Erin Hope

Erin Hope's body was laid to rest yesterday. At the foot of the cross in her church cemetery lies the beautiful body of an eleven year old girl that inspired hope in all of us. The service was not a funeral but a worshipful Celebration of Life. A slideshow of pictures displayed her vibrant personality while her body lied in state. The songs that were sung were: "You Raise Me Up" and "I Can Only Imagine". Two of the family's friends memorialized her; one reading a message from the family and the other relaying what Erin Hope meant to him. Both of these men enjoyed playing with and picking on Erin Hope. She acted as if she didn't like it at the time but we knew that she loved them. We believe that she did not feel sick when she was around these two gentlemen.

Many of you have wondered just what happened as Erin lived her last moments. Erin Hope was able to attend church this past Sunday for the first time in over a month. She had gone to a couple of summer camps this month plus having brain surgery and traveling to Maryland for treatment. After church, Erin Hope and her family went to her grandparent's house for lunch. After lunch the family went 'back to school' shopping before seeing a movie. Erin Hope had complained of her eyelid flickering when it actually was not. After the movie it did it again. After arriving home, she complained of a headache and took some pain medicine. Forty five minutes later she complained that her head was burning. She soon became sick on her stomach. She went to the bathroom and afterwards stood up and fell in the floor. She had to be assisted back to the couch because her right arm and leg were not working. After being picked up and carried to the couch she faded to unconsciousness very quickly. She was asked if she wanted to continue fighting or would she like to go to sleep and wake up in heaven. She did not answer. Her father asked her, "Are you scared, baby?" and she nodded and was able to vocalize, "Uh, huh" (yes). This was the last thing that she would say. Her Dad told her that Jesus would help her. Erin Hope fell limp in his arms and was carried to the garage. She was rushed to the emergency room at Baptist Hospital being held by her mother in the family van. She was breathing but her breathing became more labored as we neared the hospital. Her body reacted to stimulation with seizure-like activity. Her dad carried her into the emergency room with her body as stiff as a piece of lumber. A breathing tube and I.V. access was placed, medicine to reduce swelling in her brain was started and she was rushed to the CT scanner. The CT scan revealed massive bleeding in Erin Hope's brain around where the previous tumor and blood clot were removed. Another tumor found on MRI after her brain surgery was there as well and looked bigger. Approximately 25 percent of her brain was affected and the neurosurgeons told us that there was a high chance of permanent brain damage at that point. She was unable to undergo surgery because of a very low platelet count (helps in blood clotting) and it would take too long to administer platelets to get them to an acceptable level. The most determining factor in not doing surgery for us was that Erin Hope would not want to live with a disability such as this would leave her. Higher brain functioning was already affected and primitive brain functioning (breathing and heart rate control) was quickly being affected. She was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator. Our family, some friends, and our pastor were there with us. Erin Hope's Dad read scripture at her bedside while holding her hand and sang "Amazing Grace" to her. We knew that our precious little Erin Hope was not in that body any longer. We believe that her spirit and soul were removed just after she said "Uh, huh" when she was asked if she was scared. And Jesus told her that she "...doesn't have to be scared any longer, she doesn't have pain any longer, she doesn't have cancer any longer, come on home with me my good and faithful servant." She remained there overnight until it was determined that she was brain dead. Her heart was still beating and continued beating until several minutes after we withdrew her life support. Erin Hope's Dad was comforted in knowing that the nurses and doctor taking care of her were friends of his. The doctors and nursing staff there were phenomenal! We received her ID band, a lock of her hair, and a three dimensional casting of one of her hands. The family returned home just after lunch time on Monday exhausted, shocked, and empty.