Passed away on January 24, 2005 at the age of 10.

After spending 2 months in the hospital away from home

but never ever alone ...he slipped away from us on the 4th night at home sleeping in bed next to mommy where he wanted to be! home was where his heart was ...

Always

It was Valentine's Day 1994 when we realized that our world was going to change forever. That was the day that we found out that we were expecting a baby.  That day was long awaited and in fact the answer to our prayers.  We knew at that moment our lives had changed forever.  After 8 months of ups and downs with the pregnancy..  finally the moment had come (October 18, 1994) when we would get to see this little angel God had sent to us to protect and guide through this life.  He was small weighing in at only 4 lbs 4 oz and with barely a whimper our son had made his grand entrance into this world into the loving arms of mom and dad who'd waited not so patiently over the months.  Clinging to life at that moment, his strong will and determination would be tried and tested throughout the rest of his life.  His name was Austin James Manley.  Daddy named him the moment we had found out he was a boy.  Daddy did a great job!  It was nearly 5 months later that we found ourselves with Austin in Madison at the UW for 5 days of grueling tests and in the end was given the news that our son had Cerebral Palsy.  Doctors said that it was due to birth trauma during delivery and was the result of lack of oxygen during birth.  At that moment we knew that God had truly sent us an angel to care for here on earth.  He would require much more love and care than the "average" child.  But God knew what he was doing when he gave him to us because only we could provide him the love and care that was needed.  What a blessing.  Such trust our Lord has and from that moment we made it our mission and passion to meet and exceed all that was needed to give him a great life.  He was loved and adored by all he met.  His big brown eyes and beautiful smile would melt every heart that he came in contact with.  He was the gift of love and a pillar of strength for all.  Over the course of his 10 years here on Earth he was challenged daily and over came many obstacles to grow into the fine young man he was.  Doctors gave him very little hope to walk or talk but as a family we never gave up hope.  Although he was primarily wheelchair bound, technology was always 5 steps ahead of the doctors.  At age five Austin received his first gait trainer (assisted walker) what a great device.  It allowed him to stand up and be a big boy like the other children his age.  He was so proud in his walker and he could really get it going.  He was like a star athlete who just got a gold metal when he would achieve another milestone in his life that the doctors said he wouldn't do.  At age 8 he was toilet trained and let me tell you that was a huge step for him.  We never seen someone so excited as he was to gain even more independence.  Every progress and step in his life that he took was a huge success to all around him.  We were his biggest fans always encouraging and challenging him to go a little farther and dig a little deeper.  Even through his frustration and anguish he always met every obstacle with a smile and a heart of steel.  He welcomed his little brother into the world with a pouty lip in 1996.  He couldn't understand what this little creature was and he was not a happy boy about the invasion.  Little did he know that little creature (Devin) would grow up with him and become his best friend.  We hope Austin knew that even though disabled his brother still looked to him as his protection.  Then in 2000 when we brought home the twins, Jocelyn and Jillian, his eyes were bigger than we had ever seen in all our days.  He loved his sisters and would lick there little heads at every chance he got.  The girls adored their brother and would go to great lengths to tend to him and mother him as if he was there baby.  Austin was surrounded by love and adoration form all his family and friends.  Austin was elected by his peer to represent his class as a student council member.  He was so honored and as you can imagine we were too.  Every achievement he made to us was welcomed as if he had climbed Mt. Everest.  Our pride would come in the form of tears at his programs and assemblies.  It was tears of overwhelming satisfaction because only someone who loves the way Austin did could understand how it is to love.  Never in a life time will we ever feel that love again.  Purely, tenderly, passionately and constantly was the only way Austin knew how to love.  He was blessed with that gift from his creator our Almighty God.   Austin fell ill in November 2004 and at that moment his prognosis was grave.  He had a 1% chance to live and after 5 major surgeries and 2 months in the hospital Austin was well enough to come home.  He still required extensive care round the clock but he wanted to come home.  The doctors had questioned whether to send him home or not but Austin knew that they might not send him home and he was livid to say the least.  Austin cried for 2 hours straight while they tried to make a decision as to whether to send him home or not.  We had even questioned what was the right decision but when the doctor returned to the room and told Austin that he in fact was going home he was instantly silent.  It was that moment that we allowed Austin to make his one and only decision in his life.  Up until that point mom or dad or grandma would make all the decisions for him.  But not this time he had spoken.  Not through words but through tears the only way he knew how to tell us.  As nervous as we were we took him home and we were welcomed at home to an anxiously waiting Granny, Devin, Jocelyn and Jillian.  We had finally brought their Buddy home.  Austin was all smiles to see his home and the ones he loved the most standing in the freezing cold (January) and in blizzard conditions waiting for his arrival.  That is the love that he was always shown.  Austin was blessed to spend the next 4 days with his sisters, brother, Granny, other family and friends.  On January 24, 2005 Austin passed from this life into the arms of Jesus.  He was in the bed with his mommy whom the Lord had entrusted him and was taken back home on the wings of the Son who saves us all.  We were blessed and graced with the love of an angel here on Earth and that angel was Austin.  If ever there was a person that someone could look up to it was him.  His constant perseverance and determination gave strength and encouragement to all who loved and knew him.  With those relationships he left his mark and that was within every heart that he touched.  With all the love a mother can give---- I Love You Austin Manley ---always your biggest fan   -----Mommy  ( Tammy Manley)