Dear Family and Friends,
In response to many recent questions about Sarah's health, here is a brief update.
Sarah continues to show the increasing effects of her brain cancer. On the positive side, she no longer has to take steroids or other medication. She has returned to being her natural happy self albeit with limited ability to walk and lack of energy. On Tuesday morning, we visited the funeral home to select her casket and start plans for her funeral. Despite it being a very uncomfortable task, we are thankful we have the time to make these plans in advance. When the time comes, we plan to hold a viewing and funeral here in Houston and then forward the casket to Utah for another viewing and burial near our extended family.
This week, Sarah began to receive the services of Hospice (home health care). Weekly visits from a nurse and monthly check-ups with the doctor will help us in caring for our little one.
Again, thank you all for your concern and prayers in our behalf. Our family benefits greatly from your show of support.
Sincerely,
Brian & Christine
22 comments:
You are one of the most faithful families I know. You will continue to be in our every prayer.
Dearest Brian and Christine:
I just spoke to your parents tonight. This is Tamara McMurdie from Glastonbury, Connecticut. You and Carrie have been in our home. You may remember that we lost our beloved Brittney shortly after you visited us. She was 20 and attending UVSC while your Mom and Dad were serving here. She passed away in her sleep due to complications from a disease she suffered from during the last four years of her life. I received the horrible call from her Bishop, and your Mother was the first person through our back door. Your Dad was in Groton, CT, but traveled at lightning speed to get here to be with us. They both stayed with us all day while Neil and I made arrangements to fly to Utah.
Your Mom and Dad mean the world to Neil and me, and I know that our friendship will transcend this life.
Parents who know the ache of heart that penetrates through one's very soul share an unfortunate bond. And I know that the hearts of grandparents ache for their children and grandchildren. I also know that these next few months will bring some of your greatest sadnesses, but also some of your greatest joys. Sarah is your gift, and always will be. A gift given by a loving Heavenly Father who will lead and guide, and walk beside you and Brian.
When Brittney passed, Elder L. Tom Perry said to me, "Tamara, who do you think the Lord sends to watch over you in time of need.? Is it someone that doesn't know you, or is it those that have gone before you who love and know you?" I said I hoped it would be someone I know. "You're right," he said. "Brittney will be right with you every step of the way, and she will be praying for you too." I thought that was most interesting and it has given us a great deal of comfort. He also told me that if we were receptive to the spirit we would feel her all around us. It's been six years and I can say with unwavering faith that she has truly been with us every step of the way.
We Love Your Family! I will put Sarah's name in the Manhattan and Boston Temple in the morning.
May the Lord bare up your burdens, and carry your family in the palm of his hands.
With Much Love,
Neil and Tamara McMurdie Glastonbury CT.
Our blog is: tlmandjnm.blogspot.com/
Christine,
I'm glad you did this today. I can't imagine how difficult this week has been making all of these arrangements. Please let me know how I can lift some of the burden from you. Has Sarah received her package?
Quinn just watched the slideshow of Sarah. He pointed at each picture saying, "There is my friend Sarah." Oh how we love her!
Thank you for keeping everyone updated. It would be so easy for you to turn inward right now, with your crazy schedule, but you haven't done that. I'm proud of you!
Christine,
I love you and we pray every morning and night for Sarah and your whole family. You make me appreciate my family more. Thank you for the update and we are so excited to see you at Thanksgiving.
Becky
Your strength and faith are incomparably inspiring. I cannot imagine such a task. You are in our hearts and prayers. We love you all.
Christine, This is Melissa (Pearson) I found your blog through Brenna's. I am so touched by it. Words can not express, but know that you and your sweet family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Your family is amazing, what an inspiration to all of us. My children have all watched the slide show of Sarah and we all agree, she is certainly an angel. We hope to keep in touch. Thank you for the update.
Christine,
I can't imagine how difficult this must have been. I know your faith is what is keeping you strong during this time. Just know I think about you all daily and pray for your family.
Love
Shirl
Thank you for the update on your sweet Sarah. Our prayers continue to be with your family.
Love, Jana
Christine,
Thank you for sharing information about Sarah's condition. I am so grateful to be a small part of your situation, and I know the Lord is there every step of the way for you. When we lost our baby at 24 weeks last year, I wrote down all the miracles that happened during the time--they were many. I have such sweet memories of the experience (although I know it is 1/10000 of what you are going through), but the spirit of the Lord is the same and it brought me such joy and peace, and I only have sweet, positive memories. It was such a growing experience for our family..in fact my kids talk about baby Mary Jane all the time.
Love to you and your family, Jessica Robinson Sloan
Christine, Thank you for keeping everyone informed of your precious Sarah. Like my sister Shanna, who lost her son Logan to heart disease, I feel that you too must have done something special to have been chosen to raise such choice spirit. I look at Sarah's eyes and I see such wisdom. She is so beautiful and you will forever have an angel looking over you.
All my love,
Brenna
I think of you often, I pray for you everyday.
I hope you don't mind, but I check up on your blog often. My husband and I had sweet little sarah in our nursery before the ward split. We just love her and want you to know that we think of and pray for your family often. You are my hero.
Love, Brittany Knudsen
Christine,
This is Amberly Cramer(Evans). I got your blog off Brenna's blog. Varenka called me about a week ago and told me about your sweet little girl. You have been on my mind ever since. I can't even imagine what you are going through. You are in our families prayers.
Amberly
Christine,
I miss your family so very much. We all need to get together sometime soon when we have nothing too busy going on in our schedule. Mom, dad, and I think about the memmories we share with ya'll. Having Nathan look out the window and telling you when Craig was home, and when I came over we would play trains for hours and he would explain what one does what and what the name was. The list goes on and on with each of the kids. I hope that I get to see yall soon. I think about yall everyday and I want to see yall more and more everyday.
Love ya'll
Nicole Enoch
We just want you guys to know that we love you!
Christine--it's Misty Bastian--remember me? Carrie and I just found each other on Facebook and she told me I needed to visit your blog. What an adorable family you have and what a special and beautiful little girl Sarah is, I am so sad to hear about her condition. Your strength and faith are so inspiring-you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!
Christine,
My heart aches for you - what a precious child. May Heavenly Father bless and keep you all. . .
Love, Sally Bastian
Christine,
Someone left a comment on my blog that I should go to your blog and reach out to you. Reading this post, it seems you may soon be in my shoes of mother to an angel.
My daughter Camille died 5 months ago in a drowning accident. She was 14 months. I have started a private blog for parents who have lost young children that were born living. Everyone invited is an author and we share our private feelings about the grief we experience. We uplift, support, vent to, offer understanding and just be with others who KNOW.
You can go to my blog at www.adailyscoop.blogspot.com to learn more about me and you can email me from my profile page to learn more about the private blog if or when you want to or need it.
Sending you my love through what I know is the most difficult time.
Stephanie
Christine,
I ran into Carrie a few months ago in American Fork on her way home from the temple. She told me about Sarah and my thoughts have been with your sweet family every since. I hope you can feel our prayers and support across the miles.
-Carina
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