♥ In Memory of Cortnie Lyn ♥

Hi my name is Tina and I am Cortnie's mom and this is her story... My daughter Cortnie Lyn had a urinary tract infection at the age of 2 years old and the pediatrician wanted to do a ultrasound of Cortnie’s kidneys to see what was going on and the pediatrician came out of the room to tell us that Cortnie was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4 (cancer) on December 17, 1993. We were told after her tumor removal surgery on Decemeber 21, 1993 that Cortnie was in remission. We got out of the hospital on Christmas Eve and Cortnie bounced around like she never had surgery. 5 months after the surgery Cortnie was showing symptoms that the cancer might be back and when we went to the doctors in early May for testing they did tell us that her cancer has returned and it was in many places and they gave her 35% survival. Cortnie was admitted into the hospital and was started immediately on chemo. We were told that Cortnie would need a Bone Marrow Transplant so in September 1994 we were sent to L.A. Children’s in California to have her Bone Marrow Harvested to be prepared for the transplant. In late November Cortnie went blind from the tumors and the doctors thought the best thing to do for her was to continue the chemo and also to do 30 days of radiation to her head in hoping to shrink the tumors and regain her sight. Christmas was approaching and Cortnie was still not able to see. Christmas Eve approached and Cortnie was still blind and later that day Santa came to visit Cortnie and while opening presents Santa brought Cortnie a Rudolph stuffed animal that played music and his red nose glowed to the music. While playing with the Rudolph Cortnie asked me mommy what is that light? I asked Cortnie what light she was talking about and she said the red light. My sweet Cortnie regained her sight on Christmas Eve while my whole family was there with Santa by her side. What a miracle it was for Cortnie to regain her sight. Scared that Cortnie may lose her sight again at any moment my husband went home to get every present so that Cortnie could open them Christmas Eve with the whole family instead of Christmas Day. We were just so scared that she was going to go blind again and we wanted her to see all her Christmas presents. In early January 1995 Cortnie had her tumor removed on a Friday and we got word on Saturday night that Cortnie’s kidney was hit during surgery and that her fluids were leaking into her body so she had to be rushed back into surgery to have tubes put in her side, back and a stint in her private area to drain all the fluids out of her body that were leaking through her. During this time they had to hold off on chemo until she healed from this surgery. In late January 1995 Cortnie was in the hospital and one morning I woke up to Cortnie not being responsive. I called for the nurse and she came in and called a Code on Cortnie. All of Cortnie’s vitals were going down and we were told that there was nothing more that they could do but to put her on life support. We made the decision not to put her on life support and I just sat there rocking her and telling her how much I loved her and that if she wanted to go to Heaven she could go and that her dad and I would be okay. As I was rocking Cortnie and my heart breaking into a million pieces having to say goodbye to my sweet baby Cortnie’s vitals were getting better and she came out of her horrible state. That day we received another miracle with Cortnie coming back to us. They ran test on Cortnie after she coded and found out that the cancer was really spreading fast and they said that she would not make it to transplant and there was nothing at all that they could do and that she had 2 months to live. Of course I didn’t want to believe them. How could someone tell me that I was going to lose my sweet baby. I was in denial and I didn’t want to hear what they were telling me. We made the decision to take Cortnie home to be with us until she went to Heaven. Cortnie wanted to see Mickey Mouse so in February 1995 Wishes Can Happen sent Cortnie and my family to her last wish to see Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld. We stayed at Give Kids The World Village while on our wish and what an awesome place that is. While we were in Disney it was the last time Cortnie ever walked. Her legs were just so weak and she couldn’t walk anymore. We had a great time with Cortnie and her sister Chelsie pushing them in strollers and searching out characters so Cortnie could get their autographs. There were many nights of no sleep because I was so afraid that Cortnie would pass away without me knowing. I also slept with my hand on her stomach or her chest just to feel her heart or feel the movement of her stomach while I tried to rest. On March 18, 1995 Cortnie was very spunky and was talking to us and I had no idea that it would be my last day with my sweet baby. March 18, 1995 at 5:30 p.m. Cortnie age 3 ½ years old asked me to rock her and just as I sat down and started to rock she took her last breath. I had no clue that this was going to happen. I just yelled for my husband to get in there so he could be with her also. Before Cortnie passed away her skin was so pale, her lips were so chapped and after Cortnie passed away her skin turned to a beautiful golden color, her lips turned to silk and she was smiling. Right in front of my eyes my sweet baby turned into a beautiful angel that was entering into Heaven. I know she is happy in Heaven even though down here there is a whole in my heart. There is a piece of my puzzle forever gone. Thank you so much for taking the time to view Cortnie’s MySpace and for taking the time to read my sweet Cortnie’s story. 8-12-1991 to 3-18-1995