some strange questions for you:  Have you ever gone to sleep wearing earplugs?  If you have, then you will understand what I am referring to.  The sound of your own breath and the beat of your heart.  There is something incredibly calming about it.  What about those of you who have slept curled up next to someone ?  Holding someone or being held so closely that their heartbeat becomes your own.  And babies…have you ever had one sleep right on your chest?  The purity and the innocence of feeling their breath and heartbeat so close to your own brings out a feeling of love so deep that it makes your eyes tear.  You would do anything for them, wouldn’t you?  The ones you hold so close to your heart.  You would literally put your lives on the line for them.  Their world becomes more important than your own.

So what about the men and women in law enforcement?  What about the men and women in the fire and rescue world? Do you realize that they have made the choice to do the same for you?  Their lives.  They have chosen to risk their lives for you…people they do not even know.  Each and every day they put on their uniforms, walk away from the ones they hold so close all to protect and serve…you. 

I would not ask my husband to do anything else.  I have never been so proud to be married to a North Carolina State Trooper than I am now.  I have seen this band of black and silver  (and the families behind the badges) come together like never before…all because of a child’s heartbeat.  We have all lost before.  We have tried to stand by the families who have buried their loved ones.  This time seems somewhat different.  This time all we can think about is the beating of an innocent heart. 

Today, Tye is still fighting.  His beautiful and courageous mommy still by his side.  The love of his grandparents, his aunts and his uncles that will him to grow stronger.  Then comes the community in which we live.  I am not talking about our town, our county or even our state.  Our entire nation has sent prayers, gifts and wishes of hope.  In a time of uncertainty about our future and the world in which we live, we have found a way to come together because of the heartbeat of one baby boy.

As the wife of a state trooper, I have been unbelievably humbled by the outpouring of support for Trooper Shawn Blanton’s wife and baby, Michaela and Tye Blanton.  Several weeks ago, I was “cyberly” introduced to a man named Joe Grace.  One day Joe and his girlfriend were driving I-40 and passed where Shawn was killed.  That was when Joe turned to his girlfriend and said, “We need to do something.”  Joe happens to be the president of the Blue Ridge Mustang Club.  For thirty-five days Joe worked on organizing a car show and fundraiser for Michaela and Tye.  I was fortunate enough to meet Joe this past Friday.  Saturday morning I joined him, three hundred mustangs and classic cars and hoards of volunteers at the Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville, NC.  I arrived at 9:30 in the morning, three hours after most of the other volunteers arrived.  These men and women came together all to say “thank you” to our law enforcement and emergency personnel.  Do you know how many of these volunteers (including Joe and his girlfriend) knew Shawn, Michaela and Tye?  Not a one.  They all came together, to raise over $11,000 because of one reason…the son of a fallen North Carolina State Trooper is fighting for his life.

Two weeks earlier, I stood with my children in Canton, North Carolina to hopefully see a few motorcycles pass through as part of a fundraiser rally for Michaela and Tye.  I was expecting to see a few hundred motorcycles.  What I didn’t expect was over 4,000.  A guy who owns a bar in Asheville who did not know Shawn, Michaela or Tye wanted to do something to help.  He asked a few of his friends to join along.  His 4,000 friends raised over $40,000 that day.  My nine-year-old daughter looked up at me as we stood and watched.  Over the roar of the engines she asked why they were doing this.  I told her because of one reason…the son of a fallen North Carolina State Trooper is fighting for his life.  That is when we both began to cry.

There is much, much more.  There are so many other ways you can get involved, too.  Go to our “donation info” page at http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/donate/ and scroll down to see what other fundraisers have been planned.  If you can’t help, all we ask is that you continue to pray.

One final thing, please remember to MOVE OVER and SLOW DOWN for stopped emergency and public service vehicles.  Their lives depend on it.

This is the most difficult update I have ever had to write.  In the past, I have asked you to put yourselves in the place of law enforcement as well as emergency and public service personnel.  I have asked you to close your eyes and experience the fears they face as they work our nation’s highways.  I have even asked you to think about what your husband or wife, son or daughter would experience as they had to receive that knock on the door.  Maybe I asked you to consider all of this because I have had to watch my husband bury two friends.  Maybe I asked you to put yourselves at a graveside as you watched someone you care about being lowered into the ground.  Maybe I asked you all of this because I never thought we would go through it again.

I knew someone, somewhere would have to bury someone they loved, their life lost as they did their duty to protect and serve.  Here though?  Here in this beautiful small mountain community that had already lost two troopers in such a short period of time.  It should not have happened again.  We never thought it would happen again.  Yet, here we are. 

The song of the bagpipes, the mournful sound of the bugle, the whinnies of the riderless horse and the twenty-one gun salute were enough to bring me to my knees once again.   I tried to stay strong.  I knew what to expect.  I tried so hard to keep my hands around the shoulders of the other spouses from our district, the ones who never had witnessed this sad march before.  I tried so hard to prepare them for what was to come, yet my own tears came and I found these other women holding on to me as as hard as I was holding onto them.

I would ask you to keep the families of our North Carolina Highway Patrol Troop G District 5 in your prayers, but I won’t.  We still have our husband’s by our sides.  We are so grateful for that, but feel guilty for that gratefulness as well.  What we need you to do is pray for the family that is living our worst nightmare.  Whatever it takes, and whereever you can find the strength, pray for Shawn’s family.

Today, Michaela will sit by her son’s side as he fights for each breath.  Tye, who was born seven weeks premature, has the strength of the caisson horses that carried his father’s body.  This three-pound beautiful baby boy is fighting hard.  Maybe because his daddy had the chance to hold him in his arms.  Maybe because his daddy’s friend led the caisson and willed the strength of the horses to find their way to Tye.  Maybe because his daddy’s friends marched as brothers, and his daddy’s best friends helped to keep his mommy strong.  Maybe because of the strength of the Cherokee blood that runs through him.  Maybe because we have all prayed day and night.  But mostly because his mommy is right by his side and needs him as much as he needs her.  

Our families have been humbled by the outpouring of generosity for Michaela and Baby Tye.  Never have we witnessed such an outpouring of support.  Whether people just want to know how Tye is doing [great, by the way and trying to gain two more pounds so he can be strong enough for heart surgery] or because they want to know how to help, the e-mails I have received are countless. 

This month, maybe even this summer or longer, it is not going to be about FORS.  It is going to be about helping Michaela and Tye.  I apologize for doing this, but I need to.  I am sure you will understand, and if you don’t, well…life isn’t fair.

Here are some things you can do to help Michaela and Tye:  GO TO OUR DONATION INFO PAGE FOR A LISTING OF ALL FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR THE BLANTON FAMILY.

On July 12th, there wil be a motorcycle ride from Black Mountain to Maggie Valley.  Click here for more information.

On July 28th, eat at Fat Buddies of Asheville or Waynesville.  Ten percent of all proceeds will go to Michaela and Tye.

On August 2nd, the Blue Ridge Mustang Club of Asheville will be doing a HUGE Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and Fundraiser. Click here for details or call 1-828-667-8213.

Shawn’s best friends are organizing a softball tournament and a golf tournament which I will share with you as soon as I receive the information.

To make a monetary donation, you can either go to our donation info page and we will forward any donations to Michaela and Tye, or you can send a donation directly to the State Employees Credit Union.  An account has been set up for them.  Make checks payable to “Michaela Blanton FBO Brendan Tye Blanton” and mail it to: SECU PO BOX 97  Waynesville, NC  28786 or go to your local SECU branch. For SECU questions, call 1-828-452-3570.

If nothing else, keep praying.