This memorial website was created in loving memory of our precious daughter and sister, Hannah Noelle Mitchell who was born on April 11, 2004 and passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in her sleep on October 27, 2005 at the age of 1 1/2. We will cherish and remember her forever.



"When the earth shall claim your limbs, 
then you shall truly dance." 
Kahlil Gibran

Hannah was born on Easter Sunday, and I cannot think of a day more fitting to describe her.  For like that day, Hannah brought Tracy and me new life.  She daily inspired us to righteousness, she made us want to be better people, she made us want to right the world so that it would be a fit place for her to live.  She still makes me want to be a better person.   She taught us that our capacity for joy is limited only by our ability to love and be loved.  Hannah was not only easy to love; she was our delight to love.  Just being in Hannah’s presence doubled and redoubled the size of your heart.

Our Hannah filled our house and our hearts with such laughter.  She had such a curiosity about life; there was no door or cupboard that escaped her inspection.  It would make your heart overflow when you heard her delight in discovering something new.  When she gave me a kiss, I’d feel like I had just been knighted by the queen.  We only had her for 18 months, but if time could be measured by the love that she inspired, then she surely lived lifetimes.

I’d like to tell you all about those things that made Hannah, Hannah.  The way she crawled, her refusal to eat what was on her plate and her determination to eat all that was on her sister’s plate, the way that she played with such enthusiasm, and the way that she stole the hearts of all who knew her.  She loved music.  She was just starting to talk; and didn’t have many words, but she had ageless eyes.  And such expressions!  She could register happiness, laughter, mischief, and sheer joy unadulterated with just a look or a shake of her head.  She would study you intently, and when you peered into her eyes you knew she understood the secrets of the universe.  But words are inadequate.  You have to look at me, and at Tracy, and at Emily to see how special she was.  For we loved her best, and we miss her most, and our lives are changed forever just from the pleasure of having her in our lives.

Kings, kingdoms, ages, and civilizations – these things are all mortal and they fade into memory.  But our darling is in the arms of Jesus now, and when even this world itself has passed into the recesses of time and is only a memory, our daughter will still live.  Hannah was born into this world on Easter; she was born into eternal life last week.  She is Home, and her happiness knows no bounds.  But she has left us behind, and we haven’t yet finished that journey, and our grief knows no bounds.  We love you Hannah, and we miss you until our hearts are broken.  But yet, we too are on that journey home.  We have the promise that one day we will be reunited.  On that day, Darling Hannah, our tears will be turned to laughter; but until that day, our beautiful, beloved daughter, we will miss you, and cherish you.

I always knew that you were the masterpiece of God.  My only mistake is that I thought that in you he was writing a novel, but he thought it better to write a sonnet.

Do you remember what the angel said to the weeping women outside the empty tomb on that day?  He said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here.  He is risen.”  Those are the most beautiful words in the Bible.  Do not look for Hannah here; she, too, has risen with her Lord.

Jim and I read that letter on October 30, 2005 at Hannah's funeral. It still rings true today.

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone;
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

 
"We can see the smoke of a burning home,
but who can know of a burning heart?"
Malay Saying


 

I thought of you with love today
but that is nothing new 
I thought about you yesterday 
and days before that too.  
I think of you in silence 
I often speak your name 
all I have are memories 
and your pictures in a frame. 
Your memory is my keepsake 
with which I'll never part. 
God has you in his keeping 
I have you in my heart.

Like an annual flower
she blossomed
in one brief burst of glory,
dazzling eye and heart.
Designed by her Creator
for one treasured season of
joy and inspiration ---
then gone ---
never needing to know
sharp pruning shears
nor harsh, barren winters
and painful, repeated struggles
up through frozen sod to
gray and weeping skies,
as we perennials must.

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC)

SUDC is the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of twelve months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted. This must include: examination of the death scene, performance of a complete autopsy, and a review of the child and family’s medical history. SUDC is a diagnosis of exclusion - given when all known and possible causes of death have been ruled out.

The SUDC Program was created in September 2001 as part of the CJ Foundation for SIDS. It has been developed to provide a centralized resource for information, support and advocacy. It serves families and professionals affected by the tragedy of SUDC, and promotes awareness of SUDC in communities. 

www.sudc.org