Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Chase Earned his Wings

After a long, grueling battle for over two years, Chase followed his calling to the light to be greeted into the arms of Jesus and receive his angel wings. Over the past week and a half, we treated his port infection once again with a strong combination of IV antibiotics. However, this time his organs couldn’t endure the trauma and his kidneys and liver were starting to fail. Over the weekend, we began getting an indication that he was struggling – he was retaining fluids and the swelling was getting worse. After trying everything we’ve learned over the past few rounds of infections without making progress, last night we decided to have Chase admitted to St. John hospital. They actually administered the same treatments we were using without making any more progress so it became very clear that this was the decision between Chase and God, regardless of anyone’s efforts. His battle ended peacefully this afternoon in our arms and we couldn’t be prouder of our Chaser Boy! He hung in there to the very end and seemed to hold off taking this journey until we were all ready for him to go in peace.

We will be celebrating Chase’s life over the next few days with the following schedule:

Thursday and Friday viewing at Lynch’s Funeral Home on Crooks Rd in Troy from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service on Friday at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at St. Columban church on Saturday at 9:30 am followed by procession to Franklin cemetery and a wake at the Reserve (Big Rock) on Eaton in Birmingham from 12 to 3 p.m.

A trust fund will be established in Chase’s name to benefit Grandivew Farm, which is used to support the therapy of LifeHorse a specially designed therapeutic horseback riding program for terminally and chronically ill children to ride and be around horses. Donations came be made through their website at www.lifehorse.org.

We truly appreciate all the dedicated support of Chase’s Prayer Warriors around the world. We couldn’t have made this journey without all your prayers and Chase is now our special angel in heaven. We look forward to celebrating his life and remembering how he touched us all.

God Bless!!

John & Carol Sammut
Chase & Barbara Ann

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:48 PM

    We were very sad to read that little Chase has left you. You already know what our God tells us in His word - to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The peace and unimaginable perfectness that Chase has now must be astounding. We will pray for your peace.
    Love,
    The Lucius Family

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  2. Dear friends,
    You know we have held you all in prayer over the past 2 years. Now we rejoice that Chase is being held in the arms of Jesus.
    Much love,
    Carrie, Robert, Caleb and Zion Smith

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  3. Anonymous7:28 PM

    may God bless you during this time of sorrow.

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  4. Anonymous8:50 PM

    John and Family,
    Please know that Chase has alot of child friends who undoubtedly greeted him upon his arrival. I know one in particular that probably handed him a skateboard!What a brave little warrior - and a brave family. You all continue to be in my prayers.
    B'Lynn, proud mommy to mighty BT angel Stefan, forever 11
    http://mysite.verizon.net/Bluetruly

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  5. "And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest..." Shakespeare

    You are in our thoughts.

    Emily (Proctor) Malabanan and Family

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  6. Anonymous3:29 AM

    OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. YOUR SON WILL BE MISSED BY ALL.
    GOD HAS CALLED ON ANOTHER ANGEL.
    HIS NAME WAS CHASE.

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  7. Anonymous5:05 AM

    Please know my prayers are with your family during this difficult time. I can't thank you enough for sharing Chase's journey with us. It was a huge help in my son's journey as well. May God Bless You now and forever.

    Rich McGowan (Angel Matthew's Dad)
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewmcgowan


    The Dragonfly Story
    Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, …scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond.
    They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to stop going about with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.
    "Look!" said one of the water bugs to another, "One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think he's going?" Up, up, up it slowly went...Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. His friends waited and waited but he didn't return.
    "That's funny!" said one water bug to another…
    "Wasn't he happy here?" asked a second…
    "Where do you suppose he went?" wondered a third…No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.
    Finally one of the water bugs gathered his friends together. "I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why."
    "We promise," they said solemnly.
    One Spring day not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water and fallen into the broad and free lily pad above.
    When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself flying about in great curves. As he flew through the air he felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere.
    By and by the new dragonfly landed happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was, that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs!. There they were scurrying around just as he had been doing some time before.

