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Senior reaches out and remembers sister

Clare+Walsh+as+a+baby.++Clare+was+diagnosed+at+birth+with+a+rare+disorder+called+Rhizomelic+Chondrodysplasia+Punctata%2C+a+developmental+brain+disorder.+
Clare Walsh as a baby. Clare was diagnosed at birth with a rare disorder called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, a developmental brain disorder.

By Abigail Warren ’16│Staff Writer

Weeping, Katie Walsh, mother of Molly Walsh ’16, said “She’s gone.”

Both Katie Walsh and husband Chris Walsh had just returned from their overnight stay at the hospital when Katie Walsh dropped the horrific news about how Molly’s sister, Clare, had passed. It was Jan. 19 2005, but Molly can remember it as if it happened yesterday.

“I was so young. I didn’t know what to feel or how to feel. I just remember going straight to my room, and I just cried and cried until I fell asleep that night,” said Molly Walsh.

Clare Elizabeth Walsh, Molly’s sister, was diagnosed with a disease called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata which is a rare, developmental brain disorder characterized by systemic shortening of the proximal bones (i.e. rhizomelia), seizures, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and congenital cataracts. When Molly’s sister was diagnosed at birth with this disease, there were only 60 other cases that were discovered throughout the world.  This disease caused her sister become very sick, very easily.

“She had gone in and out of the hospital so many times when we were young, that when she went in for her last time I just thought it was going to be like any other trip to the hospital. I  thought she would be back in a few days, but sadly I was wrong,” said Molly Walsh.

Molly Walsh says she was young and oblivious during the situation. Although her sister’s death was a shock to her at the time, it was not to the rest of her family. The night before her death Molly’s mother invited family over to say farewell and celebrate the life that Clare was living. Along with inviting her family, Walsh’s mother also invited their priest to their house to grant Clare with her last rites. Last rites are the last prayers given to Catholics before a death that is coming.

“Looking back, it’s to clear see that she was going to pass from all the events that were occurring. But, death was just so unknown to me. I thought it only happened from old age, not to my 5 year old sister,” said Molly Walsh.

To this day Molly’s sister is far from forgotten. On her birthday, Aug. 25 1999, and on the anniversary of her death, Molly’s entire family gets together. For her birthday, they will go to dinner and celebrate her life within their immediate family.  On the day of her death they will usually go out dinner as well, but this time with the rest of the family. During these dinners the family reminisces on who Clare was and who she would’ve been today, but sometimes doing so is not easy.

“The first few years we had these dinners it was hard to talk about such a terrible thing, but as the years went on I learned to embrace what happened and try to celebrate the life that she was able to live,” said father, Chris Walsh.

Aside from going out out dinner on Clare’s birthday, they also carry another tradition. When they are done with dinner, they go to their back yard and release pink balloons in order to show a type of remembrance for Molly’s sister.

“I don’t really know why we do it, but it is so meaningful. It’s more than just a tradition, it’s a remembrance,” said Molly Walsh.

Although her birthday and the day she passed are the two times they remember Clare the most, there is one other thing that is very symbolic to her: a hummingbird. A few years before Clare passed, when the Walsh’s were at Harbor Springs with their family, a hummingbird landed on her shoulder. For some reason, this image has never left their minds.

“Whenever I see a hummingbird, I can’t help but to smile. It reminds me of her. It’s like I feel her presence with me for the rest of the day,” said Katie Walsh.

After this experience a hummingbird turned into a direct correlation to Clare. A foundation called Sweet Dreams redid Clare’s room when she was about three.  Sweet Dreams is an organization that helps the lives of kids with a life-threatening disorder by creating their dream room. They painted her room with yellow walls and painted flying hummingbirds.

“They created almost a ‘nest’ for Clare. Clare couldn’t move on her own so they strung lights above her bed so she would have something pretty to look at. It was beautiful,” said Katie Walsh.

Molly remembers very little about her sister’s funeral. She didn’t want to remember it, she said. But, she does remember one specific song called “Over the Rainbow”. This song has helped Molly through her sister’s death, according to her.

For Katie Walsh, the funeral was something that she had known was in Clare’s future for quite some time. She had told everyone beforehand to wear pink and wear a hummingbird pin in honor of Clare.

“Clare’s funeral was beautiful. The fortunate and unfortunate thing about knowing someone you love will not live long is that you plan things for their funeral,” said Katie Walsh.

Katie Walsh was in a family of five girls and Chris Walsh grew up living with nine siblings. The thought of Molly growing up without siblings was unthinkable, so they decided they would have another child.

“After Clare died, I knew that I was a mom to a child on earth and in heaven. But, for Molly, she was no longer a sister to anyone on earth,” said Katie Walsh.

However, both Katie and Chris Walsh were both carriers of the same extremely rare genetic disorder Clare had.  This meant every time they were to get pregnant they would have a 1 in 4 chance that their child could have this fatal disorder that Clare had.

“Frankly, the fact that Molly was born healthy is a miracle,” said Katie Walsh.

Instead of risking having a child of their own, they decided to put out adoption papers and see where it would go from there.  However, they made it clear that this adoption was separate from Clare.

“When we were adopting we were not trying to replace Clare. No one could ever do that,” said Chris Walsh.

In 2007, they adopted a child by the name of Ann Maureen Walsh, who now goes by Annie. Annie is currently seven and fits right along with the Walsh family. Although she is young, she knows about her adoption and about Clare.

“She’s still young so I am not sure she fully understands, but my parents wanted to make sure that she was aware of everything as soon as they could tell her,” said Molly Walsh.

Although this happened around nine years ago, their lives will never fully be the same, said Katie Walsh.  Molly still struggles with the loss of her sister today.

“Around times like her anniversary or her birthday, I don’t talk as much as I usually do. It’s a hard time for me,” said Molly Walsh.

However, everyone in the Walsh family has taken something positive away from this tragedy. Most importantly, they all learned the same thing: the importance of family.

“I am happy and grateful for everything-especially my family,” Katie Walsh said. “I think Clare gave us the gift of gratitude and appreciation for each other.”

 

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