Isaiah Kevin Spadafora Pratt, 24. There are moments in life when words simply cannot express the depth of what is in our hearts. This is one of those moments for me. As I face the unimaginable pain of losing my only son, Isaiah Kevin Spadafora Pratt, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has surrounded me with so much love, kindness, and support.

God has truly blessed my son and me by placing some extraordinary people in our lives. I believe He knew exactly who I would need during this difficult time, and He surrounded me with His angels, His warriors, and His soldiers of love. You know who you are. Your kindness, compassion, generosity, and willingness to give of yourselves without expecting anything in return has touched my heart more deeply than you could ever imagine. You have shown me what it truly means to care for another person. I am forever grateful.

But I also want to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about the young man who made me so proud to be called his mother. My Isaiah. My only son. My heart. Isaiah was an amazing young man. He was kind, caring, intelligent, helpful, and soft-spoken. He had a gentle spirit, a wonderful sense of humor, and a heart that was always willing to give. He was a peacemaker who loved to laugh, tell jokes, and bring happiness to those around him. He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. And one thing I never had to question was how much my son loved his momma. He loved me with his whole heart, and I loved him with every piece of mine.

From a very young age, Isaiah showed me that he was determined to make his own way in this world. He began working when he was just 12 years old. I remember taking him to the Read and Write Program in Kingston, New York, and telling Miss Theresa that he could work there for the entire summer without pay. I wanted him to understand the meaning of work, responsibility, and earning his own way. And that's exactly what he did. That summer was the beginning of a work ethic that stayed with him throughout his life. From the age of 12 until he was 24, Isaiah continued working, earning his own money, and building his independence. He was a strong, hardworking, determined young man, and he made his momma so very proud.

But no matter how independent he became, there was always a part of him that would be my little boy. He was my Peter Pan. One of my most precious memories happened when Isaiah was 19 years old. He came to me one day, so sweetly, and asked: “Mom, can I be Peter Pan a little bit longer?” Now, you all know what this momma said! “Sure, son. You can be Peter Pan a little bit longer.” And just like that, my boy could remain my Peter Pan for a little while longer.

But one day, that same little boy who wanted to be Peter Pan came to me with a very different announcement. “Mom, I'm moving out.” He had already picked out his apartment, and he was ready to show me what he had chosen. Whether I liked it or not didn't seem to matter much to him. His mind was made up! That was my Isaiah. He knew what he wanted. He thought for himself, made his own decisions, and was never one to follow the crowd.

As surprised as I was, I knew this was another step in the independent life he had been working so hard to build. What I could never have imagined was that he would only have that apartment for a year and a half. My heart aches knowing how little time he had to enjoy the life he was creating for himself. And yet, when I look back over his 24 years, I am amazed by all that he accomplished.

Isaiah began his educational journey at P-TECH Academy in Kingston and continued on to SUNY Ulster College. He worked at Bread Alone, Burger King, and St. Mary's Cemetery in Kingston, New York. Every job was another step forward, another opportunity to learn, grow, and become the man he wanted to be.

Then came an opportunity that meant so much to him. Isaiah had the chance to work with Nick Martin's company, Cyber Guardian. Both Bread Alone and Cyber Guardian wanted him, and he had an important decision to make. In the end, he chose Cyber Guardian. And what a wonderful choice it was! He loved his work and took such pride in what he had accomplished. His title was Enterprise Orchestration Manager.

I used to laugh because once he landed that job with Nick's company, my son acted like he didn't even know what blue-collar work was anymore! That was my boy, moving forward, making his own choices, and finding his place in the world. He loved that job until the very end.

Sometimes I sit and think about everything my son accomplished in such a short lifetime. At just 24 years old, he had already built a life filled with hard work, determination, independence, and purpose. I often say that my son accomplished more in his short life than I have in mine. And I say that with a mother's pride. Because every mother wants to see her child grow, succeed, and become someone who makes a difference in this world. My Isaiah did that.

He wasn't just successful in the things he accomplished. He was successful in the way he treated people, the kindness he showed, the laughter he shared, and the love he gave so freely. Those are the things that made him truly special. And those are the things I will carry in my heart forever.

And even in his passing, my Isaiah continued to give. My son made the selfless decision to become an organ donor, and because of that decision, several individuals have been given the precious gift of new life. Just think about that. At only 24 years old, my son not only made a difference in the lives of those who knew and loved him, but he also gave others the opportunity to live, to love, to laugh, and to make more memories with their families. That was the kind of heart my Isaiah had—always giving, always caring, and always thinking of others.

As his mother, I feel both sorrow and tremendous pride knowing that, although my son’s time here on earth was far too short, his beautiful spirit of giving lives on through the lives he helped save. My son was a blessing in life, and through his final gift, he continues to be a blessing to others. For that, I will forever be proud to be his momma.

Losing my only son has left an emptiness that words cannot describe. There are no words big enough to explain a mother's love, and there are no words deep enough to explain the pain of losing her child. But even in the midst of my sorrow, I know how blessed I am to have been Isaiah's mother. I was blessed to watch him grow from my little boy into a strong, independent young man. I was blessed to hear his laughter, share his jokes, witness his accomplishments, and feel the love he had for me. And I am blessed to have so many beautiful people standing beside me now.

To every person who has prayed for us, comforted me, shown kindness, offered support, or given of themselves during this difficult time, please know that I see you, I appreciate you, and I thank God for you. You have been my angels here on earth. You have shown me love without conditions and kindness without expecting anything in return. I will never forget what you have done for my son and for me.

Isaiah Kevin Spadafora Pratt was my only son, my pride, my joy, my Peter Pan, and forever my heart. His life may have been short, but the love he gave, the memories he created, and the person he became will always be a part of me. Thank you all for loving my son, for loving me, and for helping me through a time when I need that love more than ever. May God bless each and every one of you.

With all my love and gratitude, Isaiah's Momma