[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E38]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING KYLER PAUL MARES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2005

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the memory of Kyler 
Paul Mares. He was born on December 27, 1995 to Greg and Verna Mares of 
Brush, Colorado.
  The Mares had three children before Kyler was born: Jessica in 1989, 
Krista in 1991, and Gregory in 1994. Later, his parents would come to 
realize that Kyler was truly, ``Heaven's Very Special Child.''
  Soon after Kyler's birth, his parents were told he needed to be 
tested to determine if his small head size was normal. It was 
determined to be abnormal and after more tests it was evident that 
Kyler had Cerebral Palsy.
  As Kyler got older and bigger his parents were told he had an extreme 
case of Cerebral Palsy. It was difficult for his family as they came to 
realize that he would never communicate or be able to walk like a 
normal child. As he grew, they saw him endure many needles, many 
surgeries, and multiple broken bones.
  But through all of this pain, Kyler was a happy baby; he never fussed 
and gave big smiles to his mommy, daddy, sisters and brothers.
  Kyler's parents surrounded him with love and care and rose to the 
enormous challenges of raising a child with severe disabilities, and 
three other children.
  His parents both worked full time to make ends meet and to provide 
health insurance for their family. His mother worked nights because 
they had no one to care for Kyler during the day. His parents never 
chose to put him in an institution even though it would have been much 
easier on them financially.
  On the evening of September 1, 2004 Kyler's precious life ended. He 
was loved and adored by his family and they were told after his death 
and autopsy he should have only lived one day, instead he lived 8 and a 
half years.
  They cherish those years and know that Kyler enriched their lives in 
so many ways. In God's infinite wisdom, he chose this special child for 
the Mares family.
  They would be the first to say that they would not trade the 
experience for anything and they cherish every moment they had with 
Kyler. He was blessed to be born into this family and they were blessed 
to have him for 8\1/2\ years.
  Sometimes things in life would not be chosen by us, but God who 
always knows best gives us a beautiful gift that would have been passed 
over. Kyler Paul Mares was a beautiful gift from God and he will 
forever live in the hearts of his family and friends.
  We remember Kyler today and acknowledge that all children are 
precious and that scripture reveals to us that Jesus said, ``If you've 
done it to the least of these, you've done it unto me.''
  Kyler was truly one of ``the least of these.'' He will never be 
forgotten.

                          ____________________