"The family of Shawn Blanton sincerely appreciates your comforting words, your heartfelt prayers and your thoughtful deeds for us as we continue to mourn the loss of Shawn, and to care for his son Tye. This is a very difficult time as we pray for understanding of what is best for Tye and how we can help him have the best possible quality of life.

As I have shared in earlier statements, Tye has many health problems, including heart and neurological conditions. He remains in critical condition in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Mission Hospital. During the past few weeks his neurological challenges have become even more serious, and this makes heart surgery more complex and difficult. We continue to work with our pediatric cardiologists in Asheville and the doctors at Duke to decide whether heart surgery would be in his best interest at this time.

Tye’s weight is no longer our main concern in deciding whether surgery would be safe and if he would benefit from it. He continues to gain and he now weighs 3 pounds, 14 ounces.

As a mother, my focus right now is to make Tye’s life as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. We have moved to a private room here in the NICU where I can be with him at all times, and for now we are not having visitors so I can focus on his quality of life, and being together peacefully. I sincerely appreciate the community’s understanding of our need to have this private time together, and for respecting our wishes.

Words cannot adequately convey the depth of our gratitude to each of you who have given of yourself as we grieve in our loss and seek to know what is best for Tye. May God richly bless all of you who came to our homes with food and comforting words, those or organized and participated in the benefits for Tye and me, and all of you who have lovingly shared your memories of Shawn. I am humbled by your love and support.

We are hoping for a miracle, yet praying for peace. Please continue to pray for Tye and for us as a family, so that together with his doctors and nurses we will be able to know what is best for Tye."

- Michaela Blanton
July 22, 2008Statement from Slain Trooper's Wife on Baby Tye 07/22/08