January 16, 2016
January 16, 2016
"Brooke's Life, Her Last Breath & Eternity"
Brooke Wallace, born January 16, 1981, was a young lady with courage and determination. Brooke was such an awesome person to be around, she could entertain anyone, she could even mingle with royalty.
Since a young age, Brooke was always busy. She played baseball, basketball, and volleyball. She was a Campfire Girl and was in Girl Scouts, also, she was a YMCA Cheerleader. Brooke danced for Cassie's Whitehouse School Of Dance for several years, this was her favorite, and she even placed for a state finalist in the Miss American Coed Beauty Pageant.
She had a way about her that was sincere. She was always helping others. Brooke donated her time, yearly, being a "Buddy" in the Rose Capital East Little League, she was a Soroptomist Camp Counselor and also, she spoke for The Transplant Alliance.
In between going to school, church, friends and taking care of home, Brooke always made time for her family and friends.
At the age of 15 years, her life going to school and as a dancer would change. Never knowing that she was ill, just one day not feeling well, was taken to the hospital and found that she had a deadly, incurable disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Her only hope was to have a heart transplant.
At the end of 9th grade, determined to keep up with her grades and have whatever life possible, Brooke did all that she was asked and more.
She was put on a transplant list, took medications to help prolong her life and continued to study. Gradually she went down hill, but still kept up with her school work.
Finally, August 18, 1997, her heart came in, the wait was over. A year went by, since she found out she was ill, but she made it. She was scared and happy for herself, but very sad for the wonderful family that lost their beautiful child, that gave her that second chance. By this time Brooke had made it through a year of struggle, keeping her many doctor's appointments and having to live in Dallas for a few months, being tutored away from her school and keeping up with her schools progress, she managed to keep up her grades and pass her Sophomore year and was well into her Junior year. With two and a half years of high school behind her and the struggle of getting her medications adjusted, Brooke's goal was to graduate and go to Texas A & M, her dream...
The summer was here, excited that now, maybe she could go on with a more normal life. A few days after school was finally out, Brooke started rejecting, it put her back in the hospital, not for a few days, that usually fixed the problem, but it took over three months, a full summer of medications that was meant to help her, damaged her new heart. Now having major side effects, losing control of her muscles, having kidney failure, not being able to eat, she would have an even bigger fight, but she always had Jesus with her, she said, "I saw an angel with light all around, I thought it was my guardian angel, my great grandmother Mary and in the back of my head Jesus told me, "It is going to be alright". Finally, Brooke regained the use of her kidneys and didn't have to go home with a kidney machine, she would, also, learn to walk again. She would be placed on a second transplant list.
Still eager to graduate, now in her Senior year, Brooke would still keep up with her grades, with tubes coming and going and IV's that could no longer be comfortable any where, she would still try and keep up with her school work... amazing.
Only a few weeks into her Senior year, she was getting to come home. Excited about, finally, graduating and getting prepared for the big day, only months away, she could hardly wait.
Almost Thanksgiving now, three months past her 1 year transplant anniversary and still waiting for her second heart transplant, Brooke had to go back to Dallas for a couple of days in the hospital, everything was looking okay, her doctor said she didn't have to come back until a week after Thanksgiving, exciting news considering she was going to Dallas once every week or more. We drove home Saturday evening, not feeling at her best, but nothing different from being in the hospital. The next few days was pretty much the same, but Tuesday she just didn't feel right, so off we went back to the hospital in Dallas. We made it to the emergency area, this would be our last trip for Brooke, November 24, 1998. She turned her head slowly to look at me, but never spoke a word. I saw it in her beautiful eyes, a sweet goodbye, I knew. Her Dad carried her up the ramp and her last words were, "I'm sorry Daddy".
It had been a year of her passing when this was wrote, an anniversary not of death, but to her life as an angel in heaven. We thank the Lord for our borrowed time, having a wonderful opportunity to know, live with and love a child truly of our God.
