The Angel Angle Issue #05

January 1, 2024

Three pinned topics to jump start your day.

“Hey Nick! Random question, but does your grandpa who gives out the angel pins live in Juno Beach, Florida? I think my father in law Chris met him and has an amazing story.”

I received this text from my friend Will Coatney a couple months ago and wasn’t shocked in the slightest that my grandfather and his angels found their way into the life of a friend of mine in Kansas. What did shock me when I met with Will for lunch to get the story, was that this angel connection happened two years ago. It wasn’t until recently that Will and his father in law connected the dots.

To better understand this connection, I need to share a difficult story but one Will and his wife Jessica have told me they want me to share. It’s not a story anyone wants to ever have to write about but in the midst of their grief, Jessica and Will have found strength they likely didn’t know existed within them. It's a strength and resiliency required to deal with a tragic loss and not something everyone finds.

Will and Jessica found out they were pregnant with their second child and were excited their daughter Paige was going to be a big sister. They also found out early they were having a boy this time around and were beyond thrilled and excited to meet Jack. The 38 week pregnancy was completely normal. The checkups, sonograms, and visits leading up to the birth were all on track and Jessica and Will eagerly awaited to meet their first son.

Sadly, Jack’s umbilical cord accidentally became tied into a knot. The blood and oxygen he needed were cut off when this happened and his heart stopped. Jack didn’t make it. Jessica had to go through the delivery all the same. Will and Jessica spent time with Jack after the delivery. They have pictures holding him, kissing him, loving him, grieving him. This isn’t something anyone should ever have to go through.

The grieving process has been different for them both over the years but I’ve seen how they’ve come together even stronger and have loved on their daughter Paige even more than ever. Jessica has honored Jack through posting and openly talking about him, her pain, and their journey. I admire them both in ways I can’t even explain.

Will and Jessica placed Jack’s ashes atop their dresser in their bedroom which have remained there since.

Two years later, Jessica’s father, Chris, was visiting a good friend of his in Juno Beach, Florida. In the lobby of the condo building, Chris was introduced by his friend to a kind old man named Buzz. They spent fifteen minutes chatting. Chris shared with me he felt like he’d known this man his whole life and told me what a cool guy he was.

Somehow in his conversation with my grandfather, Chris told him about Will and Jessica and their loss and my grandfather, as he always does, told Chris to hold out his hand. He placed a handful of gold angel pins in his palm and told Chris he wanted them to be given to Will and Jess.

When they received the angels, they placed one next to Jack’s ashes on their dresser and have found comfort in it being there with them all this time. That pin has sat there, unmoved, for the last two years.

And of course, this is where everything comes full circle with the text I received from Will. He and Chris were talking and it dawned on Will that I pass out angel pins, I wrote a book about this, and it had to be the Angel Man who came into their lives two years prior. They just never realized that the man Chris met in the lobby of a building in Florida two years ago, was the grandfather of one of their friends in Kansas.

In preparing to write this story, I met with Will and Chris both and spoke to Jessica a couple weeks ago at a friend’s holiday party. She hugged me and told me to thank my grandfather for the angels and told me how incredibly powerful having that angel next to Jack’s ashes has been.

I am honored to share this story with you all and while I know it is hard on the heart to read about, I am thankful to Jessica and Will for letting me tell it. Little Jack is lucky to have parents as strong and loving as his and he will forever be a guardian angel for Will, Jessica, and Paige.

This month’s SHOUT out is to my grandfather, Buzz…the Angel Man. I know that may seem like a fairly obvious person to highlight but I decided I want people to understand his commitment to the angel pins and the movement he started.

A few months ago he called me.

I’m paraphrasing but the call went something like this.

“Nick, I’m not getting any younger. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here but I want to make sure you can continue to give angel pins to all the people, organizations, hospitals, and churches I’ve been giving pins to all these years. I don’t want this to be a burden for you in any way but I’m going to have you as the main point of contact when I’m no longer here. I want you to have one million angel pins made and stored away so we can continue spreading the angels to the world.”

My grandfather is the definition of selfless. He is always thinking of others and is even thinking of others in the future, beyond his time here on earth.

My hope is that my book will tell his story, honor his legacy, and build a following of others like him, who can help us hand out as many angels as possible. I’m so thankful to each and every one of you who have purchased my book and angels to hand out. I would appreciate you all telling others about our mission. #GiveGold

Happy New Year! I love this day of the year so much because it provides me a time to reflect on the past year, and prepare and plan for the year ahead.

One way I stay focused on what I want to accomplish in the year ahead is deciding on a word of the year. This word will guide me and keep me focused on the things that will help me work towards my goals all year.

This past year my word was GRIT. I wanted to do hard things. And I did. I didn’t drink alcohol for an entire year. I completed another round of #75Hard. I ran a half marathon on a bum knee. I wrote and published a book. I completed multiple Spartan obstacle course races. I pushed myself. I’m really proud of where my word took me.

I believe everyone should pick a word each year that helps define their days, weeks, and months. This word can help you SHINE and if you’re accomplishing the goals and resolutions you set out to achieve at the start of the year, you’ll be a positive light to those around you.

I wish you the best of luck in 2024 and hope that you are the happiest and healthiest versions of yourselves!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

If you’d like me to come speak to your group, please contact me at angelmanbook@gmail.com

Angel Man will be available soon at all Made in KC locations.

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