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This memorial contains several photographs and may take up to two minutes to download.
Courtney was born June 11, 1992. She passed away May 30, 1996.
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Courtney was a little princess. Her very favorite thing to do was to play dress-up. She always wore her "silky" jammies and make-up. Spent hours with her barbies, doing their hair and dressing them. Her most favorite dress-up outfit was her Cinderella dress and glass slippers. She always had some type of headband on, even when all her long dark curls had fallen out due to chemo.
Our world changed on a cold bleak day in February 1995. Courtney had developed a limp and we took her to see our pediatrician. Thirty-six hours later the roller coaster ride started.
Courtney was admitted to Children's Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. She was 2 1/2. After three days of testing, the diagnosis was Leukemia (ALL) and Courtney's protocol called for 28 months of chemo. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Twenty-eight days after her diagnosis Courtney was in remission, but that was only the beginning of the heroic trial and battles she would fight.
We have always had a strong faith in God and Courtney showed that faith to us on May 26, 1996. We spent 12 months of the 15 months of her diagnosis in the hospital. We had been in since Easter Sunday this time. We were in the ICU. She had been very quiet all day. She asked me to help her draw a picture. I had to help her sit up because in 36 hours she had gone from weighing 35 pounds to almost 50. She drew a picture of the sun and clouds. She put rainbow and Noah's Ark stickers on it. She handed it to me with a kiss and told me that she was an Angel in Heaven. Those were our last words to hear from her. Five hours later she was rushed to emergency surgery, and when she came out she was intubated and in a medically induced coma.
Courtney was very artistic. It was very appropriate that her last conscience activity was to draw a picture. She could spend hours coloring. On Thursday, May 30, 1996, it was evident that Courtney was not going to be with us on earth for very much longer. Her liver and kidneys were not functioning. Her blood pressure could not be stabilized. She had not had an immune system for weeks. She was getting blood products around the clock but to no avail. We had gotten a report that said she had a bacterial infection in her blood and blasts (leukemia cells) were present in her blood again!!.
I had them get her pink Cinderella dress and we put it on her. The doctor's removed her IV's. At 7:40 pm that evening I held my precious princess. We all told her how much we loved her and I sang some of her favorite songs to her. Dr. Broxson removed her intubation while I was holding her. She took one last gasp and went home to Jesus. Just like I had told her. "Go home to Jesus!!"..... Courtney, what a gift from God, it was a privilege and honor to be her parents!!.......
On Valentine's Day in 1996 Courtney was awarded the "Young Hero Medal of Honor" from the Air Force. She could not accept it in person because she was in the hospital in ICU and on a vent at that time. Her big sister Megan accepted for her. This medal is given to children who distinguish themselves by showing outstanding courage in their battle to overcome a serious illness. They demonstrate that wars are waged not only by those in uniform. During their illness they show great strength, courage and a love for life in heroic proportions.....
Courtney you are my hero!!.........
All of these "Miracle Kids" deserve this award and so much more!!!.....
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My sister Megan amd me made the cake!!
This is me.. in my favorite Cinderella Dress.
On my way to Awana Cubbies!!