Remembering Tara

Our Little Shooting Star

Tara Mairichi Whitehouse
December 7-9, 2002

Tara means "Star" in Gaelic
Mairichi is a female Buddhist warrior

Tara was my son, Bill & Carol's first child - my first grandchild. She was a Preclampsia baby borned at 27 weeks. weighing less than a pound - about as long as a VCR box .

We really thought she'd make it. She put up such a strong fight. Her second day of life, Bill called all excited because she'd made it through the night and was breathing on her own. He said she had lots of beautiful dark wavy hair and had the loudest cry of all babies in the nursery.

But the 3rd day, she started crashing and they couldn't stop it. They finally said she had little time left. She was disconnected from all the tubes that were making her so mad to let Carol hold her while Bill baptised and gave her last rites. Our hearts shattered.

B&C didn't get very many pictures of her as there were so many doctors & nurses around her all the time. They didn't have a camera until the last day since their hospital arrival was unexpected. After she passed on, the nurses gathered some of her things (caps, booties, etc. ) and made a card with Tara's handprints, footprints and statistics on it for Tara's Treasure Box with her ashes. Her little handprint could be covered by a quarter.

The song, "Smile" will always remind me of our little Tara. But we'll see her again someday and now we have Nicky. The sun really does "come shining thru".

Tara's Memorial Candle is lit on December 7th thru December 9th

You were a gift straight from Heaven.
Given from God above.
We didn't know how much you'd teach us
About the meaning of true love...

For true love sometimes means letting go
Of someone precious and dear.
That is what we were forced to do...
Tho we wanted to keep you here!!!

However, this is quite a selfish wish.
One we know we should ignore...
Sweet Tara, we truly do believe
God must have needed you more...
Perhaps to be an Angel now,
All full of wisdom and love...
Watching over us who love you
From the shining stars above.

We miss you more than you can know.
You'll never be replaced...
In our hearts and memories forever,
Is your sweet and innocent sleeping face.

Tara holding Daddy's hand.

Tara's Christmas Place