Hanna Michele Gibson
November 20, 2000 - August 9, 2004
We love you and miss you so much!!



Hanna was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2002. She was 14 months old. The only sign we had that anything was wrong was her head tilting. Thankfully, her pediatrician, Dr. Narayanan, knew what that meant. She was soon sent for brain surgery to remove the tumor. Surgery was a success, but it wasn’t over. Hanna's tumor was a very malignant one, Anaplastic Astrocytoma. She was to undergo chemotherapy for 18 months followed by 6 weeks of radiation. She handled chemo unbelievably, but after being on it for only 8 months, the tumor was back. This time the tumor was too close to the brain stem. She had another surgery, but some of the tumor had to be left behind. As soon as she recovered, she began 6 weeks of radiation. That was completed January 2003. She did great for that entire year. Her tumor remained stable. However, her MRI in February 2004 showed regrowth. She began a different type of chemo that helped her for a little over 3 months. But sadly, by late June, things had taken a turn for the worse and nothing seemed to help. We filled as much fun as we possible could into Hanna's last few weeks. She had a great time, and we got memories that we will always hold on to. Thank you to everyone who prayed for Hanna and who continues to pray for our family. The love and concern we have been shown through all of this is truly appreciated.



















ANGEL JANE



CLICK HERE







“The Strength of an Egg”

Parents of children with cancer are often referred to or viewed as having "strength like a rock". Albeit flattering it is not quite true. It is more like the strength of an egg. An egg you ask? Yes!
If you'll think about it, you'll see my point.

An egg has a polished, smooth outer appearance, with no cracks or weak spots visible. It seems almost inconceivable that the inside might not be
as smooth or solid.

Most children, at some point, are shown the famous egg trick. An egg set at just the right angle can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and cannot be cracked or broken. Yet the same egg, tapped gently at an even
slightly different angle, will break. The contents, once so neatly concealed, will come spilling out. The no-longer perfect shell will be crushed. It looks so fragile that it seems inconceivable that it ever held any strength.

A rock, on the other hand is solid all the way through. To break it is almost impossible. If you succeed, you will find that there is nothing inside but more rock. It takes a lot more than pure hardness to hold the "HAND OF HOPE".

Parents of children with cancer are not solid all the way through. We hurt, we fear, we cry, we hope. It takes a very careful balancing act to keep the shell from being shattered. "Balancing an egg" while running a household,
going for doctors' visits and hospital stays, keeping the family together, and holding on to the constantly unraveling ties of your sanity can be very tricky indeed!

Occasionally, the angle will be off and the shell will break, shattering hope and the neatly secured appearances of a truly fragile existence. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, though, parents of children with cancer will pick
themselves up and put themselves back together again.

Journal

Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:27 PM CST

Another year has come and gone. Tomorrow will 2009! That is just unbelievable. For so long, I think we have been frozen in time right along with Hanna. I can’t think about 2009 without thinking that it’s the year she will have been gone for 5 years. Some days it still seems like yesterday, but other times it almost feels like it was all just a dream. I guess it will always be that way. I worry that she will become even more distant over time, and that scares me to death. I often get caught up in what should have been. But with 2009 just around the corner, I worry about forgetting. It’s been 5 years. What about 10 years? 15 years? I know I’ll never forget certain things - like the way she would run with her arm tucked in, or how much she loved getting her nails done, or especially the way she said “I yuv you, mommy.” But what about the little things? The things that aren’t even coming to my mind right now as I type this?? I DO NOT want to let those things go! But how do I stop it from happening?

I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that even though Hanna is not here with us, we are extremely blessed. I’m so very thankful that I was chosen to be her mommy, even if it was for a short time. I’m so thankful that we live in a place where we were able to provide her with the best medical care our world has to offer. I’m thankful that I know where she is and Who she is with. And, most of all, I’m thankful that one day we will all be together again.


Hanna,
Even though it’s only been a little while for you, it’s been another year for us. It is ending better than it began. Your little sister is really helping to liven things up around here. I’m sure you are just as proud of her as we are. She can make a mess, though. :) I know you would be teaching her so many things. I will do my best to teach them to her for you. We will see you soon! I love you so much.
Mommy

Hospital Information:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
332 N. Lauderdale St.
Memphis, TN 38105
(901)495-3300

Links:

E-mail Author: tammy_pinnow@yahoo.com