Trecie's Short Life

Trecie's story is tragic. Put up for adoption at birth. Placed into the foster care system soon after. Diagnosed with a devastating disorder coupled with a crushing prognosis: "she probably won't make it to her first birthday."

But Trecie's story is also beautiful. In spite of her medical condition, R&M opened their hearts and lives to this sweet little girl and became her foster parents.

One of the tenets of the Christian faith is looking after those who are poor and weak. R&M are amazing examples of practicing what is preached. Their family is blended with their biological children, their adopted children, and their foster children, and there's so much love among them all, that of course there'd be room for Trecie. They spent the short time they had with Trecie giving her all the love a little girl could ever want, while seeking out the best possible medical care for her.

Trecie's quality of life couldn't have been better. She surprised the doctors when she made it past her first birthday and learned to walk. As she approached her second birthday, there was talk that maybe she had been misdiagnosed. Trecie enjoyed birthday parties, playing with her siblings, and being a flower girl in her oldest sister's wedding. When you saw Trecie smile, you knew she was blissfully happy.

Even once Trecie got sick, she hung on to her zest for life. When she could no longer walk she'd crawl. When she couldn't talk, she'd use her eyes to communicate. She died over the weekend, in her foster mother's arms, surrounded by her large family.

Trecie's story could have been a sad tale of an unwanted ward of the state who died alone, buried in an unmarked grave. Instead, 200 people gathered this morning to celebrate her short life. She had a profound effect on everyone who knew her. The pediatrician who treated her not only showed up at the funeral, but spoke about what a special girl she was.

Thanks, R&M, for taking Trecie into your lives, and for sharing her with the rest of us.