Published: September 29, 2006 11:40 am      

A fairy-tale birthday

This year was a celebration of life.

By Bobbie Poynter / Staff Writer

Molly just celebrated her third birthday.

This would not normally be any big event; however, Molly is anything but a normal little girl. As tragic and heartbreaking as it may seem, this could be Molly's last birthday.

In April 2005, The Times-Tribune introduced the community to Molly Grace Jordan, who suffers from Tay-Sachs disease, a rare debilitating disease that damages the central nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain.

Her mom described Molly’s second birthday as a quiet, subdued family gathering. Her parents were reluctant to celebrate, knowing their daughter would soon be taken from them, as the average life expectancy of a child with Tay-Sachs is only three years.

This year was different.

This year was a celebration of life.

This year, Molly’s family chose to celebrate her life and the joy she has brought to her family and friends by throwing her a grand fairy tale celebration at the Gray Pentecostal Fellowship Hall. Her mother chose the fairy tale theme because she remembered that in fairy tales, all dreams come true.

Party guests, including several Lynn Camp High School students, dressed appropriately for the party’s theme. Molly, dressed as a fairy princess herself, was surrounded throughout the afternoon by princes and princesses, kings and queens, and knights and court jesters. Before guests said their goodbyes to Molly and her family, everyone gathered together to release more than 200 balloons, each with a card attached telling Molly’s story and stressing the need to test for Tay-Sachs. Parents can be tested genetically to see if they are carriers for the disease.

“We felt we needed to get the word out about this terrible disease,” said Molly’s mom, Bridget. “If we are able to save the life of even one child, it will be worth the effort.”

Molly’s family said they have no idea how they will be able to top this year’s grand celebration.

“All I know,” said Bridget, “is that if Molly’s still with us next year, we’ll make it an even bigger party.”

The family would like to say a special thank you to Colleen Sears for styling all the lady guests’ hair and to Dawn Sevier of Eternal Dawn Photo for volunteering her time to record the event in pictures. They also wish to thank Kelly Lunsford for the grand four-tiered cake and the appropriately-decorated castle cake.

Molly is the daughter of Bridget and Mark Jordan and has two sisters, Hannah and Kristen. If you would like to learn more, visit Molly’s Web site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/mollygrace.