Sarah Alexis Blount

LIFESTORY:

At the age of four months, most babies are too young to have experienced the world, but not little Sarah Alexis Blount. She was inquisitive and explored everything around her, studying her environment carefully, constantly determined to figure things out. She was strong, quickly passing by physical milestones and well on her way to walking. Most importantly, though, Sarah had the love of a devoted mother in her life, who imparted on her faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the blessing of eternal life through him.

It was a cold, blustery November day, so typical of Michigan, when Ginger Blount was on her way to Borgess Hospital. She was preparing to give birth to her first child, but knew that she wanted her baby to have a future that she was unable to give, so she would begin the adoption process immediately after the baby was born. On November 15, 2005 at 3:22 pm, a beautiful little girl was born weighing in at 6 lbs, 11 ozs. Although 6 lbs, seems so tiny and fragile, Sarah was neither. In fact, her little feet were so big that she had already outgrown her newborn booties. Ginger was amazed by everything about her daughter, her button nose, her rosy lips, and even her tiny fingers. It all brought tears of joy to her eyes and, in part, tears of sadness as she knew that she would soon be handing the baby over to her foster parents.

It didn't take long before Ginger realized that nothing mattered except having her little girl back with her. So she mustered up her courage and strength, and brought Sarah Alexis Blount home just in time to spend her first Christmas with her mom. Ginger had always liked the name Sarah because of its biblical significance. In the Bible, Sarah was not only a very beautiful woman, but she was also blessed by God and shared in the covenant her husband Abraham had with Him. The bond Ginger and Sarah shared was also very strong. It was though only a day had passed since they had last been together, a day that Ginger would never let pass again.

Although money was scarce, Ginger found a way to purchase a second-hand bouncy seat for her baby daughter and it soon became Sarah's favorite place to be, second only to her mother's arms. She enjoyed sitting in it so much that the day it stopped working, she was determined to make it work. First, she took a long hard look at it, checking out every last square inch and analyzing where the problem might be. Then she made some thoughtful attempts at a few things that might help, but alas, it was of no use; much to her dismay, the chair was simply broken. Sarah had nothing to fear, however, because Ginger knew how important having a bouncy seat was to her little girl and, even though it wasn't in the budget, she once again found the money to buy one for her. Before long Sarah was back in her seat, smiling and cooing just as happy as clam.

One of Sarah's favorite pastimes was listening to Gospel music, which her mother introduced to her to early on. When she would sit and listen and it was as though she was dancing and rejoicing in her mind, almost like she knew what the lyrics were saying. Although it may seem as though young Sarah was content at sitting peacefully and unbothered being confined, this really wasn't the case. She was quite the little escape artist and wasn't about to be strapped down, especially in her car seat. Performing feats that would make Harry Houdini blush, new fangled devices and child safety latches were no match for this tiny magician. And though it might make some parents angry, not Ginger, she could see some of the same conviction she had herself reflecting in her daughter. Her intellect was truly beyond her months, and even years for that matter. Even the doctors were amazed at her development, predicting that she would walk by seven months!

It is very rare for people on earth to have an encounter with an angel, but for those who have they always say the same thing, the angel was there for only a moment before it disappeared. Ginger once remarked, "Everything Sarah does makes me feel like I won a million dollars." In Sarah's short time on this earth she inspired such awe and had such a tremendous impact on all of the lives that she touched, to say that she was anything less than an angel would be wrong.

Sarah Alexis Blount, age 4 months, died in her sleep on March 11, 2006 at her residence. Sarah was born on November 15, 2005 to Virginia Ann Blount. Along with her mother, surviving are her grand-parents, Junior and Thelma French of Mattawan, Pete and Donna Youngblood of Kalamazoo, one uncle, Steven Blount of California, one aunt, Carrie Ward of Las Vegas, NV, and many other family friends.

Family and friends will be received Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes - Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Dr., where a service to honor her life will be held at 11:00 AM with Pastor Ronald Williams of Trinity Temple Seventh day Adventist Church will be speaking. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Mattawan. Food and Fellowship will be shared following, at the church. Please visit Sarah's personal memory page a www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the Neurofibromatosis Fund.