As many of you know, I work in a Function Skills Special Needs classroom in the elementary level. FS are the lowest mentally and physically challenged kids in the special ed spectrum meaning that a lot of our kids are severe and profound.
Perla is a 7 yr old Hispanic girl in our classroom with many disabilities and wheelchair bound. She was always dressed like a little princess complete with her toenails painted. She didn't see or hear real well but she knew we were there... she felt us holding her during therapy, touching her hand and she would smile so big when we played her favorite music CD.
Perla passed away Friday night at her home. She had been sick with pneumonia for a few weeks, her lungs were weak from too many times being sick. Bless her little heart, she just couldn't fight it any more. My heart goes out to the family.. they loved their Perla so much and she was a beautiful little soul with a huge smile even when she was hurting.
I just wanted to share Perla with my friends here and I know the hardest part will be telling her classmates next week that their beloved fellow classmate had to go live with Jesus and be his newest angel. It's hard enough for children to deal with death but when it's special needs kids, it's even more difficult to explain but these kids have an understanding of things that is truly amazing and I am sure they will be comforting the adults in the room.
This is the only part about this job I hate...it sucks losing one of them to death. Makes me want to hold the rest of them so close and try to shield them from death and the grief that goes with it. This was my second year working with her and I am deeply saddened by her passing. Whether you want to or not, you get attached to these children.. they steal your heart and make you love them. 
Perla, may you shine brightly in the heavens, my little beautiful soul 
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| ~~ We lost a beautiful little soul~~ |
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 1:33PM
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Awwwwwwwww..... 
I am sad with you.
All little children are wonderful and beautiful, not matter if they have disabilities or not.
I'm so glad her family made her feel like a princess.
Because.... that's what she was.
I'm sad with you for your loss.
And I congratulate you for doing this wonderful but difficult job.
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PrettyGreenEyes578
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Oct 18 @ 1:47PM
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My heartfelt condolence to you and Perla's family.
When my son was in grade school a very special young man was in my son's class. This young man had heart problems and had many surgeries. The last surgery this young man had was his last. He passed away and it was a shock to everyone as he was expected to come through the surgery.
My son's teacher called and I took the call. I could not stop crying as I was telling my son what happened. My son was deeply saddened by the news as his classmate sat next to him and he was close to him.
The class planted flowers outside of the school as a memorial to their class mate and my son watered the flowers each day over summer vacation.
I feel your sadness.
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HUGS4UANDME
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Oct 18 @ 1:50PM
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aww so sorry.......poor little baby .....she is at peace now snap ....no more pain .....
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Tiramisu4u
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Oct 18 @ 1:54PM
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I type with tears and share your grief...
I, also, want to put up a protective shield for all special little ones that have never
been able to live the childhood of running, playing, seeing, hearing, understanding,
and other joys of a *normal* child.
But God gave us these special earth bound Angels for a reason....and our
place is to cherish and learn from them, so to be a better person ourselves.
When their work on earth is done, God calls them home, and we can only feel blessed that he allowed us a short part of their precious lives.
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MrPaul
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Oct 18 @ 2:18PM
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God gave us these special earth bound Angels for a reason....and our
place is to cherish and learn from them, so to be a better person ourselves   Snappy my prayers are with you and the family 
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kywonder
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Oct 18 @ 2:41PM
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Sometimes I question God why something like this has to happen to a child. Having a mentally challenged sister, I understand Snappy. One thing my sister has taught me is patience, love, and mercy. She is just as much a woman in the physical as I am, but not in the mental. She is funny and I look forward to the letters she sometimes sends me. I see how her mind and her function for writing can't keep up with each other, and it makes me love her even more. She would do anything in the world for anyone. It makes me mad when she is taken advantage of because of her caring heart.
Perla is whole now and she is skipping down the streets of heaven. May she rest in peace.
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Nightowl001
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Oct 18 @ 2:46PM
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My deepest condolences to you, her family and her loved ones, including all her classmates, on your loss.
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MoonFire
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Oct 18 @ 2:49PM
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I sit here with tears in my eyes as I read your post. My heart goes out to Perla's family, classmates and you. It takes a wonderfully special person to work with children; especially those with disabilities. Bless you for caring, and bless Perla for the short life she had gifted everyone with before she left.