Brooke was not just a daughter, but our best friend, a teacher of God. She knew and taught that God is before family or anything and forgiveness is a way of life, that it should always be used.
She would always try to teach her little sister, Yvette, not to be sad, when she goes home to Jesus, to say her prayers and always tell people about God and that she would always be with her. She would see her again when it was time for her to come, but only when Jesus was ready.
We know that Brooke graduated in the hearts of her family, friends and classmates, but what we were most proud of was that she was prepared for her eternal home and she helped others to want to be ready.
Our struggles that are left with us are just more teachings in our life. Maybe one day those of us that doesn't know that God has a plan, that is being carried out at this very moment and that each and everyone of us are a part of it, you will see what is truly important and which path you want to take, before it is to late.
Although our precious Angel will be missed and some days are harder than others, that is what life is about. Teach your children young, that it is okay to leave this world when the time comes, help them to not be afraid.
Brooke didn't die, she was a Christian.
Birth: Jan. 16, 1981
Tyler
Smith County
Texas, USA
Death: Nov. 24, 1998
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA [Edit Dates]
In Memory of Brooke Wallace (1981-1998)
Whitehouse, TX - Brooke Wallace, 17, beloved daughter of Charles Wallace and Tammy Wallace Saul; step-daughter of Teddy Saul Jr; sister of Yvette Wallace; step-sister of Kimberly, Christopher and Ashley Saul, died in Dallas at Children's Medical Center on November 24, 1998 at 8:18 pm. She was born January 16, 1981, at 12:24 pm, in Tyler, Texas, at Mother Frances Hospital. After her courageous battle with Cardiomyopathy, a congenital heart disease, and having a heart transplant that rejected, she is now healthy and happy in the arms of Jesus. In her brief, but prosperous life, she touched countless lives with her strength to live, faith in God and incredible love and unselfishness. Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 27, at Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 1998 at Tyler Christian Fellowship. Officiating will be pastor Joe Canal. Burial will follow at Cathedral In The Pines Cemetery.
Brooke Wallace, born January 16, 1981, was a young lady with courage and determination. Brooke was such an awesome person to be around, she could entertain anyone, she could even mingle with royalty.
Since a young age, Brooke was always busy. She played baseball, basketball, and volleyball. She was a Campfire Girl and was in Girl Scouts, also, she was a YMCA Cheerleader. Brooke danced for Cassie's Whitehouse School Of Dance for several years, this was her favorite, and she even placed for a state finalist in the Miss American Coed Beauty Pageant.
She had a way about her that was sincere. She was always helping others. Brooke donated her time, yearly, being a "Buddy" in the Rose Capital East Little League, she was a Soroptomist Camp Counselor and also, she spoke for The Transplant Alliance.
In between going to school, church, friends and taking care of home, Brooke always made time for her family and friends.
At the age of 15 years, her life going to school and as a dancer would change. Never knowing that she was ill, just one day not feeling well, was taken to the hospital and found that she had a deadly, incurable disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Her only hope was to have a heart transplant.
At the end of 9th grade, determined to keep up with her grades and have whatever life possible, Brooke did all that she was asked and more.
She was put on a transplant list, took medications to help prolong her life and continued to study. Gradually she went down hill, but still kept up with her school work.
Finally, August 18, 1997, her heart came in, the wait was over. A year went by, since she found out she was ill, but she made it. She was scared and happy for herself, but very sad for the wonderful family that lost their beautiful child, that gave her that second chance. By this time Brooke had made it through a year of struggle, keeping her many doctor's appointments and having to live in Dallas for a few months, being tutored away from her school and keeping up with her schools progress, she managed to keep up her grades and pass her Sophomore year and was well into her Junior year. With two and a half years of high school behind her and the struggle of getting her medications adjusted, Brooke's goal was to graduate and go to Texas A & M, her dream...
