Christopher Ronald Faller
May 7, 1990 - March 24, 1998 ~
with severe restrictive cardiomyopathy and secondary pulmonary hypertension.
But, other than that,
Christopher seemed healthy and just kept getting happier and
happier with life. Our beautiful blond-haired, brown-eyed boy
lifted his head, rolled over, crawled, walked and talked
just like any other child. We decided to put off the transplant
as long as he was doing okay. He was definitely our miracle
child. He refused to give in to the heart disease. He was the
joy of our lives. But you would never have known he
was sick just looking at him or talking with him.
how much energy a normal 7-year-old can have.
By Christmas, he was running up and down the stairs with
his cousins and making plans for the future, the first time
he had done either in his entire short life. We thought now,
finally, he'd be able to lead a normal life.
sent us home with the booklet they give to all heart transplant patients' parents.
On page 19 of this booklet is a
three-paragraph description of the horrible disease that killed
our son: it is called post-transplant lymphoproliferative
disease, or PTLD. The booklet says it "occurs in only
a small number of transplant recipients", and the booklet
doesn't give a death rate. PTLD is triggered by
Epstein-Barr Virus, a common virus in humans that causes
mononucleosis. In some transplant patients, such as poor Christopher,
the virus can cause tumors to grow in different
organs of the body.
exposed to it, so he didn't have any
pre-existing antibodies with which to fight the virus.
By January 19, he was back in Children's Hospital for
treatment of his PTLD.
Christopher was breathing too fast -- his heart biopsy showed
that he was rejecting the donor heart. He had to take steroids
if he was to fight off both the rejection and the viral disease.
The doctors decided to do a lung biopsy to determine
if it was truly PTLD in his lungs, but something went wrong
with the procedure. On February 3rd, they lost
Christopher's pulse and his two hearts then stopped beating --
but he was resuscitated and seemed to be okay.
kill the large PTLD tumors growing in his chest, and he
seemed to be getting better. Then one night, in a panic,
he told my husband he couldn't breathe.
put back on the ventilator. But I could tell he was struggling
for air and had to persuade him that he needed help
with his breathing. I thought I was saving him.
last clear words that we ever heard him say. Because the
breathing tube made talking impossible, and he had to be
heavily sedated so he wouldn't fight the tube.
fought back again but ended up on a heart/lung machine.
And then, they started more chemotherapy, along with a
fungal infection, kidney failure and dialysis. His last CT Scan
showed that his lungs were solid with virus-induced tumors.
falling silent at 12:03 a.m. To his intense relief,
my husband was by his side at that very
moment. He was afraid that Christopher's spirit would come
out of his body and look around and ask "Where's my Daddy?"
that I was very proud of him and that I loved him very much,
and I wanted him to come home and play with his Legos.
St. Sebastian Church. His second-grade classmates and
student council members attended and the children's choir
sang. After the mass, we went outside to find about
200 students lined up along the driveway, forming a kind of
honor guard. It was absolutely beautiful and incredibly quiet.
What a loving tribute to our special little Christopher!
for my courageous little boy:
The impact of a life cut so short should be shared with all
So we can help those left behind heal their broken hearts
Time will be what is needed now --
to remember Christopher --
As a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, student, friend
Christopher was a special someone to each
and every one of us
His memory will be with us for always
Each one of us has been touched in someway by Christopher
His rosy cheeks that held the laughter of a happy child
His courage as a fighter
Or his hidden strength for someone so young
A life taken from us much too soon
When we remember Christopher these thoughts come to mind
We should be thankful for the time
that Christopher blessed our lives
And know he is at peace now....
And forever in our thoughts and in our hearts
Christopher's funeral mass.
I couldn't find any more recent photos to include just yet...
please either click on the picture above or the link button below.
Thanksgiving Angel Gathering
YOUR SUCH AN ANGEL TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONES THINGS LIKE YOU DO...
AND I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU SWEETHEART...LOVE YOU SWEETIE, LOVE TERRI"
from my dear friend, Joyce.
are both gifts from my sweet friend, Gennie.
love and light
Susie
I hope the rest of your day is peaceful and full of love.
LOVE YOU MY FRIEND
Sue-Anne/LEE
From Lee For Mom
A little gift for Mother's Day. Wishing you a peaceful day.
Love and Hugs,
Lynn, Mom to Ken.
Love and Light, Susie
Jason's Home Page
As we know how hard this day is for us.
Love and hugs.
Love you, Carol, mom to My Angel Michael
lots of love,
Judi, Andrew's Mom
Andrew My Son
Karen Lyn Jenkins, Mother of An Angel with Pink Wings
Geoffrey P. Edwards
Love and hugs! to All!
Dustin ~ Always and Forever See Your Smile 2009
I know Easter is definitely not the best for any of you, but I do want to send you my Easter gift.
I will be thinking very much of all of you.
GOD BLESS MARIA
MUCH LOVE
Sue-Anne/LEE
you would like me to help you to create one, please visit this page ~
Memorial Pages By Christopher's Mommy
of Christopher Faller on November 9, 2000.
Last updated May 12, 2009
by clicking on either of the buttons below...
by clicking on the button below...
Angel Hugs Postcards
making the background set and framing Christopher's pictures and
just all the graphics you made for this page....... I sure couldn't
have done anything so nice without all your wonderful help!!!!!!
Muchas gracias, forever and ever!!!
on Christopher's main picture too!
in his Guestbook below.
Thank you!
