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| Our Families Journey with Meagan : |
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| On December 22nd, 2000, our family's life changed forever. Our daughter Meagan had been displaying increasing signs of something being terribly wrong. For a child who loved everything in her world and embraced each day for the five years she was given as if it were her last, the signs became increasingly obvious that we were losing the Meagan we knew. After four months of witnessing various symptoms develop, in desperation we took Meagan to Sick Children's Hospital to get to the bottom of it. |
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| There are no words for what Kevin and I went through emotionally, mentally, and physically upon learning the diagnosis of our child having inoperable brain stem glioma. As her mother, I had known in my heart there was something very wrong. But I never expected such a devastating outcome. |
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| After forty-eight hours of remaining at The Hospital for Sick Children, Meagan started her treatment. The calamity had yet to register. The initial shock and over-whelming pain was embraced by our family, her School, and our community of friends. We lived scan by scan and took Meagan through her treatment. We did everything we could to keep her on this earth with us. |
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| We could not foresee what was about to unfold in our lives. The experience was beyond what we could imagine. We were truly blessed with a community that made our plight their mission. They sought to do all they could to help. |
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| A healing Mass said for Meagan was the start. This lead to a procession of events to support our family at our time of need. At the end of the healing Mass, I delivered a message of hope and thanks, to my astonishment it was sent near and far at the request of people present at the Mass, in hopes to help others in varying challenging circumstances. A ripple effect extended to candle vigils from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island for the healing of Meagan. A significant message came to those involved, many of whom we still have not met. The message was that we all have our own personal odysseys, all requiring compassion and understanding. |
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| The steadfast display of unconditional love, hope and support was the greatest gift bestowed on us for Meagan's last six months. We were blessed by so much outpouring. Despite our struggling with all our forces to keep Meagan with us, she lost her battle eighteen days after her fifth birthday on June 17, 2001. |
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| Yet Meagan's spirit and the momentum of prayer occasioned by her illness continues to reach out to others similarly afflicted. This message of hope does not bring Meagan back to us, nor does it take away the anguish of her loss. However, if they can help anyone charting a similar voyage, even in a small way, we readily share our message of hope. It is therefore offered as it was last January, only now in continuance for those in like affliction. |
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| For all of you who continue to soldier on with your own afflicted children, may you find peace. Know that you are not alone. Our prayers are with you all as we work together for a cure to help save the other children, like Meagan who are diagnosed with this devastating disease. |
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With our love, thanks and continuing hope,
Denise, Kevin, Matthew and Sarah Grace |
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