The summer was here, excited that now, maybe she could go on with a more normal life. A few days after school was finally out, Brooke started rejecting, it put her back in the hospital, not for a few days, that usually fixed the problem, but it took over three months, a full summer of medications that was meant to help her, damaged her new heart. Now having major side effects, losing control of her muscles, having kidney failure, not being able to eat, she would have an even bigger fight, but she always had Jesus with her, she said, "I saw an angel with light all around, I thought it was my guardian angel, my great grandmother Mary and in the back of my head Jesus told me, "It is going to be alright". Finally, Brooke regained the use of her kidneys and didn't have to go home with a kidney machine, she would, also, learn to walk again. She would be placed on a second transplant list.
Still eager to graduate, now in her Senior year, Brooke would still keep up with her grades, with tubes coming and going and IV's that could no longer be comfortable any where, she would still try and keep up with her school work... amazing.
Only a few weeks into her Senior year, she was getting to come home. Excited about, finally, graduating and getting prepared for the big day, only months away, she could hardly wait.
Almost Thanksgiving now, three months past her 1 year transplant anniversary and still waiting for her second heart transplant, Brooke had to go back to Dallas for a couple of days in the hospital, everything was looking okay, her doctor said she didn't have to come back until a week after Thanksgiving, exciting news considering she was going to Dallas once every week or more. We drove home Saturday evening, not feeling at her best, but nothing different from being in the hospital. The next few days was pretty much the same, but Tuesday she just didn't feel right, so off we went back to the hospital in Dallas. We made it to the emergency area, this would be our last trip for Brooke, November 24, 1998. She turned her head slowly to look at me, but never spoke a word. I saw it in her beautiful eyes, a sweet goodbye, I knew. Her Dad carried her up the ramp and her last words were, "I'm sorry Daddy".
It had been a year of her passing when this was wrote, an anniversary not of death, but to her life as an angel in heaven. We thank the Lord for our borrowed time, having a wonderful opportunity to know, live with and love a child truly of our God.
Brooke was not just a daughter, but our best friend, a teacher of God. She knew and taught that God is before family or anything and forgiveness is a way of life, that it should always be used.
She would always try to teach her little sister, Yvette, not to be sad, when she goes home to Jesus, to say her prayers and always tell people about God and that she would always be with her. She would see her again when it was time for her to come, but only when Jesus was ready.
We know that Brooke graduated in the hearts of her family, friends and classmates, but what we were most proud of was that she was prepared for her eternal home and she helped others to want to be ready.
Our struggles that are left with us are just more teachings in our life. Maybe one day those of us that doesn't know that God has a plan, that is being carried out at this very moment and that each and everyone of us are a part of it, you will see what is truly important and which path you want to take, before it is to late.
Although our precious Angel will be missed and some days are harder than others, that is what life is about. Teach your children young, that it is okay to leave this world when the time comes, help them to not be afraid.
Brooke didn't die, she was a Christian.
Birth: Jan. 16, 1981
Tyler
Smith County
Texas, USA
Death: Nov. 24, 1998
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA [Edit Dates]
In Memory of Brooke Wallace (1981-1998)
Whitehouse, TX - Brooke Wallace, 17, beloved daughter of Charles Wallace and Tammy Wallace Saul; step-daughter of Teddy Saul Jr; sister of Yvette Wallace; step-sister of Kimberly, Christopher and Ashley Saul, died in Dallas at Children's Medical Center on November 24, 1998 at 8:18 pm. She was born January 16, 1981, at 12:24 pm, in Tyler, Texas, at Mother Frances Hospital. After her courageous battle with Cardiomyopathy, a congenital heart disease, and having a heart transplant that rejected, she is now healthy and happy in the arms of Jesus. In her brief, but prosperous life, she touched countless lives with her strength to live, faith in God and incredible love and unselfishness. Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 27, at Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 1998 at Tyler Christian Fellowship. Officiating will be pastor Joe Canal. Burial will follow at Cathedral In The Pines Cemetery.
