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Source: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11301019
Family celebrates life of Zionsville girl
Updated: Oct 12, 2009 5:22 PM EST
Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News
Zionsville - A 12-year-old girl died last week after spending her life defying all odds.
Kate Farley passed away Friday night after contracting the flu. Her parents shared her miraculous story Monday.
"We knew she was especially vulnerable," said Kate's father, Michael. "She was born in 1997 with a genetic condition called Trisomy 18, which means she has an extra 18th chromosome."
"Children born with Trisomy 18 typically don't live to be a year," said her mother, Martha. "Ninety percent of the children born with it die before they are a year old."
But Kate passed the one year mark and kept going.
"She was a true delight. She couldn't walk, she couldn't talk and she was tube fed," Martha said.
Kate was the Farleys middle child and their only daughter.
"She loved touching people's faces. She loved holding hands," Martha said. "She had a way of connecting with someone through her facial expressions and her eyes."
Will Farley is Kate's big brother and Jack is the baby of the family.
"She is probably the happiest soul I have ever known, always smiling, very responsive," said Michael. "She laughed when you tickled her an she really brought out the best in people."
Though Kate was special, her life in many ways was normal. She attended school in Zionsville for ten years, celebrated the seasons and joined clubs.
"She was in art club, she was in a knitting club," Martha said.
"They were so accepting of her an so, even though she didn't really knit, but she was in the knitting club. So she really did have an amazing life," Michael Farley said.
Her death came quickly, after testing positive for Influenza A last Wednesday.
"Kate started by vomiting first and then she had a fever," Martha said. "She had enough complications going into this and I just don't think she had enough to get out of it. She didn't have enough reserve.
"She had a special set of circumstances that made her especially vulnerable to this," Michael said. "I know there are respiratory complications with any flu, but she was especially vulnerable on that front."
The Farleys are now planning a celebration of Kate's life.
"We didn't think we'd have her 12 weeks and we had her 12 years," said Martha.
"We miss her, but we feel so fortunate to have her as long as we did," said Kate's father.
Visitation and services for Kate Farley are Tuesday and Wednesday in Zionsville.
Farley typifies the patient that CDC officials want first in line for the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu shot. Medical professionals are acting conservatively with dispensing limited supplies of Tamiflu. While it may shorten the flue for a few days for a healthy patient, it may safe a life for the sick, elderly and pregnant, who are especially at risk.
Family celebrates life of Zionsville girl
Updated: Oct 12, 2009 5:22 PM EST
Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News
Zionsville - A 12-year-old girl died last week after spending her life defying all odds.
Kate Farley passed away Friday night after contracting the flu. Her parents shared her miraculous story Monday.
"We knew she was especially vulnerable," said Kate's father, Michael. "She was born in 1997 with a genetic condition called Trisomy 18, which means she has an extra 18th chromosome."
"Children born with Trisomy 18 typically don't live to be a year," said her mother, Martha. "Ninety percent of the children born with it die before they are a year old."
But Kate passed the one year mark and kept going.
"She was a true delight. She couldn't walk, she couldn't talk and she was tube fed," Martha said.
Kate was the Farleys middle child and their only daughter.
"She loved touching people's faces. She loved holding hands," Martha said. "She had a way of connecting with someone through her facial expressions and her eyes."
Will Farley is Kate's big brother and Jack is the baby of the family.
"She is probably the happiest soul I have ever known, always smiling, very responsive," said Michael. "She laughed when you tickled her an she really brought out the best in people."
Though Kate was special, her life in many ways was normal. She attended school in Zionsville for ten years, celebrated the seasons and joined clubs.
"She was in art club, she was in a knitting club," Martha said.
"They were so accepting of her an so, even though she didn't really knit, but she was in the knitting club. So she really did have an amazing life," Michael Farley said.
Her death came quickly, after testing positive for Influenza A last Wednesday.
"Kate started by vomiting first and then she had a fever," Martha said. "She had enough complications going into this and I just don't think she had enough to get out of it. She didn't have enough reserve.
"She had a special set of circumstances that made her especially vulnerable to this," Michael said. "I know there are respiratory complications with any flu, but she was especially vulnerable on that front."
The Farleys are now planning a celebration of Kate's life.
"We didn't think we'd have her 12 weeks and we had her 12 years," said Martha.
"We miss her, but we feel so fortunate to have her as long as we did," said Kate's father.
Visitation and services for Kate Farley are Tuesday and Wednesday in Zionsville.
Farley typifies the patient that CDC officials want first in line for the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu shot. Medical professionals are acting conservatively with dispensing limited supplies of Tamiflu. While it may shorten the flue for a few days for a healthy patient, it may safe a life for the sick, elderly and pregnant, who are especially at risk.