Farewell, Courageous Christi

(PIC: Christi's "Going to Heaven Dress")

Quite frankly, it wasn’t an uphill battle, but a downright bloody war. When it ended yesterday morning, our brave and beloved little soldier won and received the ultimate prize of eternal life! Congratulations, Christi……but we love and miss you so!

After what turned out to be her final foot massage about 8:25 on Tuesday, I took off to update the blog. An unbelievable twelve minutes after I updated the blog yesterday, Christi took her final breath. After spending days ‘locked’ inside her hospital room – afraid to leave for fear I wouldn’t be there or I’d be asleep when she passed, I just stepped outside to let Christi’s faithful supporters know what was going on. I returned and chit chatted with one of CHOP’s most awesome nurses (Amy) about her college – Pitt. Shayne noticed that Christi’s breathing had changed and he said, “Angela”. I quickly went over and sat down on her bed as we both realized she just took her final breath. Sweet Amy quickly said, “I’ll give you guys some privacy.” About a minute and a half later, the little jokester got us good – she did a big exhale again which actually made us laugh. We again said goodbye. Then….about a minute and a half later – she did her final exhale which again made us laugh in between our sobs. We knew she’d go out with style! And right on the dot, for someone so consumed with time – 9:00 AM!

I feel like Christi waited until we were both at her side. What a sweetheart! That had become a huge stressor for us, both scared that if we left her or took our eyes off of her for a second that she’d pass on to a better place without holding her hands. I would have felt horrible if I had not been there.

Dr. Maris arrived about 25 minutes later, along with the great Pat and Dana to give us their condolences. Dr. Maris got all of the blood draws that he needed and not only is he sending it to LA, but he will also be trying to establish Christi’s cell line at CHOP too. It will be 2-3 months until we know and our prayer request is that they are actually able to establish her cell line so that they can research ways of how to cure this difficult beast which kills most of the kids diagnosed with it.

We had a very hard time leaving Christi. Although the room had been packed up and the van loaded well ahead of time, we just couldn’t part with this beautiful child who just looked like she was sleeping. Her little beautiful body stayed warm for the longest time and after an hour and 45 minutes we knew we had the drive of all drives to make back home to Ohio – a drive without our daughter so we forced our selves to leave. With tears, and knowing we’d never return, we checked out of the Ronald McDonald House and donated Christi’s big blue jogging stroller, hoping other kids will benefit from it. When the social worker called me hours later and told me Christi was with her or her nurse Amy until they came for her. The thought of her spending the night alone in an inner city funeral home, waiting to be shipped out to the airport, was not a pleasant one for me, but with the out of state law requirements which had to be met, there wasn’t a better way.

The drive home was long and difficult, but interestingly enough once we crossed into the Ohio border the sky changed and we could see those beautiful beams of light shining down, just like Heaven had received a beautiful Angel. Before we left Christi’s body at CHOP Shayne told her, “If you have any magical powers up there now, then part the Schuylkill Expressway and clear the turnpike too!” Sure enough – we scooted out of Philly and cruised along the various turnpikes without any traffic problems (Thanks, Christi).

We didn’t want to share the news with anyone until we told Christi’s little sister in person that she just lost her biggest playmate and older sister she adored. We walked in, grabbed her and sobbed our eyes out. I didn’t expect Shayla to be emotional, but she sat on my lap and sobbed with me. She took a bath later and asked for privacy. When I peeped in on her, I again found her sitting in the bathtub crying. We knew going into Christi’s favorite place in our home – her bedroom, would be the hardest and it was. So many of her favorite things surround us, so many things she had been in the midst of. Little sister, Shayla, soon discovered that all of Christi’s toys were now her – so that was a big plus for Shayla. She also discovered that her diary key fit into Christi’s diary so we’ve now read many entries and cried out eyes out with the memories. (Did you know she hated taking her medicine? I was quite surprised as she rarely complained. What a trooper!)

Today, Shayne and Shayla have painted a lot of pottery. Shayne and I also spent a few hours with Andrea Traunero working on the arrangements for the royal sending off for Princess Christi. Everything really is coming into place. Her casket is lovely – if such a thing can be lovely. I was just really caught off guard by how little in size it is. Kids aren’t supposed to die I guess as I’ve never seen a smaller coffin. Regardless, it is very pretty with our family photo on the lid so she can look up and see that we’re always with her. The handles are surrounded by her beautiful picture. I also asked to see her white gown which will be beautiful for her ballet dancing on the stage of Heaven. Andrea put it in the coffin and I think she’ll be beautiful. Rich had a long day flying out to Philadelphia to give Christi her final flight and I could only comfort myself by telling myself this will be the only tiny plane flight that she never got “car sick” on. As of this point, Christi is at the funeral home and we will see her at noon tomorrow.

Visitation will be from 1 – 7 PM on Thursday and Friday at the Traunero Funeral home in Tiffin and her funeral mass will be at 10 AM at St. Mary’s. Our good friends, Tom and Lori Leis, will be catering the funeral luncheon back at St. Mary’s following the dove release at the Seneca Memory Gardens. All are invited. I’ll post her obituary as well – truly harder than any paper I ever wrote for any Professor, truly the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to write. I only hope it does her justice!

The Thomas team requests that memorials be made to the "Christi Thomas Memorial Fund” so that her spirit can live on.