Today my cousin's daughter passed on in hospital. At the age of 13, Angela had been handicapped since birth and has been strong in tackling many challenges throughout life. Multiple surgeries, lots of rehab and medications. Most of all though, she lived amongst a lot of love. Always laughing and loving, she lived longer than any doctors predicted.

A year ago, she was with her father on the road, when another driver ran a red light and hit their vehicle. Already disabled, her bones were not strong, and she had a rod in her back to keep he spine strong. After the accident, the rod in her back began to protrude out between two vertebrae in her spine. It caused a lot of pain. Doctors refused to remove the rod or re-insert it into place because they said the movement of the rod might shatter her already fragile spinal column. SO, over this past year, she has been gradually worsening.

At Christmas, she asked to visit Newfoundland (home) and Nanny and Poppy one last time. That said a lot. I got word from my Mom Sunday that she was in hospital and on death watch status. Today, at noon, she passed on. I feel relieved as well as grief stricken. I hope she is finally out of pain and her family knows that they are loved by many. I lost my own sister to disease in 1996, so I feel I can best relate to the other daughter (sister of the deceased) and what she might be feeling over the loss of a sister. I hope my sympathies can be felt from a distance by the family.

Love you and miss you Angela. Sleep Sweet hun.