Baby Maverick

This blog was created to keep family and friends updated on what's going on with the pregnancy, birth, and surgical plan for Maverick. We'll also be able to keep everyone updated during his surgery and recovery and hopefully be able to show you some cute pictures of him, Maddie, Carter and Chloe along the way.

This was the original intent; however, when we started this blog we had no idea the twists and turns our lives would take. Our sweet baby Maverick was born September 12, 2008 with Transposition of the Great Arteries, ASD, and VSD. We expected to have a baby boy to bring home three to four weeks after his surgery. He had numerous complications after his arterial switch and fought through many that would have taken the life from an adult. He passed away February 24, 2009 - without ever coming home.

This blog is now a place I share my feelings, work through the grief, remember Maverick, and try to make sense out of our life without him. I hope in doing so I am giving a name and a face to babies everywhere born with congenital heart defects.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Maverick's Obituary


Our precious baby boy, Maverick Donovan Clark, went to be with the Lord February 24, 2009 while being rocked by his mommy with his daddy at his side. He was born September 12, 2008 at Medical City Children’s in Dallas, TX. He had a congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries. He had his first surgery at three days old and forged through several other operations and procedures in his short life with an intense fighting spirit.
The week of Christmas, he was transferred to Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma by our sweet friends at MediFlight of Oklahoma. He maintained his fighting spirit there and captured the hearts of many before he passed away. He overcame numerous complications and was a great inspiration to all who knew and loved him.
He taught us to enjoy each day with our children as if it were the last. Through his hospitalization we also learned how much we took for granted the simple things in life - like rocking a healthy baby and even hearing one cry. Even though we didn’t get to hear his little cry much, he let us know what he was thinking with his expressive big blue eyes. His eyelashes were the longest we’ve ever seen.
He leaves behind his mommy and daddy, Julianne and Greg, along with his three siblings, Madeline, Carter, and Chloe; grandparents Don and Marilyn Clark, Mike and Teresa Carter, Brown and Sandy Cabell, and James Champeau; great grandparents Alma Carter Dixon, and Pete and Vanita McGuffey; and numerous other family and friends. Maverick was preceded in death by great-grandparents Charles Carter, Doyle Dixon, L.G. and Jewel Clark, and uncle Donnie Clark. He was a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Tribe, the Navarre Clan. We will all miss him dearly, but look forward to seeing him in heaven.
We would like to thank the amazing doctors, nurses, therapists, and support staff at both Medical City Children’s and Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma for taking such good care of our sweet baby boy. We would also like to thank our families, friends, our church – Immanuel Baptist, and our community of Shawnee, OK. We could not have made it this far without all the help, support, and prayers we’ve received. We would like to encourage those who would like to help to give blood. Mav required a lot of blood and blood products in his life and there are many other babies and children in similar situations. A blood drive will be held in Mav's honor on Wednesday, March 18th from 3:00 - 8:00pm at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, OK.

Public viewing times will be available at Cooper Funeral Home 210 W. Walnut, Tecumseh, OK 74873 on Thur. Feb. 26, 2009 from 11:00am to 8:00pm, and on Fri. Feb. 27, 2009 from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at Immanuel Baptist Church 1451 E 45th St, Shawnee, OK 74804 at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, gifts for the purchase of a 3-D heart echo machine for Children's Hospital of Oklahoma can be made through Immanuel Baptist Church 1451 E 45th Street, Shawnee, OK 74804.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Juli,

We met briefly in the Medical City PICU waiting room. Our son was born with TGA also and had his repair 12/12.

Though we never got the chance to meet little Maverick, it sounds like he's truly leaving a legacy. We've held our little guy a lot closer and as we were changing the stinkiest of poopy diapers today (yes, it was a two-man job), my thoughts went to you and I know you would have traded anything to be in our shoes.

