Erica Purcell October 27, 1997 - February 16, 1999

Erica's Story~ Erica was diagnosed on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) 1998 with Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 5 months (she was born on October 27, 1997). She had gone for a normal checkup and following some bloodwork it was determined that she should begin to undergo chemotherapy immediately. She underwent a 28 day regimen of Chemotherapy and a subsequent 5 day course but it was determined that her best chance was with a Bone Marrow Transplant. Making the decision about a bone marrow transplant was not easy, but we decided to go ahead and we were fortunate enough to find multiple unrelated donors. The actual date of her transplant was July 16, 1998 at Children's Hospital in Boston. She had some allergic reactions to some antibiotics but all went fairly smooth. She later developed some Graft versus host disease, and even after her initial discharge spent some short stays in the hospital. All appeared to be going well except for some minor issues, but early in February (1999) we were told that her leukemia had returned and there was nothing that could be done. She was given one week to 6 months and we were truly devastated. One week later, on February 16th with many of her loved ones at her side, Erica passed away.

Erica and Stephanie, Erica's Last Christmas, 1998

Erica was truly a gift to us and she touched many lives. She was always laughing and smiling and throughout all that she endured she managed to make others smile. The things that she enjoyed most in life was playing with her sister Stephanie and watching Tele-Tubbies and Barney. Stephanie knows that Erica is an Angel in Heaven and she is always watching over her, but she still misses her everyday and so do we.

IN MEMORY OF ERICA (10/27/97 - 2/16/99) YOU'VE BEEN GONE FOR A YEAR NOW, AND WE MISS YOU EVERDAY. WE'D DO ANYTHING TO HOLD YOU NOW, IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME WAY.... YOU ARE UP IN HEAVEN NOW, MAKING OTHERS SMILE. I WISH THAT YOU COULD BE BACK WITH US IF ONLY FOR A WHILE. NOT A DAY GOES BY, WE DON'T WONDER MIGHT HAVE BEEN. BUT I KNOW THAT SOMEDAY SOON, WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY, AND OTHER TIMES LIKE YEARS. I THINK ITS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE NEVERENDING TEARS. THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AS LONG AS YOUR NOT HERE. YOU TOUCHED MANY LIVES WITH YOUR SPIRIT, HEART AND CHEER. WHEN I THINK OF THE LITTLE THINGS, I STOP AND WONDER WHY. BUT AS MY THOUGHTS WANDER, I HAVE TO STOP AND CRY. ERICA YOU WERE OUR DAUGHTER, OUR SISTER AND OUR BEST FRIEND. AND WE WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU LEIGH-LEIGH UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!! All our Love - Glenn, Cheryl and Big Sister Stephanie