This is my niece, Ella Pearl. She was born on September 30th, 2009 and died two days ago, on January 27, 2010. She was born with Trisomy 18, a chromosomal disorder. At her birth, she'd already beat the odds. Only about 5% babies with Trisomy 18 even make it to a live birth. About 50% of those babies don't make it past their first week. Ella lived 119 days, amazing and blessing her family and friends daily.
I was able to meet Ella in October and wish I was able to travel for her funeral tomorrow.
To paraphrase Eliot's dad in the video 99 Balloons, a defective heart, respiratory problems and DNA that placed faulty information into every single cell could not stop God from revealing Himself through a child who never uttered a word.
And now, because I had to watch 99 Balloons to get that wording, I can not see through my tears to continue writing and am in desperate need of a tissue. But I need to point out that Ella was blessed with a living angel of a mother and her dad is pretty awesome too.
14 comments:
I'm so sorry, Afton. She is a beautiful little girl.
Afton, she is a little doll. I've been thinking about you. My prayers go out to the family. I'm so sorry...
I am so sorry Afton. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
That's such a sweet picture of her. Isn't it great you got to meet her? Our prayers are with your family.
What a priceless gift that she gave everyone...
Thinking of you today, Afton. She is so beautiful. Thanks for the link to 99 balloons--now I'm typing through my tears, too. Much love to you and your family.
Afton,
I was not expecting Ella to be so beautiful. Are her eyes really that perfect dreamy color? I thought, with a serious disorder, she would look sickly. She just looks beautiful. She just looks like love. What a special connection you and she will always have; your day of birth to the world, and her day of birth to heaven. I bet one day you two have a beautiful party together as she introduces you to all those you love and all those who have been her heavenly family and friends. Now that is a party I would like an invitation to. Save me a slice of cake.
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i agree! what wonderful parents she had and what a great blessing and lesson she was to all of us!
Beautiful baby! I'm sorry for the loss. You're family is amazing.
yikes. I mean "your".
Afton - this is Lori (Megan's brother Brent's wife). I read your blog every so often (fabulous btw!) and went to add a comment to your post about Ella. As I read through the comments already left, I noticed the name Amanda Larimer. When Brent and I were RAs in the dorms at BYU, she was in our ward. How do you know her? Tell her hi for us!
Wow Lori, small world. Amanda and I are in the same ward. We've known each other for probably 12 years. Right now we are both working with the Beehives. She is great! I'll be sure and tell her "hi" for you.
I do not know you and I happened onto your blog by accident. I was reading a friend's entry and one of the indicators read "next blog"-I clicked on the icon thinking I would be taken to the next page of my friend's blog. Instead, your page emerged and I read of your experience with the deceptive packaging and I laughed. I continued and read the story of your new washer and dryer (I can relate because we had the same experience in November) and then I read about your niece, and tears welled up in my eyes. The comments you shared from 99 Balloons were so touching and so true. God has the ability to use a child to show how incredibly vast His love for us really is. I pray blessings on you and your family and I want you to know that I think you have a gift for writing. Carry on.
I'm so glad God gives us angels. What a precious little girl.
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