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Megan Paige Owens
3-21-97 - 2-14-98
Megan was born March 21,1997. She weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. The Lord had blessed us with a perfect little girl, she was beautiful! We were so happy, and in love with her. Megan brought so much joy to our lives in many ways, her laughter and her smiles. Everyday was wonderful. Although we had no idea that our lives were about to change forever! I realized that she was not doing things that her age group were doing, so we made a doctors appt., the doctor said she was just developing slower, because of being premature. So we just put it behind us and went on doing our daily things. By now Megan was 4 months old and it is very obvious that she has some muscle weakness. We were sent to a specialist, who did tests to reveal the problem. One test involved a muscle biopsy to determine the exact diagnosis. So we had to wait for the results. Megan was then diagnosed with SMA Type I, which is known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Werdnig Hoffman Disease. We were told that Megan would never be able to walk, crawl, and that the disease was fatal, that most children never make it to the age of 2 years! That was the worst thing that a parent could hear about their child. From that moment on things only got worse. At 5 months we had to make the decision to have a feeding tube. The doctors told us that Megan would get to where the SMA would not allow her to eat, or suck anything by mouth. At this time, we did not have to use it right away! A few months passed, we grew to know Megan and made what time we had left with her the best we could. We tried to set our emotions aside, so we could be strong for her. When she was 8 months old the time had come when we thought we were going to lose her. She had stopped breathing, I called 911! By this time Megan had been put on oxygen to help her breathing and a suction machine to clear out her throat. We arrived at the hospital and the doctors gave us little hope, they told us there was nothing they could do. I thought I was going to lose my little angel. We knew the time was going to come, but it was very difficult to take in. As the night went on Megan began to do better. A few days later she got to come home. After this, Megan had to be fed through her tube, because of the risk of any liquids going into her lungs, so we made it easy as possible on her. Megan became really sick at 10 months, the doctor had revealed that her right lung had collapsed. From then on she became very weak. We had to start chest therapy and breathing treatments. Very little time would we have left with her. On Feb. 9th we had a check-up appt. with her respiratory & muscle doctor. They had noticed that she had grown very weak from the last appt., within two weeks. They saw things we did not want to see! We were told Megan would only last a month. My heart was broken and shattered once again. So we went home and enjoyed and spent every moment possible with her. Only 4 days later which was Feb. 12th , Megan was up all night crying and very uncomfortable, she was running a high fever. Around 4:00 am I decided to take her to the hospital. I got my best friend, who loved Megan deeply, to go along with me, so she could help, because she was having a hard time breathing at this time. We arrived at the ER to see her doctor and he said she was taking the flu. We discussed admitting her to the hospital, but Megan would be more comfortable at home. The doctor also thought I needed the rest, so we went home. We had been home only 4 hours and Megan stopped breathing and her color had changed. I was so scared and alone, that I dialed 911. When they arrived she was doing a little better. But this time Megan was not going to be able to pull out of it. She was in alot of pain and her body was too weak. There was nothing we could do but put her in the Lords hands. It was the hardest thing I'll ever have to do. In my heart I knew Megan needed to rest, she had fought a long battle. I realized that this would be the last night I would have with my little angel. We wanted to hold and comfort her, but the pain was to much on her. She wanted to be laid down where she could be comfortable. Feb. 14th Megan looked up at me and her dad for the last time and closed her eyes. My little girl was gone, a part of me died that morning. My life will never be the same. SMA took our daughter at 11 months old on Valentine's Day, 1998
You will always be in our hearts,
Love you always,
Mommy