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  8. Anonymous5:16 AM

    All of my families thoughts and prayers are with your family. God has a special angel standing beside him now.

    Cheryl Holzworth
    and
    Family

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  9. Anonymous8:31 AM

    CHASE HAS EARNED HIS WINGS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN, FOR ALL.
    EACH OF YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS.
    CHASE WILL BE MISSED.
    HIS TIME HERE WAS SHORT& MEANINGFUL.

    GOD'S NEWEST ANGEL IS NAMED CHASE.
    HE WILL THIRST NO MORE.

    LOVE
    DRITA LINDON AND DJUSTA

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  10. Anonymous9:17 AM

    All of you will continue to be in our prayers. We know Chase is with God looking down on you and helping you through this difficult time.

    Cris, Scott, and Kyle Kaminskas

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  11. Anonymous11:58 AM

    To the Entire Sammut Family,

    The love you have for Chase has always been evident.

    The faith you have in God has been inspirational.

    May you find some measure of peace knowing that Chase has arrived safely Home.

    Jim, Di, Nikki & Matthew Lipski
    www.icouldbeyourchild.org

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  12. Anonymous1:56 PM

    God Speed Chase, rest in peace!

    To the Sammut Family, may God hold you close and help you find comfort in each other and all the people who care about you. Your love for Chase could be felt thru your words, Thank you for sharing him with us.

    ~~MJ Cormier~~

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  13. Anonymous9:04 PM

    You are forever in my prayers. Your faith during this difficult time was nothing short of amazing. Thank you for sharing Chase with us.

    Love,
    Yvonne

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  14. I'm so sorry for your loss, I know Chase is up in heaven with all our other friends who have passed. God Bless You.

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  15. Anonymous7:45 AM

    John and Carol,

    I was saddened to hear the news about your son, Chase. Please know that my prayers are with you.

    I stay in touch with Maria and Dan across the pond.

    Wendy (Turloff) Shaw

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  16. Anonymous6:28 PM

    John and Carol
    I know Angel Chase is with all the other little Angels, Angel Chase will give you the strenght to go on and wait for the day you will join him. May God Bless your family.
    Hugs to you
    Love Sandy (Angel Kate's Aunt)
    www.caringbridge.org/visit/katehrischuk

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  17. Anonymous4:48 AM

    You have been in our prayers since we learned about what you were going through from friends from Epic in Johnson City.

    We have a small sense of what you have went through as on the 21st of September 1988 our son was born only to see him pass on to heaven, 21 days later due to a malformation of a heart valve.

    We pray that the Heavenly Father will continue to provide the strength and support you need as you go through the grieving process.

    Knowing that you have said goodby but not forever will bring comfort in this time of loss.

    The Wiest Family

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  18. Anonymous10:30 AM

    We're saddened to learn of Chase's passing but happy that is is now tumor free and in a place where he is a loved. I'm sure he is proud of your courage and strength and is looking forward to the day when you will see him again. A day is Heaven is like a Lifetime on Earth.

    Tore, Kathie, Allie and Beautiful Angel Hannah.
    www.hannahsheroes.ca

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  19. Anonymous3:08 PM

    John,

    I wanted to express my sympathy to you and your family on Chase's passing. Please know that my faith and prayers are with you. Your faith and courage is inspiring to me. In the few times we have shared each others company in a professional enviroment I have always been impressed with your integrity and passion. It is my belief that Chase is now being cared for by our Heavenly Father and that you will see him again. I believe that families can be forever. May you and Carol find strength in this knowledge and find comfort going forward.

    Best regards,

    Richard Christensen
    Flowserve Corp.
    rchristensen@flowserve.com

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  20. Dear John, Carol and Barbara,

    Your love for Chase was inspiration to all. Chase would always be happy that he was loved so much. Now he is happy with Jesus. He is in ou prayers.
    Love,
    nisha

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  21. Anonymous9:37 PM

    John, Carol & Barbara Ann,
    So sorry to hear of Chase's passing-yet happy that he is now in the loving arms of the Lord.
    Love and prayers,
    Penny Flowers

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