By Beacon Staff
Marsha Haynes of Burlington has been living every parent's worst nightmare.
At the end of October, she endured the unthinkable loss of her two-month-old son, Tobias King Junior Lee Haynes.
A
sweet and playful little boy, Tobias was full of giggles. He loved to
hold his mother’s hand and always had his favorite blankets with him.
Haynes remembers her son’s passing in vivid detail. She was with her sister and woke up the next day to find Tobias on his back.
He couldn’t breathe.
“I did CPR on my son, and my 2-year-old daughter watched me doing it. I called 911 then,” she said.
Paramedics
and officers arrived shortly after, attempting to revive Tobias with
more CPR. Haynes was frantic, continually asking the officers if her son
was okay.
Ten to 20 minutes later, they delivered the horrible
news of her son’s death. Since then, Haynes has been struggling through a
fog of grief and financial hardship.
She wanted her son buried
instead of cremated. Tobias was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery, but
Haynes didn't have the money to pay the bill. Now, she is so far behind
that she doesn’t have enough money to pay rent, either.
All the while, all she can think of is Tobias.
“It’s like his spirit is still in my house,” she said.
Rev.
Rob Brown, assistant pastor at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, lives next to
Haynes. The morning Tobias died, Brown was sitting on his porch. He saw
EMTs carrying Tobias out of the house.
Brown immediately comforted Haynes.
“I’ve
never lost a child, so I don’t know those emotions. But I’ve had losses
in my life. I just want to wrap my arms around her and show her the
love of Christ,” Brown said.
Brown has been helping Haynes out
financially. Other churches, such as Harmony Bible Church, Union Baptist
Church, and First Congregational Church have lent their support as well. Brown has received pledges of support
from several community leaders as well.
Along with Lavonna
Bennamon of the Faith Temple Women’s Auxiliary, Brown plans to do
something beyond providing necessities. They have a big Christmas
surprise in store for Haynes and are asking for community help to get it
done.
“We want to see her smile again,” Bennamon said.
Since
the Christmas surprise is a secret, Bennamon couldn’t share more
details publicly. However, she is willing to reveal the plans to anyone
who calls and donates.
“It’s time for the church to be reaching out on this one,” she said.
In the meantime, Haynes is doing her best to get by as a single mother while taking care of her five children.
“Thank you,” she told Brown and Bennamon during an interview inside Faith Temple Church of God in Christ.
Rev. Fred Starling, the pastor of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, said he is calling on everyone to help a family in need.
To donate, contact Bennamon at 641-750- 4608, Rev. Brown at 309-251-8186, or Rev. Starling at 319-759-6339.