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1frantastic
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Oct 18 @ 3:06PM
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I understand your compassion for special needs kids.....I taught them for 9 years...I was the teacher and had 2 aides to assist...which I dearly loved my assistants untill....the year from hell when the principal said the new assistants didn't need to be trained to care for my severe kids...and thus Damian died when I left(was forced to resign because I wouldn't go along with the principal's poor judgement)...He was a child who had the mentality of a 6 mo old,had scoliosis, feeding tube, brain damage(cerebal palsy), and weighed over 120 lbs and was 11 yrs old...and confined to a wheelchair! ...but laughed when you played "peek-a-boo"....
I was thrown back into a depression that I am finally coming out of...*mostly*....
so...keep on "being there" for those in your charge....
they need your love...and how you can "inform others" how to love them....
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misschoos
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Oct 18 @ 3:11PM
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cherribabe
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Oct 18 @ 3:15PM
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I am sorry for your loss
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missliss78
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Oct 18 @ 3:47PM
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silksox
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Oct 18 @ 4:10PM
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{{{{{{{{{{{{Snappygirl}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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tentfire
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Oct 18 @ 4:13PM
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My heart and biggest sympathies go out to you and everyone that Perla touched. She sounds like she was an angel from the start. And she was truly blessed to have you for a teacher. I have great admiration and respect for you and all the teachers/assistants that teach/care for these children daily....it truly takes ultra special people. Even with all their handicaps, these children have an enormous amount to give to the world. We so often complain about our little daily aches and pains while they are calmly enduring pains and discomforts FAR bigger. We could learn so much from them if we would just take the time, even if that simply means reading about them.
Blessing of comfort to you, your helpers and other staff, Perla's classmates and her family.
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ColdinWisconsin
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Oct 18 @ 4:32PM
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The toughest job you'll ever love.
~*~
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Fender
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Oct 18 @ 4:48PM
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gypsy29
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Oct 18 @ 4:56PM
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Having worked with special needs children and loosing them in this way, I understand your grief. I went to work with the geriatric population. They still pass, but it's easier for you to deal with a 94 year old passing away.
My deepest condolences to all involved.
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RightWingRepublican
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Oct 18 @ 5:14PM
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I'm so sorry to hear it, she sounds lovely.
God sends people like her to teach people like us about humanity and love.
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kitkat316
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Oct 18 @ 5:39PM
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I could feel your sadness, it's reminiscing the lost of my daughter when she was at 10 ....my prayers goes to her and her family, Condolence.
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Snappygoddess
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Oct 18 @ 5:46PM
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I am deeply touched by all of the warm words, comfort, support and love on my blog. You all are such special people and I thank you so much for taking the time to read about Perla and sending your condolences to the family. They do not understand much English but grief feels the same in any language or culture and your messages will be conveyed to the family in Spanish.
Even the and told me so much without words.
I am saddened.. tomorrow will be tough...having to tell the others about Perla but we will rejoice also that she is no longer hurting.
Thank you my friends for caring
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moon_watcher53
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Oct 18 @ 5:59PM
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Its even tougher when its your very own !
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ANGRY_MUPPET
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Oct 18 @ 6:34PM
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this has touched me deeply
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pinkypaula2
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Oct 18 @ 6:50PM
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sooo sorry for youre loss thank you for sharing its really sad, bless youre heart
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tomshu
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Oct 18 @ 8:25PM
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I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of the little girl. It's heartbreaking. May God bless. Here's to you,Perla.
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beckyiv42000
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Oct 18 @ 11:35PM
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Aww Snappy..Im so sorry to read this.. you are one special lady and Perla was blessed to have you in her life... Its hard to find teachers of any caliber who truly CARE about their students... Blessing on you and her and her and her family and friends .. may the greif pass swiftly to be replaced by only happy memories and btw THANK you for all you do ..
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ladyvampire
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Oct 18 @ 11:45PM
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Thats the thing about kids like that, they teach you how to love more than what you thought you were able to.
The sad thing is, when kids are disabled like that, they are 10 times (or more) likely to go sooner. I used to work with special needs kids when I worked in pediatrics. Bless their little hearts, they are such a joy to be around, and then when you loose them, it just hurts so very much. And being with her on a daily basis makes you a part of her "extended" family. My heart bleeds for you and her family, and my prayers for all of you.
It takes a strong person to work with kids like that, so hats off and kudos to you!
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ladyvampire
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Oct 18 @ 11:54PM
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http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/ladyvampire41/?action=view¤t=ROSES.gif
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SpiritOrnery
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Oct 20 @ 12:20PM
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butterfly943
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Oct 20 @ 10:47PM
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You have a hard but very special job bless you
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signme
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Oct 20 @ 11:49PM
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