Baby Amelia Joy Marie Craig lived for only 18-and-a-half days, but her precious time on earth will leave behind a lifetime of memories.
Born in Prince George nearly four months premature on Feb. 23 weighing just one pound seven ounces, the daughter of Selina Dean and Owen Craig died on March 6 at BC Children's Hospital.
Shortly after she was born, Amelia was flown by air ambulance with her mother to Vancouver, where specialists from the neonatal unit at Children's Hospital did all they could to keep the tiny girl alive.
Amelia's parents were just in the process of moving to an acreage northwest of the city, which will be the new home of the Turning Tails Rescue and Rehab animal shelter, when Selina went into labour.
She and her friend, Trish Clark, started the shelter a couple months ago. The facility specializes in nursing back to health, cats, dogs and horses that are abused, sick or injured and works with other B.C. rescue societies to find homes for those animals.
Friends and family, upon hearing of Amelia's sudden birth, collected toys, clothes and other baby items that were sent to the family's home. Clark has now set up several online accounts to sell those items, with proceeds going back to the animal shelter.
"That's what Selina and the donors wanted - she was given a lot of baby stuff and we sure didn't want it in the house when she got back," said Clark. "I'll do whatever I can sell to raise money to make money for the rescue society in Amelia's name."
A memorial service will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Kinsmen Community Complex, 777 Kinsmen Pl., with a potluck supper to follow at the Dean-Craig house on Chief Lake Road. The family is asking that any donations in Amelia's memory be directed to the Turning Tails animal shelter.
A Facebook tribute to baby Amelia
Selina Dean posted the following words on Facebook about the pain of losing her baby daughter Amelia, who died on March 6 at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver:
"Holding out these empty arms. Mother's arms are not meant to be empty. I look up at the sky, tears filling my eyes, searching the stars trying to find my angel. The brightest star I search for. Finding it, the first tear rolls down my cheek. Memories flood back of our short time together. Love totally encasing my heart as I look at that star. I know you are there baby, I will never forget. I just can't come to accept as I look that you are so far. I would have cuddled and loved you, kept you safe within my arms, holding you in a tight embrace. I will search these skies for you each night. But just for now I have to leave you in God's guiding light. Sleep well my baby, one day my arms and heart will be full again as I join you and give you all that was meant to be.
"Mommy loves you forever, you and me. To my little angel in the sky, today mommy had to kiss you goodbye I didn't want to let you go. But you made me a better person. I want you to know, because of you there is nothing I'm scared to do. So my beautiful baby, every sunset will always be for you. We know you're where you need to be, even though it isn't here with me. You are my angel baby because God wanted you with Him. Now, forever with his angels, His praises you will sing. None of my dreams for you will ever come true, because of that day God chose to take you. But, my angel baby you will always be, in my heart forever, forever a part of me.
"Rest in peace, beautiful little girl, you are free. You were put into too much, too early. We love you, forever. You were perfect in every way possible, and made a huge impact in our lives. Fly away, precious angel, you earned your wings early."
