In Honor of My Son, Ulysses (2008 – 2017)
July 15, 2017, is the day my son received his heavenly wings.
Ulysses was — and forever will be — the love of my life.
Losing him changed the course of my life in ways I could not have imagined. It altered how I breathe, how I move through the world, and how I understand love, grief, and survival.
There are moments from that day that still live with me — moments I carry quietly, with care. Some stories are not meant to be revisited often. They are held, not retold.
What I will share is this:
Losing my son forced me to find a new way to live. I will never “get over” his absence — I have simply learned how to carry it. I have learned how to keep going, even when my heart still aches.
There is not a single day that passes that I do not think of him.
This work — the words, the reflections, the spaces I create — exists because of him. Because love does not disappear when someone does. It changes form, but it remains.
Always.
There are parts of my story that are not meant to be summarized.
Memoirs of a Childless Mother™ is where those chapters are held — written with honesty, care, and respect for the weight they carry.
Echoes of a Mother’s Story
"This book provides insight into the emotional Journey of a mother that helps us better understand a mother's love."
Richard
— Reader of "Memoirs of a Childless Mother"
"Memoirs is a Childless Mother" by Mary S. Carey expresses the growth of a great mother mourning her smart and loving 9-year-old son. How can this memoir be described in simple words; Raw and inspirational. Not many can pick themselves up and move on. Definitely a must read."
Tina & Shaneda
— Reader of "Memoirs of a Childless Mother"
"I'm sitting here reading the book...... wiping my eyes OMG!"
Rachel
— Reader of "Memoirs of a Childless Mother"
"I had to put the book down a couple of times and just hold on to my son."
Audry
— Reader of "Memoirs of a Childless Mother"
In The Beginning
Before there was Heal & Rise™, before the books, the brands, and the purpose I now walk in, there was Mary’s Heavenly Creations.
It was the very first dream my son and I shared — a dream born out of love, faith, and a bond that could never be broken. What began as a simple act of creating together became the seed that planted everything you see today. At the time, it was just joy.
Ideas exchanged freely.
Moments shared without knowing what they would one day mean.
Looking back, I can see how God was already weaving purpose into our time. He was building something that would outlive pain — something eternal.
Every vision that followed — Memoirs of a Childless Mother, Heal & Rise™, every page written and every creation brought to life — carries a piece of him. His presence lives quietly in the work, in the inspiration, and in the strength that continues to rise when I need it most.
Though he is no longer here in the physical, I feel him in every heartbeat of my creativity. He reminds me to keep going, to keep believing, and to trust that love does not end — it transforms.
So, I continue.
I create.
I believe.
Because this work is more than mine alone.
It is our story — a legacy of love, still unfolding.
My Son, My baby, My love, My legacy
He did it by himself
My baby was so proud to bake his very first cake. I remember that day in the kitchen like it was yesterday. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and with the biggest smile, he said he wanted to bake his own cake — that he didn’t want me to buy one.
I laughed and asked, “What else, baby?”
He looked at me and said, “Just family.”
That was the sweetest moment. Most kids ask for things, but not him. What he wanted was simple — something he already had, something he could do with his own two hands. That was just who he was — full of love, heart, and humility.
My baby presentation in church
This was my baby’s very first presentation in Children’s Church. He was a little nervous — I could see it in his eyes. So, I stood quietly behind the door, just close enough for him to know I was there. Every so often, he’d glance my way to make sure he was doing okay, and I’d smile to let him know he was.
It may not have seemed like much to everyone else, but to me, it meant everything. He got up there, nervous and all, and he did it. And that was enough.
I know what it feels like to stand in front of a room full of people — the nerves, the butterflies, the pressure — but my baby faced it with courage. He did a great job just by showing up. I was so proud of him that day — not just for what he said, but for the bravery it took to say it.
Baptized together
This was such a powerful and unforgettable day — the day my son and I got baptized together. We were the only two who stepped into the water that day, and the joy on his face says it all. He was so excited; he talked about it over and over again and could hardly wait for that moment to come.
In this picture, I’m sitting down with him in my lap, and we both have the biggest smiles — the kind that come straight from the soul. That day wasn’t just about water and faith; it was about connection, rebirth, and promise. We didn’t just get baptized — we made a covenant together.
Every time I look at this photo, I’m reminded of what it means to walk in faith… together.
My baby singing in the chior
That day, he was performing with the children’s choir at church — and he sang his little heart out. You can see it in this picture: his mouth wide open, head tilted back, singing with pure joy and passion.
He wasn’t in the children’s ministry because someone made him. He was there because he wanted to be. He actually asked if he could join the choir. That was just who he was — full of love, faith, and light. Worship wasn’t something he did; it was something he felt.
Every time I look at this photo, I can still hear his voice echoing in my heart.
Giving mommy that look (come on mom..lol)
Giving mommy that look (come on mom..lol)
This picture always makes me laugh. We were in the dining room, and he had all his baking supplies spread out on the table — bowls, measuring spoons, everything lined up just right. He had on his little apron, ready to go, completely in his element.
But the look on his face says it all — that classic “Mom, come on…” expression. Like he was patiently waiting for me to stop taking pictures and let him get back to work. LOL. It’s moments like this that remind me how full of life, personality, and love he was — always keeping me smiling.
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