What you are doing for other children in asking for blood donations and those for a new echo machine is wonderful. In a time like this, I know it would be easy to just hunker down and think of you and your family. Thank you.

Saying "hugs and prayers" doesn't seem sufficient, but it's heartfelt and all I can do from here.

God bless you,

Amy

Anonymous said...

Dear Jesus
Thank you for Maverick Clark and for bringing him into our lives. How you used him in our family to teach us and our children how delicate and precious life is, and yet how intricate and complicated our bodies are. We studied the heart and looked up medical terms trying to understand how all these systems work. We were in awe that one so small could go through so much and still fight so hard. We read the blog daily and cheered when Mav. had a good day and begged for your healing when things were going rough for him. We watched his videos and fell head over heels in love with this baby, his mommy, his daddy and his brother and sisters. We are sad because we couldn't wait to smother him with kisses and play with those beautiful little feet and help teach him at church, but you already know that. Bless his family, Lord, and carry them through this time. He was a precious gift and we are grateful for him.

In your precious name,

D. Hudson

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful baby boy. May God comfort your family.

Anonymous said...

I have never met, or will probably never meet you, but I have some how stumbled upon your blog and felt the tug in me to leave a comment. Your baby is absolutely beautiful and courageous. Having a baby myself (a 3 year old) it has made me realise how lucky I am and everyday I tell him a little more often how much I love him. I pray that God lays his ever so healing hands on you and that in time it will all make sense! you & your family are so strong and that I admire. May God have you in his keeping and allow you to see the brighter side of all of this. peace & love to you & yours

Laura-Marie said...

Dear Clark Family,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you today. "May the Lord bless and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and be gracious and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Much Love,
Laura-Marie Finley

Anonymous said...

Julie and Greg,
What an amazingly beautiful service. I have been praying that God will just wrap you in his love and give you comfort that is beyond all understanding. Maverick's life was amazing. I have seen Christ through you all time and time again through your love, commitment and selflessness. Thanks for sharing your life with everyone. I know that it must be and have been difficult, but what an amazing testimony. Rachel Schooler

Anonymous said...

May God be glorified through your son's life. God WILL use Maverick's story for His ultimate good. I just rocked my baby to sleep and thought of you and your courageous family. I can't even imagine taking one moment of his life for granted. I have been praying for Maverick everyday and I have also been praying God's will be done. Your campaign for blood donors and the heart machine is so noble and also pleasing to God. It is very humbling to see a fellow Christian respond so obediently to the Lord in the midst of their trials. Thank you for your example. The memory of your baby will live on in the lives of everybody whose life has been touched by him. I pray peace for you until Maverick meets you in heaven renewed and perfect. Be blessed knowing God's peace surpasses all of our our understanding.

Cathryn said...

Juli,

The blog world is so amazing. I have been reading Dejah's blog for quite a while now (not really sure how I found her blog but that is what is so amazing!)and now I have been able to read your story. I have literally cried for the last 3 days! Just like you cry at a complete strangers funeral, well here I am in Denver crying as I sit at the computer reading Maverick's story, over & over again.

Since I read your blog, I find it hard not to think about Maverick & your family. I was talking to my best friend this evening, telling her that you were trying to raise money for a 3-D Heart Echo Machine for Children's Hospital of Oklahoma, and how I wished I could help your figure out how to set up a fund. But that I had no idea where to start. Well this led to my best friend having an even better idea! She happens to work for a MAJOR retail store, and better yet she works in a group that gets to determine which worthy causes get grants from said store to support our local communities. She suggested that if you fill out a one page grant request document, she would get it in the hands of the folks that handle grants in Oklahoma and we would see if they would help you come up with a portion of the funds you need for the echo machine. Please shoot me an email at cathryn.iten@gmail.com any time you want to get more details and I will get you in touch with her.

I am so glad you are keeping up the blog, as you can see Maverick has touched MANY lives. He is absolutely adorable!

Lots of Love from Colorado!
Cathryn