I believe in Heaven.

Beydn Swink was a beautiful ten year old boy. He was the oldest between his two military families. He loved Star Wars, dinosaurs, riding his bike with his Mom. He played video games, participated in sports, and of course the usual burping contest. Beydn was a fan of the Braves, the Panthers, and Ohio State football. He loved going to North Carolina, the water, and like his mom, books. Beydn loooved to read.  Was hard to get him to stop.

I believe in Heaven. I believe in Heaven because of Beydn. But I don't believe in the place up in the clouds. I believe it's a place like here, but the people there sit back and watch us. Waiting until we need guidance. Like Guardian Angels. I think they sit back until they need to help, and a lot of stuff they can do from there, like nudging us in the right direction and things like that. I believe Beydn did that. I believe he saw his mom, a person who didn't want kids, and came to her. I believe he came to her, because he saw then what we see now at how amazing of a mom she is. She's the best mom I've ever known.

I believe in Heaven. I believe that Beydn came to make sure my friend was not only his mother, but a mother to his three younger brothers. 

On November 3rd, 2013 Beydn was diagnosed with T Cell ALL. Leukemia. Cancer. Beydn who never got sick. Beydn who was always active, always on the go. Beydn who wrestled with his brothers, and flopped around on roller skates. Beydn who went to 5th grade. Beydn who loved root bear floats and pizza. Beydn got cancer, and then four months later, he was gone.

The roller coaster ride of those few months were terrible. Because Beydn beat cancer. Beydn got clean scans and hit remission. But good news turned to worse. Good news wasn't something his family was going to get used to. Invasive fungal infections are common in patients with lowered immune systems. Chemotherapy lowered Beydn's immune system. Two invasive fungal infections showed up. Aspergillus and Scedosporium.

I believe in Heaven. I don't believe it's a place up in the clouds where we go when we die. I believe it's a place where we leave to come and live. I don't know why Beydn went back so early. Why ten years was supposed to be enough. I don't know. None of us do, and even if we did, even if we ever found out why, the reason wouldn't be good enough. 

On February 22nd, 2014, Beydn went back to Heaven, with wings on his back. He went to Heaven where you don't fear death, but anticipate the next chance to live again.

Beydn wanted to go places. He wanted to see Greece, and Brazil and Hawaii. Beydn wanted to go to Chile and see the jungle. He wished he could be a superhero who could fly, and do things like fly around the playground or rescue cats from trees. Beydn was supposed to turn eleven. He was supposed to start middle school. He wasn't supposed to leave. He wasn't supposed to go. It wasn't the right order of things. Kids aren't supposed to go first.

All we can do now is honor his memory as much as possible. What happened to Beydn, all that was stolen shouldn't be as common as a thing as it is. His parents are doing just that. Aiming to try and stop leukemia and fungal infections. Aiming to get better treatments for these little bodies. The ForBeydn Foundation is a non-profit organization aiming to raise funds and awareness, to encourage action, to childhood leukemia and complications from treatment. All funds donated for Beydn go straight to research. Research for a cure. To find out how you can help you can go to facebook.com/forbeydn or forbeydn.org

You can also go to youtube and see his battle with cancer and what we're trying to do for him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjN_BrjJ13s

I believe in Heaven. I believe Beydn’s there right now. I believe he’s watching over his brothers. I believe he comes and holds his mom’s hand when she’s sad and I believe he knows why it only had to be ten years. I believe in Heaven.

Beydn’s story was cut short. But his name can live on. One day I hope his name’s just as known as Talia, or Ronan. Other kids who’s live were cut short, because it isn’t fair. Not for anyone.

Along with everyone else, I’ll never understand why it only had to be ten years. I’ll never know the reason, and no reason will ever be good enough. No reason will ever make sense. I believe in Heaven. I believe that’s where he is now, and even though it was only ten years, I’m glad he came. I’m glad he set into motion what was supposed to be set into motion. I’m glad he came, I’ll just never understand why he left.