Thanksgiving and Memories of Jackson

  • Post category:Holidays
  • Reading time:4 mins read

Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving‑themed card frames a photo of James sitting outdoors in a wheelchair on a grassy lawn. He is wearing a red‑and‑black plaid shirt and blue jeans, with green grass and trees in the background. Autumn leaves in warm brown and orange tones surround the image, and the words “Happy Thanksgiving” appear above it, giving the design a festive, seasonal feel.

 

I am thankful every year—every day, really—that James is with us. We just don’t know how long he will be with us, so every day that he is is a good day. For a long time, Stacy and I were pretty sure that it was going to be pneumonia that took him away from us. Now, we’re not so sure. This kid has battled pneumonia more times than I can count, and he’s fought it off like a warrior every single time.

Let’s use this last bout of pneumonia as an example. He was admitted to the hospital last Sunday after we took him to the ER with respiratory issues and an x-ray showed pneumonia in his left lung. He came home from the hospital on Wednesday evening…just four days later. So, this year I am extra thankful that James is still with us. I am also thankful that my family was home for Thanksgiving.

We normally spend Thanksgiving with Stacy’s side of the family, but because James had just gotten out of the hospital, we decided to stay home. That meant that we had to cook for ourselves. What to make? There obviously wasn’t enough time to thaw a turkey. I grilled up some twice baked potatoes and a ham steak while Stacy made biscuits and her awesome corn casserole. It was a nice little Thanksgiving dinner for two.

 

A thick ham steak cooks on a grill, with dark parallel grill marks seared across the surface. A round bone sits at the center of the cut, and the meat is beginning to caramelize over the hot grates. The surrounding grill surface is darkened from use, emphasizing the direct‑heat cooking.
Ham steak on the grill

 

Four twice baked potatoes sit on individual sheets of aluminum foil arranged on a grill rack. Each half is topped with a layer of shredded cheese that has begun to melt. The foil catches any drips and keeps the potatoes from sticking to the grill, highlighting a simple, savory cooking setup.
Twice baked potatoes

 

A white plate holds a home‑style meal with two slices of ham, a square of corn casserole, a biscuit, and a twice baked potato half topped with melted cheese. The foods are arranged side by side, showing warm tones of pink, orange, and golden brown for a hearty, comforting presentation.
Thanksgiving dinner

 

Poor James had to settle for his usual formula. I often wonder if he can process smells. The smell of Stacy’s corn casserole right out of the oven is enough to make my mouth water. I guess if you’ve never tasted something then you can’t associate a smell with it.

 

Stacy, James, and Jeff sit close together on a bed in front of a wooden headboard, all wearing matching red‑and‑gray pajamas. The scene has a cozy, family‑centered feel. Above them, the word “BLESSED” appears in bold lettering. Along the bottom, a quote reads: “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

 

 

Memories of Jackson

Stacy was rearranging some things in James’ room a couple of weeks ago and came across Jackson’s memory box. It was actually kind of weird. We don’t know if some sort of spirit that made her decide to move stuff around in James’ room that day or what, but it happened just 4 days prior to the tenth anniversary of Jackson’s passing. His “angelversary” as Stacy says. Here is a glimpse into his memory box.

 

A light blue keepsake box sits on a white surface. The lid is decorated with the phrase “Joy Is The Music Of Angels,” while the front reads “Heavenly Blessings.” A small cloud‑shaped label on the lid displays the date “11‑17‑08.” Nearby are a bottle and a small container, adding to the sense of a personal, meaningful memory item.

 

A blue memory box sits open, its cover decorated with colorful letters spelling “Jackson Edward.” Inside the box are papers and cards, including a visible page titled “Key to my Heart,” containing a heartfelt message about love and loss. Household items like a bottle and small containers sit nearby, adding to the sense of a personal, meaningful keepsake space.

 

A light blue photo album rests on a tabletop, with a small square window centered on the cover. Inside the window is an ultrasound image framed by a scalloped border. Beneath the album lies another book with a light purple cover decorated with colorful letters and a small giraffe illustration. Other household items sit nearby, giving the scene a gentle, personal keepsake feel.

