This post is for our friends and family to whom we may have not reached yet with the sad news of the passing of our precious daughter, Rowan Margaret, on Saturday Jan, 24th after a brief illness. This is not the place where I would want to share such news, but for its efficiency, it'll work for now.
Although we are stunned by the events of the last 4 days, we are comforted that Rowan's illness was not of great length and that we enjoyed the 8 1/2 years we had with her with relatively few illnesses of real concern. This hospitalization was only her fourth in her life: once at birth, two within the first year, and this last illness. Which is pretty remarkable, considering the diagnosis of Trisomy 18 and the grim prognosis of only a 5% survival rate for her first year of life. In fact, as we have remarked frequently over the years, we often forgot about her diagnosis, and were able to live a quality of life that had very little suffering.
Funeral arrangements are pending. We will have them finalized today.
We want to thank all our friends and family, from the bottom of our hearts, for all the love and support they have given us through these 8 1/2 wonderful years with Rowan. We could not have enjoyed her so well without all your support. And to all the doctors, nurses, therapists, educators, and anyone else who helped us care for her, we owe you a deep debt of gratitude. You made it possible for us to enjoy her for such a long time because of the work you do. And we are blessed to have you in our life.
Bryan and I are devastated. Actually, there are no words for our grief. But life will go on without her. Her baby sister has been a wonderful distraction. And we are so glad to have shared Rowan with her. She asks about Rowan, and then she quickly follows with "snore - zzzzzz" - her words for sleeping - as though she knows Rowan won't be coming home. She was especially entertaining yesterday. I think she's taken on the task of giving us the love and affection of two children, herself and her sister by proxy. And she seems to be completing it well.
We are collecting memories in a journal of her. If you would be willing to share yours, we would be most appreciative.
~Bryan and Colleen
