Phoebe

Once upon a time, a beautiful baby girl was born to parents Kerry and Caleb.  Kerry worked with Hans at Issaquah and they were all friends with Becky, Chris and Joelle.  Phoebe grew to be an energetic, happy girl, an only child, with a mom who was able to stay home with her at their little island paradise on Whidbey.  Shortly after Phoebe turned three, her complaints of headaches brought their family to a doctor and it was discovered little Phoebe had a brain tumor.  Surgery was performed, excising most of the tumor and a tumultuous year of recovery and adjustment to this new life for Phoebe commenced.  At a follow-up appointment, a repeat MRI confirmed new tumor growth.  Another surgery followed with recovery seemingly easier.  A couple months ago, another rapidly growing tumor was removed days before Phoebe entered a clinical trial in Texas.  Many roller coaster days of hope and fear consumed Kerry and Caleb and all those reading their story on CaringBridge.  Last week?  More continual tumor growth pressured Phoebe's brain and spinal cord.  Phoebe's pain level became the focus for management as the inevitable had to be accepted.  Yesterday, Kerry and Caleb lay their precious daughter to rest, her five and a half years too short a time on this earth.  Becky, Chris and Joelle attended the formal goodbye, viewing little Phoebe on her bed before she was placed in a simple pine box.  Her parents kissed her cheeks before the lid was closed, her father assisting in lowering her into the earth, her mother's anguish akin to having her limbs ripped from her body.  The horror of this tragedy is too close to home.  My eyes burn, my heart aches for Kerry, as I can only hold my children and treasure each irritation, each joy, each moment I have with them.  Today is Kerry's birthday and she is spending the day sitting vigil over her daughter's grave, imagining Phoebe's spirit moving to the next plane.  I am so, so sorry.