RICHLAND -- It's hard to think about a world without Aidan.

The seven-year old lost his battle with cancer Monday. Dozens of people in our community paid their respects to the family Tuesday.

And so did we.

The Zauggs let us into their home to talk about Aidan's fight.

"He would look at me and say, 'you're the best mama', and he would look at Mike and say 'you're the best daddy,' and he meant every word of it," Aidan's mom Tanya Zaugg said, as she sat clutching Mike's hand, Aidan's dad.

Red balloons and candles on the front yard tell us he's in a better place, but it's hard to let go of things we cherished most: his smile, his spirit, his resilience.

"Some people may say that Aidan's not a miracle because he's not here but they need to understand that it wasn't the miracle we wanted, it wasn't the miracle we hoped and prayed for, but Aidan's a miracle," Tanya said.

Aidan's miracles were the gifts he gave to others.

When the outlook was dire, when doctors gave him only days to live he taught us about faith, courage and hope.

"He taught us more than we ever taught him," Tanya said. "He taught us to believe in people and to know that people really are good. He taught us to love one another and to not sweat the small stuff."

Aidan's spirit extended well beyond our community.

A map on Aidan's website is sprinkled with red dots. Each red dot shows a city where hundreds of people logged on to read about Aidan. His well-wishers spanned the globe.

"He was braver and stronger than I ever could be, and in his seven years touched more people than I could in my entire life, or in Mike's entire laugh," Tanya said.

Aidan was loved. he was loved by family and friends to his last, peaceful moments, when his mom sang to her boy for the last time 'you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, don't take my sunshine away."

"He may not be with us physically anymore, but he'll be with us now and forever," Tanya said.

Aidan's family is still figuring out services.

They do know it will be open to the community and take place on Saturday, December 6th.

The location isn't set yet but we'll keep you posted.

And if you go, the family is asking you to wear red so Aidan can spot that sea of red from the sky.

It's his favorite color.