A LEGACY OF LOVE
Miller Claire was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Upon arrival, she was sedated and intubated. Her stats looked “normal.” Her CT scan looked “normal.” During the first 24 hours, doctors induced therapeutic hypothermia. This is a normal procedure for someone who has suffered from cardiac arrest. When sedation was starting to wear off, she was showing signs of response, opening her eyes, pulling her foot back when prompted. Everyone remained hopeful.
But on Monday, August 7, 2023, at approximately 5AM, everything changed. It was then that her brain stem herniated, cutting off all supply of oxygen and blood to her brain. In medical terminology, Miller Claire experienced a significant anoxic brain injury, a result of her previous cardiac arrest.
On Tuesday, August 8. 2023, her heart rate and blood pressure began to increase, an indication of cerebral edema, swelling of the brain. Doctors called for another CT scan and confirmed the worst, no brain function was detected.
But it was on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, that Official tests were run to confirm brain death. In the following days, decisions were made to allow Miller Claire to become an organ donor. Her heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and a portion of her intestines were “cleared” for donation. Miller Claire saved FOUR lives, including that of a five-month-old baby boy through a heart transplant. Miller Claire not only became an angel in heaven that day, but she also became a hero on earth.
MARCH 8, 2022 - August 9, 2023
Miller Claire was born on March 8, 2022, a perfect 6 lb. 12 oz. baby girl. Always happy and easy-going, with a signature bow in her hair, Miller Claire loved being outdoors. She loved riding in her stroller, watching airplanes in the sky and picking leaves, especially magnolia leaves. She loved to eat, dogs and her momma. “The Wheels on the Bus” was a favorite sing-along and Goodnight Moon ended each night, always pointing out the tiny mouse as she scrunched her nose on each page. Her dolphin-like laugh was contagious, as was her crooked little cross-bite smile.
Miller Claire attended Primrose School at Pelham. She started there at 10 weeks old. As a new, single mom, Ashley was very anxious about being away from Miller Claire. That feeling faded quickly, as the staff at Primrose became like family to both Miller Claire and Ashley. Miller Claire loved going to school. She loved her teachers and she especially loved Ms. Stacie. The Primrose family loves their students and families so much that they closed the school to attend Miller Claire’s funeral. They still have her name on the bulletin board in her classroom and will continue to until she “graduates.”
Miller Claire was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Upon arrival, she was sedated and intubated. Her stats looked “normal.” Her CT scan looked “normal.” During the first 24 hours, doctors induced therapeutic hypothermia via the Artic Sun Temperature Management System. This is a normal procedure for someone who has suffered from cardia arrest. When sedation was starting to wear off, she was showing signs of response, opening her eyes, pulling her foot back when prompted. Everyone remained hopeful.
But on Monday, August 7, 2023, at approximately 5AM, everything changed. It was then that her brain stem herniated, cutting off all supply of oxygen and blood to her brain. In medical terminology, Miller Claire experienced a significant anoxic brain injury, a result of her previous cardiac arrest.
On Tuesday, August 8. 2023, her heart rate and blood pressure began to increase, an indication of cerebral edema, swelling of the brain. Doctors called for another CT scan and confirmed the worst, no brain function was detected.
But it was on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, that Official tests were run to confirm brain death. In the following days, decisions were made to allow Miller Claire to become an organ donor.
On Saturday, August 12, 2023, an Honor Walk was held in Miller Claire’s honor. This simple, yet powerful gesture shows the family that they are not alone. It shows the world around them is grateful for the gifts their loved one is about to give. Honor Walks offer hospital staff, friends, and family an opportunity to honor an organ donor and their family by lining the hall as the donor is taken to surgery.
Miller Claire’s heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and a portion of her intestines were given for donation. Miller Claire saved FOUR lives, including that of a five-month-old baby boy through a heart transplant. Miller Claire not only became an angel in heaven, but she also because a hero on earth.
Official services were held for Miller Claire on August 15, 2023, the receiving of friends, and August 16, 2023, funeral services. On those days, hundreds visited the family to show their respect to the family and say their last goodbyes to sweet Miller Claire. With a tiny blue bow in her sweet hair, Miller Claire held a magnolia leaf, her favorite leaf to pull from trees, with her stuffed puppy dog by her side. Upon the conclusion of the church service, attendees were given balloons to release into the air as a final farewell on a beautiful sunny day.
While in the hospital those six days, Ashley knew she wanted to create a foundation to honor and build a legacy for Miller Claire’s short life on earth. The idea of how sparked after Miller Claire was given a gown to wear after two days of only her diaper and being covered with blankets. It was a dingy, yellow gown with orange tigers. Ashley was so happy that her baby had a gown and she was covered. She had a family member bring one of Miller Claire’s hairbows to the hospital, as she ALWAYS had a bow in her hair; and for that moment, she felt a sense of normalcy.
In the PICU, there is only one option for pediatric gowns-the “orange tiger gown.” Either yellow, green, or blue depending on size. After realizing this, Ashley, and her friends, thought how great would it be to have options for the parent or patient to pick out Thus, Miller Magnolia was created. Custom, medically accessible gowns to donate to patients and parents in pediatric intensive care units at no cost to them. A brand to honor Miller Claire, tell her story and keep her legacy alive.
Special thanks to Fine Art by Ryan Finley for her beautiful Miller Claire Foundation logo design.
