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Stella was a free-spirited lover of life, learning, and Jesus. Some of her greatest joys in life included singing, dancing, coloring, and learning. She could usually be found playing with her brother Owen at home, at the park, or swimming on sunny days. Preschool was often the highlight of her week and she dreamed of being old enough to ride the bus to the "big kid" school. Nail polish and "lip" were some of her most treasured belongings and spa days were truly special occasions. Although she frequently dressed like a princess, she was well-grounded and very tender hearted.
In early November 2016 Stella began acting lethargic but showed no other noticeable signs of illness. The tiredness continued into late November when she also began acting a little more clumsy. There were still no significant indicators of a more serious illness, just little things that could be explained away with a growing child. Finally, in early December, her illness progressed to the point where she couldn’t fully smile; she couldn’t control some of the muscles in her face. She was taken to the doctor immediately and we were quickly sent to the hospital for a CT scan. The scan results showed a large mass near her brain stem. That night, Dec 13th, we arrived at Children’s Hospital in Denver for more tests. Testing, treatment, and a whole lot of uncertainty continued for most of December. |