On March 8 1995 an angel returned to heaven as Geordi Elizabeth Maybury died after suffering from complications brought about while recovering surgery to correct her congenital heart condition. She was two days away from turning 18 months old. Though gone, she is not forgotten, nor are the lessens she taught about life, death and love. Born on September 10, 1993 to parents Paul and Liz Maybury, there were fears that an emergency heart transplant or surgery would have been necessary immediately after birth, but a physical examination showed Geordi was within normal limits and she remained stable from a cardiorespiratory view. After a full cardiac evaluation it was found she did not have any evidence of congestive heart failure or worsening right side obstruction of her right ventricle. "From the beginning, we know, Geordi faced incredible odds. Like her namesake in the Star Trek t.v. series, her body was not "perfect", at least as some of us understand perfect. But her parents, and God, gave her a chance at life, knowing that the blind see better than the rest of us, and sometimes those with weak hearts are capable of great love." - Rev. Paul Matheson. While the deck was stacked against her physically, Geordi and her parents faced another foe, ignorance of what it means to have a child with congential heart disease. Often faced with unrealistic expectations from relatives, Paul and Liz struggled in vain to get members of his family to understand their daughter's condition. This ignorance created a turn of events where the parents ended up getting blamed for their daughter's death, denied family support to help them cope with their bereavement. No one should have to go through what they suffered. This web page not only relates their experiences so others who are going through what Paul and Liz have know they aren't alone but also will provide information on congenital heart disease and bereavement so that ignorance doesn't have the chance to harm again. "The truth is that for all the gifts we might have brought to Geordi, she gave far more to us. Someone said that Geordi had a way of bringing out the best in us." - Rev. Matheson.
Born on September 10, 1993 to parents Paul and Liz Maybury, there were fears that an emergency heart transplant or surgery would have been necessary immediately after birth, but a physical examination showed Geordi was within normal limits and she remained stable from a cardiorespiratory view. After a full cardiac evaluation it was found she did not have any evidence of congestive heart failure or worsening right side obstruction of her right ventricle.
"From the beginning, we know, Geordi faced incredible odds. Like her namesake in the Star Trek t.v. series, her body was not "perfect", at least as some of us understand perfect. But her parents, and God, gave her a chance at life, knowing that the blind see better than the rest of us, and sometimes those with weak hearts are capable of great love." - Rev. Paul Matheson.
While the deck was stacked against her physically, Geordi and her parents faced another foe, ignorance of what it means to have a child with congential heart disease. Often faced with unrealistic expectations from relatives, Paul and Liz struggled in vain to get members of his family to understand their daughter's condition. This ignorance created a turn of events where the parents ended up getting blamed for their daughter's death, denied family support to help them cope with their bereavement.
No one should have to go through what they suffered. This web page not only relates their experiences so others who are going through what Paul and Liz have know they aren't alone but also will provide information on congenital heart disease and bereavement so that ignorance doesn't have the chance to harm again.
"The truth is that for all the gifts we might have brought to Geordi, she gave far more to us. Someone said that Geordi had a way of bringing out the best in us." - Rev. Matheson.
Let us make our remembering more than a remembering. Let us make it a hope and a pledge, carried on these words:
In the summer sun and fields of brightness, we will remember. In the autum haze and blazes of color, we will remember. In the winter chill and blankets of whiteness, we will remember. And in the warmth of spring and bursts of new life, we will remember.
With everything that is permanent, and with all that is passing. With everything that is majestic and with all that is common. With everything that carries us in concern and with all that lifts us in joy. We will remember again and again and again.
As long as we have life, we will remember.
And in the remembering we will discover new life, new hope, and new courage, if not today then tomorrow.
tamy@speedline.ca