Hadley Knabe

For every life there is a story. Some stories are longer than others; but it can be surprising how much impact a life can have on others in a very short time. Heather and Casey had a miracle; they conceived a baby against the odds. They experienced the wonderful anticipation of a family, got to hear a heartbeat of a new life, saw the ultrasound pictures of their child, and felt the strong movement of an active baby. They shared their excitement and anticipation with family and friends who started loving this baby even though none of us had even met her yet.

Hadley had a personality even though she had a very short time to express it during her prenatal development. Heather and Casey tell us that she was most active between 9:30 and 10 o’clock each night. That is an experience that a mother never forgets; an opportunity to feel connected to the life growing within her.

We know baby Hadley was a fighter right to the end. She was kicking the nurses in Glenwood before Heather and Hadley were flown to St. Cloud . Hadley has been in a helicopter. How many of you have had that experience?

When we first met Hadley, she was pink and beautiful. She looked like she would wiggle and cry any second. She has lots of black hair, Mommy’s nose, tiny facial features with a receding chin, perfect long slender fingers (would she have been a piano player?), kind of big feet (maybe a basketball player or athlete?), and long skinny toes (that’s from Daddy).

On the day of her birth her parents, both sets of grandparents, great grandma, aunts and uncles got to hold her and say good-bye. Pastor Elaine came to the hospital for a baptismal/naming ceremony in the evening. Hadley was blessed here on earth.

Hadley Marie Knabe took a piece of our hearts with her to heaven. I told her that, too, so she knows. Now we all feel like our hearts need to mend and we need all of you to help us. Thank you to all of you, family and friends, who will help Heather, Casey, and all of Hadley’s family heal from this tremendous loss!

Hadley is survived by her parents: Casey & Heather Knabe of Kensington; grandparents: David & Janice Raths of Hancock and Dale & Mary Knabe of Kensington; great-grandparents: Charles Knabe of Kensington, Beatrice Pearson of Hancock and Irene Raths of Morris; Aunts & Uncles: Corey (Brooke) Knabe of Kensington, Chelsey Knabe of Shakopee, Tammy (Tim) Forby of Bloomington and Scott (Jaclyn) Raths of Donnelly and her cousins: Thomas Forby, Andrew Forby, Tristan Raths, Austin Raths and Amaya Raths. She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents: Alfred Pearson, Mildred Knabe, Obert & Elmira Christianson and Leo Raths.