Bring
Lance
Home.org
I've known Phil for 5-1/2 yrs and what I know is that his love for his son is so deep that he would do anything for his little pride and joy. Nearly every day we would exchange stories about Lance and my daughter Olive. Since Olive is younger than Lance, he would often ask for updates on Olive's development and would reflect back when Lance was Olive's age. We would go over milestones each child hit and discuss what was normal and what was not. For example, Phil always stressed that learning how to speak first was more important than learning how to walk first which was the same thing my pediatrician said. He advised me to mimic everything Olive is saying to help develop her language skills. We covered every topic there is on childcare such as disciplining, potty training, feeding, and so on and so forth. As with me, I would often overhear Phil speak inquisitively with other colleagues about their kids and would become jubilant when it was his turn to speak about Lance. It is obvious that Phil exudes a passion and love for children and especially for being a father to Lance.
Phil was very resourceful when it came to childhood education and a strong advocate for developing young minds. He'd research every facet of early learning from prenatal products such as Baby Plus to the periodic table to the Smartville alphabet train set as well as intangible things such as differences in how boys and girls learn. Olive and I have definitely reaped personal gains from all the advice and recommendation he has given us. Phil said Baby Plus was the reason why Lance was more alert, calm and quick to pick up things than other babies his age. I also felt the same way about Olive and I attribute it all to Baby Plus and have Phil to thank for it. Phil's priority have always been in interacting and engaging with Lance as often as possible. For example, he taught him the Capital of various countries (using actual flags), Light Rail train stops (by riding on the trains), all the numbers in the elevator and various signs in buildings and streets such as the 'Exit' sign. Most of all, Lance knows how to Google his name at just age 2 so we're hoping he will find this site among others his daddy has pull together and will know he still has a daddy that loves him!
When it came to learning, the sky was the limit as Phil was always coming up with new ideas to stimulate Lance's imagination and help him develop his intellect. Phil played a huge role in shaping and developing Lance into the intelligent, bright-eyed, cheery boy that he is today. No one can dispute the fact that Phil is a loving and devoted father who spent every opportunity he had with his son. Literally, every weekend the two of them would take an excursion somewhere, from their favorite diner to Lance's favorite Liberty Science Center or just taking Lance out on his favorite pastime -- riding his scooter (which by the way he has gotten very good at as Phil cannot stop raving about it to me).
The last time I saw Lance was the Friday before he vanished from his daddy's life. Phil had brought him to the office and you can see right away that Lance was the apple of his eye. Phil would constantly give him hugs and kisses. I recall daddy asking Lance to count the number of pictures of himself he had up in his cubicle -- and he counted 16 (as soon as Phil had a new photo of his son, he'd thumb tack it in his cube)! Lance sang the Greek national anthem to Julie and me and offered us his potato chips. He also sang and hummed the ABC song to mix things up a bit, and started spinning around and around until he got dizzy and had to roll on the floor laughing. Lance was so full of life and innocence and was so happy to be at work with daddy. Instantly I saw the bond and love that they shared with one another.
Anyone who's a parent would understand how our children mean the world to us. At a time when a child is thriving at their best, and to suddenly be uprooted from his home and have all access to his father taken away is just unimaginable and insane. I pray this will not scar Lance in any way as he is the one suffering the most. And words cannot describe what Phil must be going through as another day without Lance is another day of agonizing pain. For the past weeks, Phil has been working tirelessly trying to find creative ways to reach out to Lance and to bring him home. This site is an example, among various others. Please take the time to read through this site and join in the cause to save Lance! I hope the day will come soon when Phil can reunite with his son because Lance needs his daddy who is the only one capable of providing him with the best care possible and a healthy upbringing.