My Nonprofit Reviews

We would like to share our family Christmas tradition that is bitter sweet. Every year on December 9th we search for a special Christmas ornament to remember Hannah Grace Brooks. December 9th, 2004 she died due to a heart defect related to Turner Syndrome. Hannah Grace was due to be born in early 2005. In early October of 2004, a routine sonogram showed that fluid was building up and putting pressure on her heart. This condition was steadily increasing and making it more and more difficult for the heart to do its work as she grew. Doctors proposed a very risky surgery in which fluid could be relieved in-utero, but could also cause Hannah to lose her life. The risk was such that specialists at Harvard University were petitioned to perform it and they promptly refused to operate due to the danger. After much prayer, as her parents we decided that we would put the outcome in God's hands and not try force things ourselves. To this day, we trust that He is sovereign. The day of the final sonogram, we both knew in an instant that our lives were changed forever. No heart beat was detected. Our precious little girl was finally and completely in God's presence. As a parent, you just never expect to attend the funeral of one of your children. We named her Hannah after the story in the Bible where Hannah prayed for a child and He honored her with Samuel. Just as He did with Hannah in the Bible, God blessed our lives with this child, if only for a moment.
So we choose to give each year at this time in honor of our sweet child Hannah and in honor of all of those lives who are touched by Turner Syndrome.
Three years ago, our oldest daughter was challenged to do a community service project through her Honor Society mentor. Hadley decided to make Christmas ornaments and sell them where all proceeds were donated to the Turner Syndrome Foundation. We altered our family tradition and this is the third year we are making ornaments for Turner Syndrome research. All three of her sisters are now involved in making these ornaments each year.
Some facts about Turner Syndrome:
' It affects about 1 in 2,000 female births.
' It is also known as the XO syndrome because one of the X chromosomes never crosses over. Effects are varied, depending on the amount of genetic material missing.?
' These females are short in stature and do not develop secondary sexual characteristics resulting in infertility.
' Perhaps one of the most alarming statistics is that Turner Syndrome is attributed to 15% of all miscarriages and stillbirths.
While there may be tears in our eyes because of our loss, education and research can help those affected live better. The ornaments include a butterfly which is the symbol for Turner Syndrome and a cross to remember Jesus and the life He gave so that we have eternal life and that our separation is only temporary. This will continue to be an annual tradition. Making this donation in Hannah's memory has helped our family heal from her loss.