It didn't mention his curls.
Content Warning: Child Death, Autopsy
19 pages. It doesn't mention his curls.
I opened the file in the comfort of my room in Tennessee and I read the words, AUTOPSY FINAL REPORT with my grandson's name in bold...and I bawled. Alone in the night. I had never read an autopsy before; I had never considered I may one day read one.
The death of my grandson has changed everyone he knew; we'll never be the same. Those who were in the home the morning he died - they are dealing with a layer of sorrow I am grateful to have avoided - and that sorrow is laid out in black and white in his autopsy. His Final Report.
Weston Reed Stolte.
Aged 3 years 4 months 16 days.
Time of death: 10:38a.m.
Hair: Light blonde and measures 7-1/2 inches over the crown
It doesn't mention his curls even with the description of his hair. Not even a small detail. But of course how could 19 pages have everything about him. Some sections of the report praised his vessel; It confirmed Weston was a strong, healthy, child.
Who died.
"The decedent’s history is remarkable for Klinefelter syndrome… In addition, the biological father has confirmed Brugada syndrome. The father’s brothers and father… all died at a young age… concern that the decedent also had Brugada syndrome…"
They didn't let his mother, my daughter, ride in the ambulance with him that morning. No one could.
Prior to that, they couldn't test him for Brugada without the direct involvement of his biological father. A man who didn't even show up for his son's final goodbyes. That may be a topic for a future post.
"Thus, while the diagnosis is not completely certain, this death appears to be most correctly classified as “Febrile seizure” due to “Influenza A,” with the contributing factor of 'Klinefelter syndrome.'"
Perhaps knowing definitively about Brugada & having a pacemaker in place would have changed things. We don't know that. We'll never know that. But it's a question we all ask. We asked it in the hours after his death, in the weeks following his Celebration of Life, and now, after receiving the autopsy.
The word autopsy is derived from the Greek autopsia meaning “to see for oneself.
Autopsy. To see for oneself.
The autopsy looks at Weston without emotion. It wrecked me. This song is the song that played and played and played again, as I read over each page. It’s the song my daughter and grandchildren sing to, too. The Song.
How has it already been 158 days.
How is he not here to celebrate the holiday with his family?
Even with the answers, I wonder.
The body is received in the supine position and contained within a white zippered remains pouch sealed with plastic. The body is wearing orange pants and a diaper. No other articles of clothing or personal effects are noted.
Autopsies aren't visually graphic. If you didn’t know Weston had curls, you could read this entire document and still not know that about him. You wouldn’t know anything about him.
I personally only got to know him for 250 days. 4 visits.
I don’t know what else to say, except that Weston Reed Stolte was a curly-haired boy who was full of life. I wish you could see for yourself.
If you’d like to volunteer, donate or otherwise support a benefit for the family and legacy of Weston, please visit www.westonswarriors.com/westonsride.
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