Grace Ritterstein Memorial Fund

We sadfully have to say goodbye to our baby girl.

Grace Ellen Ritterstein was born with a one-of-a-kind heart, which required very complicated surgical intervention.

We are so grateful for every moment that we got to spend with her over the last seven weeks in the hospital, holding her, talking to her, feeding her and feeling her gorilla grip around our finger as she gazed upon us with her soft blue eyes and smirky sweet smile.

We read her book after book, over and over, from When God Made You to Where the Wild Things Are; her favorite seems to have been The Very Hungry Caterpillar, because she had a way of making it loud and clear when she was ready to eat.

Grace also enjoyed watching her "under the sea" mobile, listening to her bed time beats music and sucking on her unicorn pacifier, especially when we dipped it in sugar water.

She got to feel our love for her and we got to feel her love for us. And I believe that's what kept her fighting so hard to go on for so long.

Despite the best medical care and thousands of prayers, several cardiac episodes left her brain too severely impaired to go on without support.

We may never know why God allows such tragic infliction, such loss of innocent life and so much sorrow and grief.

When asked about why a man suffers, though, Jesus explained that it happened so that the power of God could be seen.

We've already witnessed this - being blessed with our son Asher, our family and our friends who continue to support us through it all.

Even Jesus prayed to be spared from suffering, but as scripture reminds us, our real home is in heaven.

So, as Grace takes her place in the company of angels, we will mourn her loss, celebrate her life and remember her always and forever.

A memorial service will be held on Monday and a gofund me page has been setup in Graces honor.

Funds will help with hospital and funeral expenses with remaining proceeds benefiting Sisters By Heart, which supports families dealing with single ventricle heart defects like HLHS.