 

A scrapbook page features a red background with a green border. At the top, the title “My Pregnancy” appears in a stylized font. Below it is a photograph of a pregnancy test showing the word “Pregnant” on its display. To the right of the photo, handwritten text reads “August 17th 2008.” The word “glowing” is printed near the bottom, giving the page a warm, celebratory feel.

 

A scrapbook page features two ultrasound photos at the top and a side‑profile picture below showing a small baby bump. Handwritten and cut‑out text on the page reads “My first photo Sept. 16, 2008,” “Little bump!” and “Due in April 2008.” The layout has a warm, personal feel, documenting an early stage of pregnancy.

 

A scrapbook page with an orange background displays three ultrasound photos arranged across the top and center. Handwritten text reads “13 weeks” in the middle of the page and “October 13th” along the left side. Small decorative stickers—a bunny and a baby rattle—sit on the right, giving the layout a gentle, early‑pregnancy milestone feel.

 

A scrapbook page with an orange background features an ultrasound photo at the top and a side‑profile picture below showing a small baby bump. Handwritten red text reads “Boy or Girl??,” “Oct. 27th,” “16 weeks,” and “Little baby bump!” The layout captures a warm, personal moment from early pregnancy.

 

A scrapbook page with a blue background displays four ultrasound images arranged in a grid. Above them, the title “PRECIOUS CARGO” appears in bold capital letters. Below the photos, handwritten text reads “November 5th.” The layout has a warm, sentimental feel, marking a meaningful moment in the pregnancy timeline.

 

A scrapbook page features a typed letter dated November 7th, 2008. Along the left edge, colorful vertical letters spell “Jackson.” The letter describes parents learning that their baby, Jackson, has Trisomy 18 and reflects on their grief, questions, and the stories they found while researching the diagnosis. In the top right corner, small pastel blocks with the letters “a,” “b,” and “c” add a soft decorative touch. The page has a tender, reflective tone, preserving an emotional moment in the family’s story.

 

A yellow scrapbook page honors Jackson Edward Fulkerson with handwritten notes, printed messages, and a Trisomy 18 awareness ribbon. A small pink tag reads “baby of mine.” The text reflects on the support received from family, counselors, and the Special Ed team, and includes a note marking “Born back to heaven November 17th 2008.” A message at the bottom expresses that Jackson will always be their first son and remain with them wherever life leads.

 

A blue scrapbook page features handwritten text and two photos of memorial tattoos, each incorporating a blue awareness ribbon. One tattoo shows a ribbon alone, and the other includes a cross with the ribbon and the name “Jackson” with the date “11‑17‑08.” The handwritten notes read “November 17th,” “Today is the day you got your wings!!,” “boy,” “In memory of…,” and “Tuesday December 30th 2008,” along with notes that Mommy’s tattoo is on her wrist and Daddy’s is on his chest. The page has a soft, personal remembrance feel.

 

Stacy had posted all of those pictures on her Facebook page on November 13th, the day she found the memory box. Three days later, these were delivered:

 

A bouquet of unopened lily buds with long green leaves sits in a clear glass vase on a counter near a window with blinds and patterned curtains. Below the flowers, a card is shown with the message: “To Stacy, Jeff, and James: Thinking of you all and Jackson. Love, Meredith.” The scene conveys a quiet gesture of support and remembrance.

 

They were from a dog walking client of Stacy’s who recently moved out of the area. Thank you, Meredith, for brightening our day.

We were planning on lighting a candle and saying a prayer for him on Saturday the 17th, the anniversary of his passing, but with James having some respiratory issues on the 16th, we decided to do it the night of the 16th instead. Just in case James got to the point that we needed to rush to the hospital. We know that Jackson is up there looking over us and probably knows everything that is going on down here, but we just didn’t want him to think we forgot about him.

 

A small memorial arrangement features a wire‑winged angel figurine, a heart‑shaped velvet box holding a tiny metallic urn, and a lit red candle casting a soft glow over the scene. The text at the bottom reads “In memory of Jackson,” giving the display a tender, reflective atmosphere.

 

I’ll admit that I don’t think about him all the time anymore because most of my thoughts are about James. But I will always wonder what our lives would have been like had he not had Trisomy 18 and if he had been a healthy baby boy. This may sound weird, but then I wonder if that would mean that James would never exist. Or would James’ spirit be transferred into another baby boy’s body for another family to raise? Strange thought, huh?