Michelle Elizabeth Clayton
June 25, 1994 ~ May 31, 2004


Wednesday, May 26, 2004 8:50 PM CDT

Today Michelle has been sleeping off and on all day. When awake she complain of a very bad headache. The nurse have been trying to get a hold of Dr. Shafir most of the weekend. When Sick Kids phoned the other day we asked about the tube feeding and were told to ask Dr. Shafir. The nurses are worried that Michelle is not getting enough to drink and had asked if Sick Kid were going to get the feeding started.

. The doctor  has upped Michelle's medication from  Decadron to 2 of the 0.5mg per day. She also thinks that Michelle may have to wear diaper due to problem with going to the bathroom. She has order a case of ensure for Michelle, as well as codeine in liquid form. Michelle will started her tube feeding tomorrow. Before Dr. Shafir left she told us that she felt Michelle would start having more and more problems. She has gone down hill pretty fast.    Michelle falls in and out of sleep while watching Piglet Big Movie. Please sent some extra prayers Michelle way she really need them. Love from Kim and Michelle.


May 29 2004

 Michelle did not start feeding thorough the tube til Friday night at 10:00. They have change it from ensure to resource. This is what Sick Kids has request us to use. Early on Friday they brought over the suction machine, I.V. pole, and other supplies for Michelle to feed thorough the tube, as well as some depends diapers.

 Michelle asked to go to the bathroom, on the way there Michelle went dead weight and fell flat. She was really hard to awaken. Once we got her awake we had trouble keeping her awake. So we called an ambulance and took her to the hospital. They took a chest ex-ray and it was still clear. We were at the hospital from 5:30 - 9:30. Once we got home Dr. Shafir called, to let us know she come tomorrow morning to check out Michelle. She also order some Lorazepam 0.4mg/ml Syrup, cause she thinks Michelle is having some seizures. Michelle fell asleep while she got her first feeding at 10:00 p.m. We went to the bedroom at 12:00 a.m. to put on the diaper and found out they are to small. Don put duct tape around them so they stay done up. Don is picking up some at Shopper's tomorrow. We are hoping they have pull up type. The nurse came at 11:00 to see how Michelle did over night. While she was here she suction Michelle. She also gave Michelle a sucker and juicy fruit gum. This was a request Michelle had made yesterday, before she would let them show me how to suction her.  Michelle seems to be better today

Monday, May 31, 2004 4:27 PM CDT



Michelle has become the newest ANGEL at age 9. She became an ANGEL at 10:30. Kenneth, Patrick, and myself were beside her. Dr. Shafir and Caroline arrived shortly before Michelle became an ANGEL. Don  called, to see how Michelle was and after I hung up, that went she start to have a hard time with her breathing. Patrick came in to sit with Michelle, and shortly after she took her last breath. Dr. Shafir stay about 2 hours and arranged everything with Dr. Bouffet and his nurse Phyllis. Michelle had requested that they take her brainstem for research when she past away. The funeral home picked up Michelle at 3:30 and will take her to Sick Kids in Toronto at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. Michelle never woke up since Saturday at 9:00 p.m., except for an hour or two yesterday when Sonya and Sara came to say their good byes. Dr. Shafir said, that Michelle went peacefully, and she felt no pain. Michelle looked so peaceful as she layed on the bed beside me. 

Michelle is at peace. The following is a song played at her funeral.

We requested that this song by Leanne Womack for her children be played for Michelle.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger,
May you never take a single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small
When you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hop one more opens,
Promise me, that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance . I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains
in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Living might mean taking chances
But they are worth taking,
Loving might be a mistake
But it's worth making,
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider,
Give the heavens above more
Than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance . I hope you dance

I hope you still feel small
When you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance . I hope you dance

After the service, we went to the cemetary. I had Don buy mauve, grey, and gold balloon to let go at the cemetary. I had decide on 9, cause that is what age Michelle became an ANGEL, and it was perfect for she has 6 brothers and 3 sisters.