Loving Avonlea: Support the Powell Family

Update:

On October 17, 2023, at 1:23 PM, Avonlea Claire Powell passed away peacefully in her mother's arms, surrounded by her loving family, and went to Heaven. She is free from the pain of this world and no longer bound by a broken body.

The Powells are heartbroken and miss her terribly. They are so grateful for the last 9 years, 7 months, and 23 days of her beautiful life. They will hold a memorial service in Avonlea's honor in a few weeks so that they can take time as a family to process this tremendous loss.

Your support of the Powells in this time--through prayer, love, and in giving--is a testament to Avonlea's legacy and a salve for their wounded hearts.

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On March 4, 2014, the world was blessed with Avonlea Claire Powell. Avonlea was born with Trisomy 13 and despite the likelihood of complications too severe to support life even for hours or days, Avonlea has LIVED nine beautiful years. It has not been an easy road, but by God's grace and through the fierce love of her family, Avonlea has experienced and brought immeasurable joy to so many of us who love her.

Avonlea's health struggles have progressed rapidly over the past few months, and her journey here on Earth is coming to an end. Her parents, Brian and Melissa, are facing the most difficult decisions and--along with her little band of sisters, Violet, Rosie, and Della, and their extended family--must soon grapple with a grief that has stalked their lives for these many years.

This fund is intended to be an offering in gratitude for Avonlea's miraculous life. But it is also a means for those of us who love the Powells to stand alongside them in what is sure to be the darkest days of this battle. Melissa and Brian's lives have been upended by the complications of caring for a child on hospice and they will soon face end-of-life costs. The hope is that we can ease the financial burden of this hardship as we also support them with our love, prayers, and friendship.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."

2 Corinthians 1: 3-5.