Heartbroken

When I was pregnant with Paige I joined an online Mommy Board.  I become friends with some of the women on there.  I don't just mean internet friends I've never actually met in person either.  Some of these ladies have been to my home.  I've met up with others on road trips.  I've actually met Beth from C. Beth Blog.  I've never actually met Caroline from Cheaper By the Half Dozen, but I do still miss her blog, and catch up with her regularly on Facebook and email.  Jonah Lisa from The Toby Show?  I would love to meet her in person one day.  One of the women I met in person was Jessica.  After we started to get to know each other online, I found out she's from the town where I live.  She came home to visit with her husband and 4 kids, and we got to meet in person.

I woke up Sunday morning and checked my Facebook.  Jessica's youngest daughter, Ava, only 21 months old was being flown to a large medical center.  She had a bad seizure late Saturday night and the larger hospital was better equipped to handle her case.  I've been closely watching for updates, hoping things would improve.  I was happy when the test for meningitis came back negative.  Ava woke up, said Mommy, and drank some juice.  There were lots of happy posts then.  But as I'm sure you've realized from the title, things went downhill.  And fast.  Yesterday, Jessica's birthday, Ava was diagnosed with encephalitis.  Unfortunately, Ava just couldn't improve.  She passed away today.  I can't even begin to imagine what Jessica and her family are going through.  This isn't the way it's supposed to go.  The child buries the parent.  It's a horrible fact of life, but it's the natural order.  To lose your child must be the worst thing you could go through as a parent.

Ava's funeral will be here in a few days.  We don't have any more information than that.  Some of the Mom's from the board are coming into town for it.  While it will be nice to finally meet these ladies in person, I wish it was under different circumstances.