July 5, 2008 - November 5, 2008
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Grace's Story
At 5:36 pm on Saturday, July 5, 2008 Melanie Strand gave birth to a 7 pound, 21 inch baby girl at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, MN. Melanie and Grace's dad, Jason Murawski, have named her Grace Joy Strand.
Sadly, Grace was born with a condition called hydranencephaly. This means that sacs of cerebralspinal fluid have grown in place of her cerebral brain tissue. Grace does have a functioning cerebellum and brain stem which are keeping her breathing and keeping her heart beating. Currently, Grace is moving, crying, yawning, sneezing, and feeding much like other babies. However, with only 10% of functioning brain tissue Grace will not be able to survive long term. In the mean time, she is being held, loved, and kept comfortable.
Grace Joy Strand died at 7:05am on November 5, 2008. She was surrounded by family and in the arms of her mother.
Grace also has a Caring Bridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gracejoystrand
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You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.
You can only decide how you're going to live. Now.
Joan Baez
