Jasper Joel Tonasket

Jasper Joel Tonasket

After months of joyful anticipation, Baby Jack was born at 12:49 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in the Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. He struggled to breathe and was admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A congenital heart defect was discovered and further tests were ordered.

On Monday he was diagnosed with Trisomy 13. On Tuesday, family gathered to witness his baptism into the Catholic Church. The hormones supporting life were disconnected that afternoon. He spent the day surrounded with love and attention. After midnight his breathing changed and, held in his mother's arms, he left to cross over to his grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, and aunties awaiting him.

Funeral mass was 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Mission on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.

Baby Jack is survived by parents Randy and Alicia Tonasket, siblings Shaylee and Ike Tonasket, maternal grandparents Jack and Alice McKissen, dozens of aunties and uncles, and hundreds of cousins. He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents “Two Jump”Joe Tonasket and Mary Covington Tonasket Arnold.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to support children living in foster care.

More information about Trisomy 13 is accessible at http://www.trisomy.org