There is a reason for everything!

Lauren Flood was born unexpectedly on April 23, 2003 at 37 weeks by cesarean section due to a spontaneous placental abruption.  Up until that moment, the pregnancy was completely uneventful without any foreseeable problems.  She was flown by life flight to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for critical care.  She stayed there for 14 days until coming home.  Lauren had severe hypoxia due to the placental abruption, which caused a massive brain injury leaving her with an uncertain prognosis. 

As time revealed, she had significant physical disabilities and an extremely hypersensitive nervous system. We were told that she would never eat by mouth, they didn’t know if she could see or hear, and they left us feeling hopeless!  Lauren could see (although, she did have cortical impairment) and hear just fine. We were left asking ourselves, “How do we deal with this?” and “I can’t do this” and “Why did this happen to our family?”. 

Lauren was very involved with Early Intervention Home-based therapies through Easter Seals of Eastern Pennsylvania, she went to the CP clinic, seating and feeding clinic at CHOP. The spasticity clinic at St. Christopher’s of Philadelphia and was frequently seen by her many pediatric specialists in Philadelphia.  She was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and a seizure disorder, microcephaly, global developmental delay, cortical visual impairment, among many others labels.  At age 3, Lauren transitioned into the Intermediate Unit preschool for Multiple Disability Support classes. 

She also participated in the Hippotherapy program through Equi-librium, Inc., which is an equine-assisted therapy.  Her horse’s name was Snickers and she looked forward to seeing him at every Monday morning session.  She made such significant improvements on Snickers with her balance, trunk control/core strength and it also helped with sensory integration; her nervous system calmed down.  She also loved going for pool therapy at St. Luke’s North in Bethlehem and her communication class at Good Shepherd where she was learning to use her pink Dynavox.  

Lauren unexpectedly passed away through the night shortly before Christmas on December 19, 2007.  She died from a massive seizure that caused respiratory failure.  The term used for this event is SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in the Epileptic Population).  She wasn’t sick in anyway.  God just called her home because her work on Earth was done and she delivered her message so beautifully.

Lauren couldn’t talk, walk, sit up unsupported or help herself in anyway, but she tried really hard! What she could do was smile.  She had a smile that touched your soul!

Lauren’s smile was a lesson that was so profound and delivered with such grace.  The lesson was simply this: