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Stories of Lost Grandchildren

Sunshine
by Colleen Morgan, Indianapolis, U.S.A.

Until July 28, 2000 I had two grandchildren, Rachael Nicole - age 8 and Paige Marie - age 19 months. When Rachael was 2 she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer (Wilms Tumor), went through radiation and Chemo and has completed the 5 years of remission and is now considered cured. We felt so lucky. Their mother (my daughter) was then pregnant with Paige. She had stayed home due to Rachael's illness but this past summer, starting in May, she finally returned to working as they were needing a larger house with more room and two incomes to afford this. My daughter searched for the perfect day care provider. The first one seemed excellent but after 3 weeks problems occurred and the search was on again. The next one seemed like a blessing. The children loved her. Unfortunately, due to her negligence, my beautiful, youngest grandchild, Paige drowned in the sitter's pool. She was the sunshine of her mommy's life. Before Rachael became ill, my daughter worked then also and missed seeing the firsts that all children begin to do. Since she was home the first year with Paige she got to experience all these. Every day she called me to tell what Paige could do now. She always said "Mom, she is so perfect and it is so exciting to see everything she does - - she is my sunshine!". It was hard to start a bond between me and Paige at first because she had separate anxiety until she was 12 months and no one could get too close to her but mommy, daddy and sissy. Starting last January I began to go to their house on a Saturday night and watch both my grandchildren so I could get closer to Paige as Rachael and I already had such a tight bond. It was difficult because Rachael didn't like sharing "Gammy". Finally, in June, the family started camping and learned it wasn't a good idea to take Paige as she wanted to go her way and the woods doesn't make a great fenced in area. The weekend before her death I finally had Paige all to myself so the rest of the family could go camping. I started doing things with her like I did when Rachael was her age. It was such a magical weekend. I felt the love flow between us and she was so good. We had the greatest time. She definitely was "Sunshine". I thought this was to be one of many but,not so. I miss her so much. December 26th Paige would be two years old. This month has been very difficult and I will be glad to get through it. I'm so lucky to still have my special times with Rachael because the pain is so great knowing they have ended for me with Paige. "Sunshine" you are missed so much.

Love, Gammy

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