Karis Mia longbottom was born at 2.40 on january 30th 2008. She was 3lb 14oz and had to go straight to the neo-natal unit as she was tiny. They took us down to see her later that night, she was in an incubator and looked so small. Two days later the doctor told us that she had edward syndrome trimosy 18 and had a life expectancy no longer than a year. She was in the neo-natal unit for a week and then we eventually got her home. They told us to take 1 day at a time and enjoy her as we didnt know if it was going to be the last time. Karis had to have a feeding tube down her nose as she was not able to feed through her mouth because she also had an enlarged heart and a hole in it and she got very tired easily. The days passed and she brought lots of pleasure but then we realised that she was finding it harder to breathe and at 2 months old took her down to the hospital because she was really struggling with her breathing. Karis was put on oxygen while in hospital and was given medication to dry the fluid round her heart. She was in the hospital for 5 days and then came home. We had to have oxygen at home to help her. On wednesday the 7th of may we went to look round martin house hospice boston spa as we was reffered there for restbite care. Whilst there the doctor let us listen to her heart for the firt time and prescribed her infant morphine to calm and relax her while stuggling for breath. They took us around the grounds and the house and we realised that Karis was very alert to the surroundings and this was very unusual for her as she slept most of the time. When we got home we gave her a slight dose of the morphine and realised that she was beginning to be relaxed and calm. We took her up to bed on wednesday night and she was wide awake with her big brown eyes and very calm which was nice to see her. At 1am the next morning her food pump alarm awoke us as it had finnished and we must have fell into a deep sleep as she wasnt stugglin we got up and turned on the light and realised that Karis had lost her battle for life peacefully. The doctor at martin house hospice drove down to our house to take us back therewith karis where she rested peacefully in what they call the little room. We stayed there for the week leading up to the funeral with our family visitin and stayin every day and they couldnt do enough for us. On thursday the 15th of may karis's funeral took place at 2pm at woodkirk parish church (st mary's) leeds rd woodkirk. The service was made a celebration of karis's 100 days with us with more than a 100 family and friends in bright coloured clothing attending the service. After the service karis was burried in the church grave yard where 100 pink balloons were realised by family and friends 1 for every day of karis's life. We would like to thank everyone that helped with the fantastic dedicating care given to karis and her family from martin house hospice and the neo-natal unit at dewsbury district hospital.