Elise
Elise was born February 5, 2003 and is the daughter of John and Laurie. Born with Tay-Sachs disease, Elise no longer can see or move voluntarily, cannot swallow, and has seizures and chronic respiratory illnesses. There is no treatment or cure for Tay-Sachs disease and children born with this condition die between the ages of two and five. Elise’s parents say that “even though she cannot see, walk, talk, or interact voluntarily, she is still captivating. She has taught those who love her so much. She had the heartiest giggle—a sound we will never forget. Elise is a pure soul whose personality exhibits innocence. In the short time she will be with us, we can say with certainty that she has known unconditional love, and that she is absolute goodness—in its truest form.” The family would like to acknowledge the help of the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, www.ntsad.org.