Veronica Aherne Reasoner | July 19, 2010 – November 20, 2011
In July 2010 a healthy baby girl blessed our lives and after a quick discussion on what to name her we began the journey of becoming a family. Veronica was an easy and pleasing baby. She thrived, was developing a delightfully wonderful and unique little personality, and everyone that met her surely felt their heart grow. Her blue eyes and mischievous smile would inspire adventures of all sorts. We had 15 wonder-filled healthy months.
Our lives would forever change when one Saturday afternoon in early November 2011, she did not seem herself. She had a tremble that felt like a shiver but progressed to unstoppable seizures. We had wonderful doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital but nothing could be done to break the cycle of seizures. Often children have seizures and no cause is found. We kept getting negative results – not meningitis, not this or that – until eventually a metabolic specialist ordered a DNA test. A few days later we had a diagnosis. Veronica had a rare metabolic illness called Alpers Syndrome. We were told of the progression of the illness and came to grips with the fact that our daughter would not have the life we dreamed for her.
She passed away in our arms without suffering, fifteen days after that Saturday afternoon. In honor of Veronica and our infinite love for her, we have made it our mission to make genetic testing and research into alternative tests for Alpers readily available. Our hope is that through public awareness, no other child or family will have to suffer the pain and sadness that we, and others before us, have had to endure.
You may follow the beginning of our journey on CaringBridge.org.
A Celebration for Veronica
We want to thank each and every one of you for all the love and support through the most difficult time of our lives. We’ve read every note and deeply appreciate every word. We are stronger than we’d imagined and it is in large part because our friends and family. Each day holds its challenges but we are getting through it. We celebrated the brief and wonderful life of our beautiful daughter on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at 2pm. Thank you all for attending and for your love. The service was held at: St. John’s Episcopal Church1419 Pine Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303.442.5246
